There’s something exciting about learning how things came to look the way they do. It’s what makes tour guides so popular and why that old neighbor who’s lived on the block for decades is so interesting.

Professor Arthur Sylvester and his former student Elizabeth O’Black Gans have recently published the second edition of “Geology Underfoot in Southern California” (Mountain Press, 2020). The updated version presents 21 stories about fascinating and unique locations in the southern half of the state.

The new edition joins the pair’s previous work, “Roadside Geology of Southern California,” in guiding readers through the dynamic events that have shaped the region’s complex and varied landscapes. With colorful photos and maps on nearly every page, and destinations well within driving distance for every Southern Californian, these are books to be experienced, not merely read.

“‘Roadside Geology’ tells you what you see going down the highway at 65 miles an hour,” Sylvester said. “‘Geology Underfoot’ says, ‘get out of your car. Get out on that geology and go experience it.’”