"Principles of Geology" by Charles Lyell

"Principles of Geology," written by Charles Lyell, is a foundational work in geology that argues for the concept of uniformitarianism. This principle suggests that the processes shaping the Earth today—like erosion, sedimentation, and volcanic activity—have been consistent over geological time. Lyell emphasized that understanding current geological processes can help us comprehend Earth's history. His work challenged contemporary ideas of catastrophic events creating geological features and laid the groundwork for modern geology, influencing future scientists, including Charles Darwin, by linking geological changes to evolution and environmental transformation.