The Whispers of Rock

A geologist’s revelatory account of how our planet’s seemingly inert bones pulse with unexpected vitality “Poetic and heartfelt.”—Robert Macfarlane, author of Is a River Alive?

If you listen, can you hear the stones speak? The question seems absurd. After all, rocks are lifeless, inert, and silent. In The Whispers of Rock, earth scientist Anjana Khatwa asks us to think again and listen to their stories. Boldly alternating between modern science and ancient wisdom, Khatwa takes us on an exhilarating journey through deep time, from origins of the green pounamu that courses down New Zealand rivers to the wonder of the bluestone megaliths of Stonehenge, from the tuff-hewn churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia, to Manhattan’s bedrock of schist. In unearthing those stories and more, Khatwa shows how rocks have always spoken to us, and we humans to them. She delicately intertwines Indigenous stories of Earth’s creation with our scientific understanding of its development, deftly showing how our lives are intimately connected to time’s ancient storytellers. Through tales of planetary change, ancient wisdom, and contemporary creativity, The Whispers of Rock offers the hope of reconnection with Earth. With Khatwa as your guide, you won’t simply hear rocks speak—you, too, will feel the magic of deep time seep into your bones.

Author Biography

Anjana Khatwa is an award-winning earth scientist, TV presenter, and advocate for diversity in the geosciences and nature. She holds a PhD from the University of Southampton, and she won the Geographical Award from the Royal Geographical Society. She is a presenter for the BBC and other networks. She lives by the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, UK.