Tuzo is the never-before-told story of one of Canada’s most influential scientists and the discovery of plate tectonics, a pivotal development that forever altered how we think of our planet.

In 1961, a Canadian geologist named John "Jock" Tuzo Wilson (1908–1993) jettisoned decades of strongly held opposition to theories of moving continents and embraced the idea that they drift across the surface of the Earth.

Tuzo tells the fascinating life story of Tuzo Wilson, from his early forays as a teenaged geological assistant working on the remote Canadian Shield in the 1920s to his experiences as a civilian-soldier in the Second World War to his ultimate role as the venerated father of plate tectonics. Illuminating how science is done, this book blends Tuzo’s life story with the development of the theory of plate tectonics, showing along the way how scientific theories are debated, rejected, and accepted. Gorgeously illustrated, Tuzo will appeal to anyone interested in the natural world around them.

Nick Eyles
holds a Ph.D (East Anglia) and D.Sc. (Leicester) and is Professor of Geology at the University of Toronto. His prime research interest is in glacial sedimentology and has many years' experience with field work at modern glaciers. He has worked at the universities of Leicester, Newcastle upon Tyne and East Anglia in Great Britain, at Memorial University in Newfoundland and has been at Toronto since 1981 when he was awarded a prestigious NSERC University Research Fellowship. He has authored more than 150 publications in leading scientific journals on ice age geology and environmental geology and has conducted geological fieldwork from the Arctic to the Antarctic, including work with the Ocean Drilling Program onboard the drillship Resolution. Recent sabbaticals have been held in Brazil and Australia. His other books include Canada Rocks and Ontario Rocks.

Nick Eyles' profile page

"In accessible language, Eyles provides an outstanding biography of John Tuzo Wilson, the geophysicist responsible for clarifying today's understanding of continent movement."

<em>CHOICE</em>

“In accessible language, Eyles provides an outstanding biography of John Tuzo Wilson, the geophysicist responsible for clarifying today's understanding of continent movement…Readers unfamiliar with the plate tectonics controversy will find this book extremely informative. Knowledgeable readers will enjoy the nuanced overview of Tuzo's contributions to the present knowledge of plate tectonics and continental drift.”

<em>CHOICE</em>

“For me, it was a gripping page-turner and an unforgettable account of a scientific revolution occurring in my lifetime … A must‐read for geographers or indeed, for anyone interested in the history of earth science and paradigmatic change.”

<em>Canadian Geographies</em>

"This book presents a long overdue appreciation of the geologist J. Tuzo Wilson and his profound contributions to the development of our understanding of plate tectonics…The book is very well written, delightful to read and superbly illustrated."

<em>Geoscience Canada</em>