Melanie Holmes tells the story of Johnston's journey from a nature-loving Boy Scout to a committed geologist. Blending science with personal detail, Holmes follows Johnston through his encounters with Aleutian volcanoes, his work helping the Portuguese government assess the geothermal power of the Azores, and his dream job as a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Interviews and personal writings reveal what a friend called "the most unjaded person I ever met," an imperfect but kind and intelligent young scientist passionately in love with his life and work and determined to make a difference.
| Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: The Wonder Years 1. Tornado! 2. The Johnston Family 3. Youngest and Smallest Part Two: Coming of Age 4. College Years and Shifting Gears 5. Stage Fright 6. Dream Job Part Three: Fire Mountain 7. Folklore and History of Mount St. Helens 8. The Awakening 9. May 18, 1980 10. Aftermath 11. Recovery Part Four: Legacy Takes Many Forms 12. Volcanology's Giant Leap 13. Twenty-First Century and Beyond 14. Memorials with Roots Epilogue Author's Note Notes Index |"An excellent biography. . . . This book is a great read." —The Daily Chronicle"A well-balanced and authentic view of David—where he came from, who he was, what the influences on his worldview were, and especially his sense of urgency about the unfolding situation at Mount St. Helens in spring 1980. Volcanoes are complex features; Melanie Holmes explains scientific ideas in a clear, straightforward manner that make them more accessible to a broad, non-specialist audience."—Tom Casadevall, former acting director for the U.S. Geological Survey
"The intertwined personal life of David Johnston with Mount St. Helens geology and the challenges of dangerous research have, in this story, produced an incredibly engaging saga. A beautiful tribute to a scientist and to science."—Robbie Rice Gries, author of Anomalies: Pioneering Women in Petroleum Geology: 1917–2017 and president of the Geological Society of America
|Melanie Holmes graduated from St. Xavier University in Chicago. She is the author of The Female Assumption, recipient of a 2014 Global Media Award from the Population Institute. She is also a speaker, educator, and freelance writer.