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Wooden Books
Sun, Moon and Earth
How many days are there between full moons - think you know? Is there an ancient key to the calendar hidden in stone circles? What is the magical secret of the Sun-Moon-Earth system? If you have ever wondered about eclipses, tides or the seasons, this amazing little book by acknowledged time-lord Robin Heath will quickly introduce you to the astonishing beauty of the primary cycles around this planet. Advanced wizarding at its best! "Timeless" RESURGENCE. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
64 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
10 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Robin Heath
40 books9 followers Robin Heath has a science degree, and has written several books based on research into the astronomy and architecture of megalithic sites. Sun, Moon & Earth and the best selling Stonehenge are published by Wooden Books and Walker & Co, NY. A recent book, The Measure of Albion, co-written with John Michell, looks at the evidence for ancient wisdom in prehistoric Britain. Robin undertakes guided tours to megalithic and Celtic sites for Sky and Landscape and lectures widely on cultural astronomy and astrology at Oxford University and Bath Spa University College, in addition to less formal venues .
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 21, 2018
This has made me a very very very happy cosmology fanatic. What an excellent book!
November 2, 2014
Some nice, and for the most part reasonably accurate factoids, but ultimately let down by poor/simplistic science, contrived and pretensious mathematics and some well-masked circular reasoning.
On the plus side, few actual conclusions are drawn; rather the oh-so-important implications and suggestions are left to 'speak for themselves'. Something they utterly fail to do of course, unless you've already bought into the nonsense and have suspended critical faculties.
Reference to mystical ratios etc. are amusing (or amusingly naïve?): Nothing more than numerical coincidences and contrivances, and as any half-competent amateur astronomer knows, what may be more or less true at this point in history wasn't earlier, and won't be again in few centuries or millenia. So there is no awe-inspiring existential significance whatsoever. Nothing especially special about the geometry.
That said, there's not a great deal which is actively or spectacularly 'wrong' in this book, but there's even less which is valuable, insightful and 'right'. A good book to read if you want to do the debunking sums yourself, but in the end about as intellectually satisfying as finishing a half-completed 'medium' sudoku.
Were it not for the studious hat-tipping to various fascinating ancient calendars, I'd definitely say don't waste your time. As it is, I'd say that these are the most interesting parts by far, and can pique your interest, but equally there are far better treatments elsewhere, and which forego all the twee piffle.
On the plus side, few actual conclusions are drawn; rather the oh-so-important implications and suggestions are left to 'speak for themselves'. Something they utterly fail to do of course, unless you've already bought into the nonsense and have suspended critical faculties.
Reference to mystical ratios etc. are amusing (or amusingly naïve?): Nothing more than numerical coincidences and contrivances, and as any half-competent amateur astronomer knows, what may be more or less true at this point in history wasn't earlier, and won't be again in few centuries or millenia. So there is no awe-inspiring existential significance whatsoever. Nothing especially special about the geometry.
That said, there's not a great deal which is actively or spectacularly 'wrong' in this book, but there's even less which is valuable, insightful and 'right'. A good book to read if you want to do the debunking sums yourself, but in the end about as intellectually satisfying as finishing a half-completed 'medium' sudoku.
Were it not for the studious hat-tipping to various fascinating ancient calendars, I'd definitely say don't waste your time. As it is, I'd say that these are the most interesting parts by far, and can pique your interest, but equally there are far better treatments elsewhere, and which forego all the twee piffle.
August 14, 2017
This book is an excellent introduction to why eclipses occur and how various cultures, including today's, have reacted to them. It is written for a wide audience, including those that no nothing much about astronomy, and could be understood by middle school level on up. It has some fascinating anecdotes how eclipses changed the course of history. I highly recommend it in preparation for the coming eclipse.
September 4, 2025
This is a strange little book. It's really a series of one page chapters, and the pages are small. The left hand page has mainly text, and the right hand page has a black and white illustration which the text refers to and explains.
Each page/chapter has astonishing descriptions of the interactions of the celestial bodies, often referencing ancient knowledge such as stone circles, religious texts etc.
Each page/chapter also has too much new information for my old head to retain. The mathematics isn't advanced, and is often in the form of fractions as well as decimals.
The author clearly has done enormous study and research on the subject, and words like 'coincidence' and 'correspondence' get lots of use. I can see why the book has attracted negative reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, but I found it fascinating. The author does use language which seems to verge on the mystical/alchemical at times, but it's riveting stuff.
Just for a bit of background... I moved to Selby, North Yorkshire three years ago. I live on the banks of the River Ouse, and I'm fascinated by the tides and the river's changes of direction. I popped into a charity shop about a hundred yards further along the river bank one day, and saw this book for £1. It's answered some of my questions, but sparked my interest to explore further about tides and my adopted town and its history.
This book is quirky, mind blowing and highly recommended.
Each page/chapter has astonishing descriptions of the interactions of the celestial bodies, often referencing ancient knowledge such as stone circles, religious texts etc.
Each page/chapter also has too much new information for my old head to retain. The mathematics isn't advanced, and is often in the form of fractions as well as decimals.
The author clearly has done enormous study and research on the subject, and words like 'coincidence' and 'correspondence' get lots of use. I can see why the book has attracted negative reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, but I found it fascinating. The author does use language which seems to verge on the mystical/alchemical at times, but it's riveting stuff.
Just for a bit of background... I moved to Selby, North Yorkshire three years ago. I live on the banks of the River Ouse, and I'm fascinated by the tides and the river's changes of direction. I popped into a charity shop about a hundred yards further along the river bank one day, and saw this book for £1. It's answered some of my questions, but sparked my interest to explore further about tides and my adopted town and its history.
This book is quirky, mind blowing and highly recommended.
March 19, 2025
I really tried to finish this but half way through couldn't take it anymore.
The author seems to confuse coincidence with causation and eagerly finds patterns everywhere, even if he has to fudge the numbers to make it work.
He randomly counts cards in a Tarot deck and comes up with 13, the number of moons in a year. He randomly counts numbers in a Tarot deck and comes up with 364, the number of days in a year. Magic! Fate!.....Bullshit.
One illustration tries to imply the distance of the mile is based on some ratio of the Earth to the Moon to the Pyramids???
If you're looking for a scientific book about the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon, give this a pass.
If you're looking for a metaphysical book about the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon, give this a pass.
It aims squarely at both and misses by a mile.
It says something that his bio says he has a "science degree" but not in what science or from what university.
Save your money and buy something better.
The author seems to confuse coincidence with causation and eagerly finds patterns everywhere, even if he has to fudge the numbers to make it work.
He randomly counts cards in a Tarot deck and comes up with 13, the number of moons in a year. He randomly counts numbers in a Tarot deck and comes up with 364, the number of days in a year. Magic! Fate!.....Bullshit.
One illustration tries to imply the distance of the mile is based on some ratio of the Earth to the Moon to the Pyramids???
If you're looking for a scientific book about the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon, give this a pass.
If you're looking for a metaphysical book about the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon, give this a pass.
It aims squarely at both and misses by a mile.
It says something that his bio says he has a "science degree" but not in what science or from what university.
Save your money and buy something better.
November 30, 2018
Imagine you mistakenly teleported from another dimension and became trapped in some vast earthly wilderness. You might keep a notebook about your observations, trying to understand this new world.
As a found object the notebook would be quite pretty, but if you showed it to a native earthling they might say, "Yep, that's just what the spheres do. They have cycles. What's your point here, stranger?"
And you might reply, "But isn't the symmetry of all this magnificent? It's so idyllic."
"Well, gee whiz, if it wasn't ideal, there probably wouldn't be humans here."
"Gee whiz? That's all you have to say about this heavenly glory I've captured in my notes?"
"Yep."
The format is awkward when trying to shelve with other books. It reinforced my belief that we'd be better off with a lunar calendar. I hope that was the author's drift, but I doubt it.
As a found object the notebook would be quite pretty, but if you showed it to a native earthling they might say, "Yep, that's just what the spheres do. They have cycles. What's your point here, stranger?"
And you might reply, "But isn't the symmetry of all this magnificent? It's so idyllic."
"Well, gee whiz, if it wasn't ideal, there probably wouldn't be humans here."
"Gee whiz? That's all you have to say about this heavenly glory I've captured in my notes?"
"Yep."
The format is awkward when trying to shelve with other books. It reinforced my belief that we'd be better off with a lunar calendar. I hope that was the author's drift, but I doubt it.
November 3, 2019
What an amazing way to see an such beautiful dance in the sky of our Moon.
I've learn a lot on the repeating process of the alignment between Earth, Moon and Sun, from something logical like predicting the rise of the Moon according to its current phase, to the understanding of very old, yet so precise, Moon eclipses calendar and 18 years repeat cycles, or the 13 months based "anti-clockwise calendar" you can do on your own, representing the Moon and Sun alignment.
As Robin Heath says, "you'll never see our Moon the same way!".
I've learn a lot on the repeating process of the alignment between Earth, Moon and Sun, from something logical like predicting the rise of the Moon according to its current phase, to the understanding of very old, yet so precise, Moon eclipses calendar and 18 years repeat cycles, or the 13 months based "anti-clockwise calendar" you can do on your own, representing the Moon and Sun alignment.
As Robin Heath says, "you'll never see our Moon the same way!".
September 7, 2020
The fact is, I’m still at odds with the Wooden Book Series. These pint size books are visually appealing and almost always include interesting and detailed drawings. But something always seems slightly amiss when it comes to the content of these petite volumes. Nevertheless, there is decent treasure trove presented about the moon, including a fair amount of math and some science. Much of the astronomy and eclipse explanations were informative. Overall, I felt that this cute book provided a decent assortment of moon lore.
April 18, 2021
This was like a miniature coffee table book, not over long full of mathematical facts.
Finally the Saros Cycle clicked into place for me!
Enjoyed the diagram showing Stonehenge as the oldest know calendar.
Would make a good stocking filler or Secret Santa gift for someone you have no idea what to get.
The paper Quality is lovely too.
Finally the Saros Cycle clicked into place for me!
Enjoyed the diagram showing Stonehenge as the oldest know calendar.
Would make a good stocking filler or Secret Santa gift for someone you have no idea what to get.
The paper Quality is lovely too.
January 23, 2024
I wish I could do 3 and 1/2 stars. It's a good introduction to the sacred geometry of the sun and the moon but it needs explanations that rapidly exceed the amount of space it has. For such a wee book covering such a big topic it's well done. The first half is excellent. The second half shouldn't have been tried.
October 9, 2017
Absolutely love this book! Learned so much about our sun, moon and earth! Perfect timing for the upcoming eclipse.
January 9, 2020
terra soluna writes poetry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2021
The math & geometry of celestial bodies is astonishing and precise. "The cosmos is always in motion, yet always in place."
August 10, 2025
I purchased this book from the shop when I visited Stonehenge. It’s a cute little book, VERY heavy in maths and science.
August 9, 2017
Gift from Sara from her Portland trip, July 2017. For beer name inspiration.
February 23, 2010
Honestly, this book should be required reading in schools. It gives a very concise overview of a hugely important topic that is almost completely absent from the education system - and it can be read in 30 minutes. Essential!
We all know what time it is, but we have forgotten why it is what time it is.
We all know what time it is, but we have forgotten why it is what time it is.
November 14, 2012
A load of new age crap enveloped in nice design.
According to author, science today has lost the knowledge of the ancients, yet we somehow fling satellites around every planet, add leap seconds according to atomic clocks, and have precision of femtoseconds 10^-15 in research...
Generally a waste of time unless you're new-ager or conspiracy theorist.
According to author, science today has lost the knowledge of the ancients, yet we somehow fling satellites around every planet, add leap seconds according to atomic clocks, and have precision of femtoseconds 10^-15 in research...
Generally a waste of time unless you're new-ager or conspiracy theorist.
April 7, 2011
Enthralling!
July 11, 2012
Really great read. Great reminder that I don't know much.
September 11, 2013
Lovely little book that describes the interactions between the sun, moon and earth (e.g. eclipses, solstices, precession, seasons etc) with every second page an illustration.
August 12, 2015
Beautifully made and very interesting! but some parts were difficult to get your head around I found personally.
Read
August 12, 2011.
August 31, 2016
Fascinating look at the geometric aspects of the sun, moon, and earth, and how they interact.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews