This is a portrait of geology in Connecticut as well as a history of the state's use (and depletion) of its natural resources. The author, a professor at Wesleyan, is taking a victory lap at the end of his career. Nonetheless the opening chapters including his discussions of the Connecticut River valley are great. Had he done as thorough a job on either the Eastern or Western part of the state I would have been much happier, but he seemed to run out of steam. ( )