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A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder | 
| Author: Gary Greenberg
Creator: Stacy Keach
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy New: $12.49
You Save: $7.51 (38%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 36247
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 10 x 8.8 x 0.7
ISBN: 0760331987
Dewey Decimal Number: 779.36
EAN: 9780760331989
ASIN: 0760331987
Publication Date: April 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
"To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower. To hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour." William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence" 1805 Here is the world viewed within a grain of sand, thanks to the stunning three-dimensional microphotography of Dr. Gary Greenberg. To some, all sand looks alike--countless grains in a vast expanse of beach. Look closer--much closer--and your view of sand will never be the same. Employing the fantastic microphotographic techniques that he developed, Greenberg invites readers to discover the strange and wonderful world that each grain of sand contains. Here are the sands of Hawaii and Tahiti, the Sahara and the Poles, a volcano, each exquisitely different, and each telling a fascinating geological story. Red sand and yellow, white sand and black, singing sand and quicksand: Greenbergs pictures reveal the subtle differences in their colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. And as this infinitesimal world unfolds so does an intriguing explanation of how each grain of sand begins and forms and finds itself in a particular place, one of a billion and one of a kind.
Book Description
To some, all sand looks alike--countless grains in a vast expanse of beach. Look closer--much closer--Gary Greenberg suggests, and your view of sand will never be the same. Employing the fantastic microphotographic techniques that he developed, Greenberg invites readers to discover the strange and wonderful world that each grain of sand contains. Sand from the world over: Greenberg’s pictures reveal the subtle differences in their colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. And as this infinitesimal world unfolds so does an intriguing explanation of how each grain of sand begins and forms and finds itself in a particular place, one of a billion and one of a kind.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
This is a pick not just for art libraries specializing in photography, but for science collections as well September 11, 2008
All sand may look alike to most, but not to Dr. Gary Greenberg, whose microphotographic techniques outline and differences in each grain of sand. Sand from around the world is presented in a series of photos that reveal differences in colors, textures, sizes and shapes: accompanied by a detailed explanation of how each grain forms, this is a pick not just for art libraries specializing in photography, but for science collections as well.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
The Artistic Work of One of America's Great Scientists July 11, 2008
Dr. Greenberg has captured the imagination and soul of many audiences with his endeavors in the microscopic world. His vision and art are framed in an extremely intelligent perspective about life, the world, and the human relationship to the environment.
What this book represents is the need for the human being to stop, look, listen, and wonder about the natural world. We must thank him for his artistic pursuits and consider how we may each pursue an investigation as simple as this.
I worked with Dr. Greenberg briefly to setup an artistic installation, and was responsible for the sound environment to compliment his exhibit, but have had the opportunity to enjoy his friendship for a some time.
Stunning! You'll never take the beach for granted again... June 18, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this work for a Mother's Day gift, little realizing how much it would be heartily devoured by its recipient! Shortly thereafter, I was proudly shown some of its dozens and dozens of exquisite micropictographic images along with various insightful and informing passages being read aloud to me.
I was so captivated I had to spend quality time with a copy myself. Its colorful visual content overwhelms my imagination! The accompanying text is very informational in an intriguing and engaging way. I was so impressed that I used it as an adult Sunday School book discussion, even bringing out an old dusty microscope to view some sand samples we'd gathered from past trips to Maui and various Atlantic beaches. People were really buzzed.
A great read, especially for "beach" grazing. Think about projects that can be easily initiated like with summer camps, vacations (those "boring" mantras can be challenged), even Vacation Bible School activities. And, a coffee table book that won't break your pocketbook to boot!
"Grain of Sand" has so opened up my imagination with awe, wonder and respect. I'll never take for granted a walk on the beach again.
Eye Candy Meets Science June 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read the original 2008 hardcover edition.
The buying recommendations e-mailed to me from amazon are oftentimes as fascinating as their reasons are funny. Why on earth would I be happy to hear that there is a book with pictures of sand available now? Oh dear! Because they have been taken by Dr. Gary Greenberg and I had ordered two books by him previously. Problem is: There are many Gary Greenbergs. And the president of the Biblical Archaeology Society of New York who has written works such as 101 Myths of the Bible isn't the Hawaiian resident who has 17 patents to the same name for developing micro photography technology. Even though both dig in sand.
In other words, there is no middle man in the information transfer from expert to reader in this book. And curiously, amazon's selling technique worked. But the reason offered should have been: "Hey, you order books all the time about stuff nobody dared to teach you before, because hardly anybody knew these questions existed." I never really thought about sand. Well, think again! This isn't merely an excellent coffee table book, it is also intriguing to actually read.
Ever wondered what sand is made of? Well, eroded rock obviously. But today that may also be eroded plastic garbage. Or intentionally micro-shredded glass to make beautiful beaches and get rid of more garbage with one stroke - in Florida of course, where else? As in ashes to ashes in the origin-of-glass-version, I presume. (For some unbeknownst reason, the book doesn't go into the obvious Ouch!-question.) But making beaches isn't a modern phenomena: Some classic Mediterranean marble sculptures and buildings have turned into grains of sand over the millennia of restauration neglect. Humans aren't even alone in making beaches: a single parrotfish poops a ton of coral sand a year. How and why the fish is doing that you will find in this book as well. Yes, you are right, the very most is about BEACH sand in this book.
But it's also marrying CSI with WWII history. As an Oregonian I always thought, it was this state's coast which was the only continental piece of US land directly attacked by its foes. Wrong again, Montana and Wyoming took the lead in occurrences. And yes, it involved sand...
No less mesmerizing that nature recycles grains of sand: They are already textured in rock in a "predetermined" way to be broken off by erosion, then pressured into new rock and so on and so forth. Science can even make estimated guesses, how often a grain of sand has undergone such a procedure. And when it gets broken into smaller pieces, it will cause you to sink in at the beach.
Of course the main attraction of this book is its major eye candy. With the advantage that this eye candy comes as a revelation, as you can't see it in real life because it's too small (or because you are too big). Usually, the images of the sand are enlarged between 150 and 300 times. Some pictures are offered with different illumination effects for further fluctuations of perception. There are even some 3D effects in this book. For that you have to cross your eyes. Unfortunately, there's no quick guide in this book "Cross Eyeing For Dummies". I was so happy to be able to roll my tongue, that I made myself dizzy attempting to cross my eyes, too. But maybe I'll find a cross-eye-coach on askville. So, this makes even a great party book, I assume. A dinner party table book, in a manner of speaking.
UPDATE: I DID get an askville cross-eye-coach for dummies. However, coincidentally, I have also read Stories of the Invisible: A Guided Tour of Molecules with one 3D image. And this book thought it necessary to explain how to watch such images: "Place the page about 8 inches [20.3 cm] from your eyes, and cross your eyes slightly so that you can see three images. Focus attention on the middle one - in a few seconds, it should become sharp"
Now, that I have read a further book by Gary Greenberg and expressed my primary interest in the New Yorker part of "the" author, I'll probably get another amazon suggestion soon, about a book by a New Yorker author named Gary Greenberg: The Pop-Up Book of Phobias. Yet again, this would be another one, also known as a stand-up comedian. At least in Hollywood they prohibit their artists to use the same name when becoming one...
Mesmerizing Micro-Photographs of Sand June 13, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
What a beautiful and interesting book. Dr. Gary Greenberg's stunning micro-photography shows the infinite beauty of biological and mineral sand grains found in sands from around the world. Some photographs show collections of grains, other showcase the exquisite beauty of a single crystal found in sand magnified 200 times, other photographs show artistic arrangements of sand-grained sized sea urchin spines, sponge spicules, and tiny shells.
The book and its photographs tell stories of bountiful and diverse reef environments, glacially eroded grains, the durability and beauty of garnet grains, or the polishing effects of the relentless surf on grains. Looking at the micro-photographs and reading the text opens up a whole new understanding and appreciation of sand.
And personally as a sand collector, I've known how sands vary around the world, but Greenberg's book and his stunning micro-photography really raised my appreciation of the biological and geological stories sand can tell in addition to the showcasing the beauty in minute grains of sand. After seeing and reading this book, you will never walk on a beach without wondering about the history and story the sand grains can tell. A fascinating read with mesmerizing photographs.
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