"Principles of Geology" (Charles Lyell)

"Principles of Geology," authored by Charles Lyell in the early 19th century, is a foundational text in geology that argues for uniformitarianism—the idea that the Earth's landscapes were shaped by the same slow, natural processes we observe today, like erosion and sedimentation. Lyell challenged the prevailing belief in catastrophic events as primary forces of change. His work laid the groundwork for understanding geological time and the gradual evolution of landforms, influencing Charles Darwin and the field of evolutionary biology. Ultimately, Lyell emphasized that studying present processes allows us to understand the Earth's geological history.