Kusky provides a generally accessible discussion of earthquakes for the lay reader. No maths is used to describe the actual physical modelling of the earth's crust and its various plates. Also, only a deliberately minimal set of geological terms are proferred. Instead, we get a broad description of the theory of plate tectonics. The effects of various strengths of quakes is explained, along with possible countermeasures in terms of building construction methods.



A key idea is that the destructive effect of a quake often is in its lateral sideways motion, as contrasted to its strength in the vertical direction.



There is a discussion of the recent 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and how it originated in an undersea quake. Hopefully the tsunami warning systems emplaced after 2004 will minimise future tolls.