"We start with geology, with the formation of the earth’s crust and its cooling and shifting over aeons. . . . The account moves from the use of stones as weapons and tools to their use in cooking and building. . . . There is so much in this book, as a compendium of stony lore. . . . The finest chapter is the last, and shortest, about people who collect stones. . . . Stones is packed with lapidary detail.”

Country Life

"From small pebbles to huge megaliths, stones hae been revered, used for decoration, trade, shelter and cooking. Here Oldershaw, geologist and gemstone curator at the Natural History Museum, tells . . . why they are the bedrock of society."

Sunday Post, Scotland

"In her new book Stones, author Oldershaw shares some of the surprising and fascinating facts, myths and stories to reveal the importance of stones in our history and culture."

People's Friend Magazine

"A comprehensive yet straightforward look at the relationship between humans and the stones and rocks around them, all from a historical and cultural perspective. She introduces the book with an easy-to-follow description of the formation of the universe through the creation of Earth."

Choice

"Who knew that stones, from the humble pebbles on the beach to the awe-inspiring megaliths of Stonehenge, had such marvelous stories to tell? I would urge anyone who has ever picked up a tiny fragment of our planet and wondered what it was and how it got there to read this splendid account by Oldershaw. It will open a new door to the earth beneath your feet, and ensure that you never again look at a scrap of chalk or a piece of granite in the same way."

Bill McGuire, professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, and author of "Hothouse Earth: An Inhabitant’s Guide"