The Whispers of Rock: Stories from the Earth
In The Whispers of Rock, Anjana Khatwa weaves together stories of geology and Earth evolution, of society and culture, alongside her own personal history. It is meticulously and respectfully researched, drawing equally from science, traditional tales and Indigenous Knowledge.
This book is a gift to Earth science and will have wide appeal, allowing people who have never given rocks a second thought to connect with geology and develop an understanding of our planet. By inviting people to listen to the whispers of rock, it encourages them to marvel at their existence and the stories that rocks tell. For geologists, it offers a fresh perspective to connect with our discipline.
As a geologist, I am a self-confessed rock lover. Consequently, I have read many textbooks and popular science offerings on them, but this is not your typical book about geology. Khatwa not only roots the subject firmly in society but also invites us to connect emotionally and spiritually with rock. Reading this book felt revelatory and enlightening. Seeing geology through Khatwa’s eyes even felt emotional. She describes a moment while fossil hunting with her daughter as “as much a treasure as the fragment of fossil” found on the beach. Whilst reading this story, I found myself reaching for one of my daughter’s own ammonites from her growing collection. To hold it in my hand and feel its curves, I recalled a wonderful day fossil spotting in Dorset and relived my daughter’s elation at each ammonite discovery.
As such, through reading The Whispers of Rock, I do feel a stronger connection to my discipline – it has changed the way I look at, and value, rocks forever. This book is not just a beautiful narrative weaving geology, culture, spirituality and emotion. It is a call to action to understand rocks better, value our planet more and become “enlightened custodians” of Earth. It is a crucial message at a time when we face global challenges of climate change and a growing demand on the planet’s resources, but with declining interest in geological sciences.
I urge all of you, whether a seasoned geologist or a fresh-faced pebble spotter, to read this book and then go out and touch a rock. Feel its textures. Listen to its whispers.
Reviewed by Rebecca Williams
DETAILS
BY: Anjana Khatwa (2025) Little, Brown Book Group, 336 pp. (hbk/ebook)
ISBN: 9780349128856
PRICE: £25 hatchette.co.uk
