Shale has a long history of use as construction fill and a ceramic precursor. In recent years, its potential as a petroleum reservoir has generated renewed interest and intense scientific investigation. Such work has been significantly aided by the development of instrumentation capable of examining and imaging these very fine-grained materials. This timely multliauthor volume brings together 15 studies covering many facets of the related science. The book is presented in two sections: an overview and a second section emphasizing unconventional oil and gas. Topics covered include shale chemistry, metals content, rock mechanics, borehole stability, modeling, and fluid flow, to name only a few. The introductory chapter (24 pages) is useful and extensively referenced. The lead chapter to the second half of the book, "Characterization of Unconventional Resource Shales," provides a notably detailed analysis supporting a comprehensive production workflow. The book is richly illustrated in full color, featuring high-quality images, graphs, and charts. The extensive index provides depth of access to the volume. This work will be of special interest to a diverse group of investigators moving forward with understanding this fascinating group of rocks.

Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.