The Principles of Geology (Charles Lyell)

"The Principles of Geology," written by Charles Lyell in the early 19th century, is a foundational text in geology. Lyell argued that the Earth's geological features are the result of processes occurring over vast periods, a concept known as "uniformitarianism." This means that the same natural processes we observe today, like erosion and sedimentation, have shaped the Earth over millions of years. Lyell challenged the then-popular idea of catastrophic events being the primary forces of change. His work laid the groundwork for modern geology and influenced our understanding of Earth's history and the slow, gradual nature of geological change.