On March 27, 1964, at 5:36 pm AST, the Great Alaskan earthquake occurred across south-central Alaska, tragically leading to approximately 139 deaths. The earthquake lasted 4 minutes and 38 seconds, and was the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history.

In The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet, author Henry Fountain explores the impact that this earthquake has had on the understanding of geology and science in general. It is a fascinating, informative, and educational book. Fountain not only covers the geological aspects of the quake in depth, but he also discusses historical information relating to the Alaskan people. If you love geology, you will (hopefully!) love this book.