Hamblin and Christiansen help students to see the global view of Earth, teaching them to look at the world as geologists do. The text is structured around two main themes: The first examines Earth as a geologic system with vast interconnected subsystems, while the second theme focuses on how the human species fits into Earth's integrated system. This is still the only introductory text that fully integrates the two major energy systems of Earth: the plate tectonic system and the hydrologic cycle. The Ninth Edition continues to offer a stunning and sophisticated art program that is virtually unmatched by any other geology text.