Coral Reefs

The work opens with a meticulous survey of the world’s coral formations, guiding listeners from the delicate rings of atolls to the sweeping barriers that hug continental shelves. Each chapter breaks down the anatomy of reefs—outer margins, lagoon depths, and the tiny organisms that build them—while presenting vivid descriptions of famous sites such as the Maldivian atolls and the Great Chagos Bank.

Beyond the field notes, the author weaves a broader theory of how these structures arise, contrasting ideas of subsidence, uplift, and sea‑level change. Detailed plates and maps illustrate the striking similarities between barrier reefs and lagoon islands, offering a visual companion to the narrative. Listeners will come away with a clearer picture of why coral reefs are both fragile ecosystems and enduring records of Earth’s geological history.