"It is marvelously refreshing to come across a book on earthquakes that doesn't focus on the devastation they cause but zeroes in on what they can teach us about our world. Excellent and accessible, When Worlds Quake is essential reading for anyone eager to find out how a small rocky planet operates." --Bill McGuire, author of Hothouse Earth: An Inhabitant's Guide "An excellent and inspiring narrative about life as an earth scientist. Hrvoje Tkalcic reels readers in with his strong prose, expressing wonder at the natural world, the pleasure of discovery that is often beneficial to mankind, and the experience of striving to do challenging work in various difficult environments in nature." --John E. Vidale, University of Southern California "This lively and engaging book exposes the dual nature of earthquakes. Firstly, a destructive component arising from the stresses and strains in our active planet and secondly, the source of seismic waves that act as the principal probes for the internal structure of Earth, Moon, and Mars. Linking personal experiences with cutting-edge science, Tkalcic conveys the challenges in understanding the nature and dynamics of our planet.

" --Brian L. N. Kennett, coauthor of Exploiting Seismic Waveforms " When Worlds Quake is a lively tour of the exciting science of seismology, engagingly conveyed through personal stories from one of the world's top seismologists. Tkalcic cleverly weaves together the history of studying earthquakes--like the lessons learned from the devastating 1906 San Francisco quake and attempts by the Chinese to predict earthquakes--with our current understanding of how the earth 'works,' all through the lens of his own personal experiences doing seismology research in many parts of the globe. A very fun read!" --Michael Wysession, Washington University in St. Louis "Intriguing, thought-provoking, and well-crafted, When Worlds Quake combines the evolution of modern seismology with Tkalcic's personal experiences, showcasing the exciting progress in the field in a unique and compelling way." --Sung-Joon Chang, Kangwon National University " When Worlds Quake is hard to put down. Extremely well written, it blends well-researched facts about discoveries, instruments, and methods with an entertaining, often personal narrative that takes us on a journey through time, into the depths of our restless planet, and finally into space.

A pleasure for general readers and scientists alike." --Christine Thomas, University of Münster.