After a contentious and often turbulent start, sequence stratigraphy is now widely accepted as an additional tool in the kit of sedimentary geologists striving to interpret the record of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Elements of what we now understand as sequence stratigraphy had been rumbling along in the background for some time before the explosion that started to appear in the scientific literature in the late 1970s. It is easy, with the benefit of hindsight, to find key elements of the concepts in papers published during the 1950s and 1960s but we had to wait until the 1970s for these elements to be organized into a coherent framework. That this phase took place largely within the confines of a commercial company (Exxon) using seismic and related data that were far from being in the public domain imparts a very distinctive character to the development of the concepts. Much of the early criticism of sequence stratigraphy relates to this point. Some also erroneously saw sequence stratigraphy as an attempt to replace existing, established approaches. In fact it is a complement to these approaches and by reviving the importance of time in relation to sedimentation, sequence stratigraphy reinstated the link between sedimentology and biostratigraphy. This is perhaps best exemplified by the revival of chronostratigraphic charts (or Wheeler diagrams) that did not feature during the era of facies analysis. As a student of the facies analysis era I find my ignorance of Wheeler diagrams at that time as nothing short of criminal, but I was not alone.

There was perhaps a further reason why the concepts were initially given such a hostile reception. In the early key publications of sequence stratigraphy models such as the global sea level curve and the passive margin ‘slug’ were emphasized at the expense of the methods that had been used to develop the models. It took many people time to look beyond the models and see that there were novel methods embedded in seismic and sequence stratigraphy that could be used without devotion to the models. The principal strength of Catuneanu's book is that it sets out to explain the methodology of sequence stratigraphy as applied to surface and sub-surface data rather than focussing on the models. This tactic is clearly stated in the Preface and is executed throughout the text. As a practical, pragmatic statement of sequence stratigraphy, Catuneanu's text stands apart from competitor texts in an extremely positive way.

Following a short Introduction, the book reviews the Methods of Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis as applied to surface exposures, core, well logs and seismic data (Chapter 2). The concept of Accommodation is then reviewed, particularly as applied to shoreline behaviour (Chapter 3). The nature of Stratigraphic (or Key) Surfaces is then explored (Chapter 4), setting up the subsequent chapters (5, 6) on Systems Tracts and Sequence Models. The latter chapter discusses sequences in fluvial, clastic coastal/shallow marine, clastic deep-water and carbonate depositional settings. The book concludes with a discussion of Time Attributes of Stratigraphic Surfaces (Chapter 7) and the Hierarchy of Sequences and Sequence Boundaries (Chapter 8). The organization of the book is logical in the main, but I would have preferred to see the chapter on Time Attributes of Stratigraphic Surfaces (Chapter 7) linked to the earlier chapter on Stratigraphic Surfaces (Chapter 4). The text is well written and is richly illustrated with high quality, colour diagrams and photographs that are comprehensively explained in extended figure captions, imparting a ‘stand-alone’ feel to the illustrations.

The account of sequence stratigraphic approaches and methods steers a sensible course through the issues and terminology that dogged the early days of sequence stratigraphy. The basic principles of sequence stratigraphy and the usage of outcrop, core, well log and seismic data in this context are covered comprehensively and clearly in the early chapters and there is a short, but very useful, section describing a workflow for sequence stratigraphic analysis. The treatment of up-dip, coastal sedimentation and stratigraphy is exemplary in its clarity and depth of coverage. This is the depositional sector where many of the principles of sequence stratigraphy were established and besides being important in its own right this sector it is also crucial in terms of potential sediment supply farther down-dip.

The text covering deeper water settings discusses shelf-edge deltas in the context of sediment delivery to deep water settings, but the nature of slopes, specifically topographically complex slopes influenced by salt- and/or mud-deformation, receive scant attention which is unfortunate in view of the importance of the slope in current hydrocarbon exploration. The text also deviates from its pragmatic emphasis and becomes rather idealized and model-driven in this section. The account of deep water sequences is organized around an idealized sequence. Condensed sections are naturally used to define the sequence, but their lithology and sub-surface expression, briefly discussed in Chapter 4, are under-reported here. The account of deep water depositional elements returns the reader to the pragmatic theme of the book and is well illustrated by seismic cross-section and map views of the elements. The application of sequence stratigraphy to carbonate settings is discussed largely with respect to shelf type platforms. This approach highlights essential differences in the response of carbonate and siliciclastic settings to base level changes that stem largely from contrasts in sediment supply (in situ production versus external delivery) and bathymetry.

This book covers basic principles yet manages to reach a research level in a commendably concise manner. The focus on pragmatism is key to this text surpassing all of its rivals as a comprehensive and advanced introduction to the subject of sequence stratigraphy. It deserves to be used selectively as an entry level to the subject, and comprehensively by those in academic, industrial and survey settings who aim to unravel the stratigraphic record and predict facies distributions.