Walther (Southern Methodist U.) presents a textbook for a lower-division undergraduate course in earth or environmental science, or as a background for a course in civil engineering. Students are assumed to have a strong high school science background and some lower-division courses in physical geology. It covers energy resources; metals; life-supporting resources: building and industrial material, chemical minerals, fertilizers, and gases; and water and soil resources. Most of his examples and illustrates are in the US. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)