“We begin with a ‘volcanoes for dummies, very elementary introduction to the subject. It is part of a series of ‘beginners guides’ to just about everything. The author, Rosaly Lopes, is able to make the complicated clear without talking down to her readers. Her professional papers are equally clear. Anyone from the age of 12 on up, who is curious about volcanoes from the [under]groud on up, will find here a plain language guide to a fascinating area of science. From the first chapter: “What are Volcanoes”, to the last: “Exotic Volcanoes of the Outer Solar System, followed by a look at current research techniques. It will make a good gift for a curious teen, a general science teacher, or writer of disaster novels/movies – it will definitely be appreciated.”

– Volcanology

"With a combination of hard science, historical narrative and quirky facts, she reveals in a digestible and stimulating way everything needed to get started in the fascinating realm of volcanology."

– Clive Oppenheimer - reader in volcanology at the University of Cambridge and co-author of Volcanoes