‘In this poetic and heartfelt journey through deep time, geologist Anjana Khatwa braids scientific knowledge and traditional stories to bring alive the lessons that rock both keeps and tells us – if only we know how to listen.’ Robert Macfarlane, author of Is a River Alive?
‘Anjana Khatwa writes science in poetry. She bridges worlds with her words. I’ll never touch rocks in the same way again.’ Dan Snow
‘With head, heart and soul, Anjana Khatwa nudges us towards a better understanding of and respect for rocks.’ Tracy Chevalier
From the sacred stones of Stonehenge to the rose red city of Petra, from towering mountains to the smallest grains of sand, rocks have had a profound influence on human life.
Anjana Khatwa, an award-winning earth scientist and TV presenter, has dedicated much of her life to geology. Here she tells us in beautifully descriptive writing how rocks have been shaped over the eons-but also how they have shaped us.
Boldly alternating between modern science and ancient lore, Khatwa takes us on an exhilarating journey through deep time from bursting volcanoes in the Andes to the wonder of the Dorset coastline, while honouring the Indigenous stories that have brought the land alive over the millennia.
She also explores how connecting with the earth has guided her through the toughest times and offers the hope of reconnection with the earth and its stories-if only we open ourselves to hear the wisdom in its whispers.
‘Anjana Khatwa writes science in poetry. She bridges worlds with her words. I’ll never touch rocks in the same way again.’ Dan Snow
‘With head, heart and soul, Anjana Khatwa nudges us towards a better understanding of and respect for rocks.’ Tracy Chevalier
From the sacred stones of Stonehenge to the rose red city of Petra, from towering mountains to the smallest grains of sand, rocks have had a profound influence on human life.
Anjana Khatwa, an award-winning earth scientist and TV presenter, has dedicated much of her life to geology. Here she tells us in beautifully descriptive writing how rocks have been shaped over the eons-but also how they have shaped us.
Boldly alternating between modern science and ancient lore, Khatwa takes us on an exhilarating journey through deep time from bursting volcanoes in the Andes to the wonder of the Dorset coastline, while honouring the Indigenous stories that have brought the land alive over the millennia.
She also explores how connecting with the earth has guided her through the toughest times and offers the hope of reconnection with the earth and its stories-if only we open ourselves to hear the wisdom in its whispers.
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Reviews
Deftly joining the lithic and the lyrical, Anjana Khatwa reveals the surprising stories that lie beneath our feet. The Whispers of Rock gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, heart of stone
Anjana Khatwa writes science in poetry. She bridges worlds with her words. I'll never touch rocks in the same way again
Suffused with warmth and wisdom, Khatwa brings a deeply personal perspective to the history of our planet. You will never look at a rock in the same way again
"With every story she tells, happy or tragic, Khatwa feels in her bones 'the magic of deep time'"
Khatwa braids geologic and human histories into a heartfelt and compelling story of land, identity and the sentience of stone
With head, heart and soul, Anjana Khatwa nudges us towards a better understanding of and respect for rocks
A beautiful and deeply moving book, full of good science but not afraid of the mythic and the stories that can grow out from the rocks around us
Khatwa can hear the stories of the stones, and what they reveal about how the material of the Earth and its movements have shaped our human world. The Whispers of Rock is sheer poetry in places, at times deeply personal, and an absolute delight to read!
Anjana Khatwa has a poet's heart and a scholar's eye. Perfectly balancing science and folklore, The Whispers of Rock takes us on a journey across landscapes both big and small, while listening to global stories of hope and history. If you simply put your ear to the ground, the rocks speak for themselves
Beautifully written and is a joy to read
The Whispers of Rock tells of how Earth's geological foundations are intertwined with the history of both our ancient planet and the world's peoples. As we plunder ever more mineral resources from the land, Anjana Khatwa's eloquent prose moves us to reflect on our complex relationship with the rocks that surround us - and that, at the most fundamental level, support all of our lives
By blending science and spirituality, modern analyses with indigenous knowledge and adding her own very personal narrative, Anjana Khatwa illuminates deeper understanding of the fabric of our planet and our place on it. At a time when our relationship with the natural world feels ever more complex, The Whispers of Rock invites us to listen to rocks and the tales they tell rather than consider them another domain to be conquered
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.
In this eloquent, energising work, Anjana Khatwa speaks the language of stone beautifully. The Whispers of Rock provides an urgent counterpoint to the extractive, exploitative stories of stone we too often hear