Book Description

An easy to understand book on fossil shark tooth identification. Clear photos and simple terminology. This book is a must for any fossil collector. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Fossil Shark Teeth of the World
This book has many things going for it: the design, the amazing amount of reference photos, the portable size and it's beauty, all delivered in an easy readable and understandable format. I gave many copies to my nieces & nephews living in Virginia where there are a lot of fossils to be found.

Jaws uncovered
Being an amateur fossil collector I grabbed Joe Cocke's book to learn more about fossil shark teeth. I found the guide well organized and easy to use. You'll find pictures, the different accepted names used (scientific and common), a detailed description along with references to similar teeth and of course the age. Discovering what kind of tooth you actually found is a lot of fun. This is definitively a great guide.

A must for any fossil collector
The book "Fossil Shark Teeth of the World" by Joe Cocke is a very concise and well organized guide. The photos are clear and the descriptions of the teeth will help anyone identify their find.

One of the Better Guides, but not Comprehensive Enough
In this short booklet on fossil shark teeth of the world, author Joe Cocke has compiled a fairly detailed and descriptive guide for identifying shark's teeth. Well illustrated, this book a great beginner's guide for anyone interested in trying their hand at identifying those teeth they keep finding on the beach. Unfortunately for the professional, this guide just isn't quite comprehensive enough in that it does not provide a good set of photographs showing the range of variation in the teeth from each species, nor does it compare and contrast similar looking teeth from different species so that the layman can be sure to get them right. In all, however, this booklet is a wonderful guide worthy of study by both kids and adults

Excellent Guide to Fossil Shark Teeth
Finally a very comprehensive shark tooth identification book that covers over 85 species and covers them correctly. I found very few mistakes of any kind in this book when it comes to ID, nicknames, ages, localities, etc. which is almost never done! Each identified species shows accompanying photos (several of each species showing different positions usually) and is written in plain English so it can be easily understood by amateurs. Plus it's small size will enable it to be well-utilized in the field unlike most ID books. ... Read more

Book Description

Writing in a conversational style for the lay person -- without forsaking science -- the author embarks on a world-wide hunt for the largest predatory fish and most fearsome shark ever to inhabit our global seas.After 62 million years, the fossil record for this 60-foot aqua-motive known as C. megalodon abruptly ends.

In part, this is a color-illustrated guide book that pinpoints where to search for Meg teeth and other shark fossils in Florida and elsewhere, as well as how to identify the various species.It is also meant to invite lively discussions about how such a menacing predator became extinct, or whether it is still lurking deep below the ocean’s surface.Additionally, the book is a rallying cry for treating today’s sharks (as well as all life forms) with as much respect as we ourselves would want to be treated. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Must Have Book For A True Fossil Skark Lover!!!!
I recently had the pleasure of getting a copy of the book Megalodon - Hunting the Hunter by Mark Renz. My first thought was,"Oh yeah, this is going to be yet another amateur fossil hunter book of which all are the same, but each having just a different cover". That's what I was thinking before I opened the book. Man was I wrong to have thought that to any degree!!! This book is certainly not like any of the others which I have received. It is very informative about scientific views of the Giant Extinct Shark Megalodon and includes, as well, unexplained stories of possible encouters with modern day Megs or Meg-like sharks around the world (Though I do not believe they still exist today, the stories are still very exciting to read).The book is full of beautiful color photographs of megalodon teeth plus other shark teeth and fossils from all over the world. It also includes fantastic artwork of sharks by very artistic shark enthusiast and professionals alike. Also Mark Renz went to great pains to include a list of worldwide localities where you may be able to visit and collect your very own Megalodon Teeth. I have never before seen a book as such as this that has ever covered so much information about Megalodon until now. Mark Renz has proven himself to be an excellent writer that is very excited about what he does best; Hunting the Megalodon. His whit and very sincere appreciation of fossils is evident throughout his book. The book is saturated in excitement for fossil collecting!!! It is that sense of Mark's Personal excitement for the hobby that exudes from his style if writing that helps to set the reader on fire for more and more until they finally just have to get up and go fossil hunting for themselves or absolutely risk passing out from visual fossil information overload. At least that is how it affected me. Yes, if you love fossil hunting and especially anything to do with the giant extinct shark Megalodon, then you are going to love Mark's new book "Megalodon - Hunting the Hunter". But be warned, when you pick it up you won't want to put it down and when you do you will be out the door to go fossil hunting for yourself. So read it early in the day before it gets too late in order to leave you plenty of time later to find that big tooth before it gets too dark again outside. But of course, just bring your flash light and Mark's book along with you and that is all you will need to give you that edge to keep going to find that BIG SHARK TOOTH waiting out there for you!!!! Thanks Mark for a GREAT BOOK!!!

Megalodon:Hunting the Hunter
Megalodon, the book, I ran in to Mark Renz on a river in Fl. hunting shark teeth and he told me about his book and about when it would be out. As a lover of good fossil books, I have over 600 fossil books which about 50 are about fossil sharks.
What made in nice he had signed it for me.For meg.teeth I thank it is a well but togeather book. A ametur like my self are a profcessional will get a lot out of this book.A lot of pictures also made this book great.
George Wolf

"poorest book in paleo history!!!!!!!!"
This was a poor book that seemed like it was not even useful.The book was not that informational, only in a few parts.I do not reccomend this book to anybody!

Meg...BIG AND BAD
...yup, read this before you go to the beach...
A very informative read about nature's most dangerous predator of the sea. Includes evidence of the Meg still existing today out there, lots of photos, a comparison between other notorious extinct predators, and tons of gripping facts.

"Megladon" Enlightens in a Big Way
I have had the opportunity to hunt with Mark on several occasions in Florida and found him to be a wealth of knowlege regarding fossils. He has taken the time to put much of this knowlege into the framework of an educational and enlightening text. The book "Megladon" brings his casual, conversational approach to fascinating levels for interested readers. As a graduate from the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography, I found this book to be delightful to read, informative in it's scope, and very thorough in it's coverage of this large predator. The photographic documentation was awesome, and the additional information regarding various other fossil forms was an added bonus. This book is a "must" for the serious collector. I enjoyed "Fossiling in Florida" very much, but "Megladon" tops my list! ... Read more

Book Description

An up-to-date pictorial review of the major fossil finds in the world! This updated, introductory guidebook to the fossil record of prehuman and human evolution presents detailed drawings of complete or nearly complete specimens representative of particular grades of evolution. Each drawing (usually shown at 75 percent of original size) is accompanied by appropriate information, including geographical location, approximate age, and general description. Descriptions include information on the context of the discovery and summary anatomical details. The detailed drawings in this highly regarded volume make it an excellent sourcebook for use in departments with limited fossil cast collections. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Narrative Fiction
Remember seeing all those pictures of various "hominids" lined up according to the supposed progression from apes to humans? According to Henry Gee's 2001 book, In Search of Deep Time, such scenarios are works of complete and utter narrative FICTION, unsupported by any credible understanding of the fossil record. According to Gee, all of the "hominid" fossils that have any bearing on human "evolution" can be stored in one small box. This is all of the evidence we have of human "evolution"--one small little box of fossils supposedly representing a time period of multiple millions of years. And we have more more and better fossils for "hominids" than for any other class of species, according to The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution.

Look at all the pictures you want: evolution is, was, and always will be a narrative fiction, a superstition.

Human Origins-- A Guide
Okay, Australopithecus afarensis. I've heard of Lucy; I know she was found at Hadar in Ethiopia, but what is her accession number? How much of her was actually recovered? Good thing I have my copy of Larsen et al. "Human Origins: The Fossil Record" on hand.

Superbly illustrated with line drawings and maps of the different fossil localities, this encyclopedic text traces human evolution from the Dawn Apes through modern Homo sapiens in the best way possible-- with the fossils. Each specimen is well drawn, most in multiple views, so that the student or amateur who can't make it to Addis Adaba to see the real thing can have a chance to compare fossil homonids from around the world. In addition, for comparative purposes, the authors have also supplied illustrations of the modern great apes. A fun and informative text either for study or just as an escape into our origins. I must emphasize, however, that the emphasis of this book is on illustrations for pictorial comparisons, not on descriptions. The text concerning each fossil, therefore, is fairly short.

The Complete Record
When you read this book you will realize why there is so much controversy about Human origins. The fossil record is so sparse, it makes you wonder how scientists have been able to deduce as much as they already have. This book was probably written as a reference for college level courses in paleoanthroplogy, but it is also a good reference for armchair amateurs such as myself. Concise, well written and superbly illustrated, the book is an invaluable resource.

Awesome illustrations and coverage of the specimens
Covers a ton of prominent homind specimens with detailed black and white illustrations (drawings not photos) that accent the morphological features of each specimen. Includes detailed descriptions of the specimens and also a nice description at the beginning of each section. As a bonus also includes a section with non-hominid primate specimens. This book is great for anthropology students needing a quick reference to numerous specimens. It also contains numerous references to the literature about each specimen so makes a great starting point for research.

Human Origins
This book is an excellent source for students and teachers of human evolution. It is the first compilation that I have seen that puts drawings of all the major fossil finds together in one place. It is very helpful as a supplementary text in an intro human origins class since most books lack adequate pictures of the major fossil players. ... Read more

Book Description

This, the first all-photographic field guide to cover fossils found throughout North America north of Mexico, includes nearly 500 full-color photographs identifying corals, trilobites, shells, teeth, bones, as well as fossil-bearing rocks and outcrop formations. The descriptive text includes information on size, geological period, geographical distribution, and ecology of the animal or plant before it was fossilized. In addition, the book provides lists of Geological Survey offices and major fossil collections, a geological time chart, and a guide to collecting and preserving fossils. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

"THE" Fieldguide
If you're looking for an excellent fossil fieldguide, look no further. This is the first book I purchased to help me identify fossils, and have since purchased seven more but keep going back to this one. Why? First of all, the format is great. Tons of full-color photos and precise descriptions of the pictured specimens, including which areas of North America they normally occur in and when the organism existed (or exists) in geological time. Also lists similar fossils that are sometimes mistaken for or confused with the one illustrated.

Second, this book focuses specifically on North American fossils, which means that you get more concise information. Many other fossil guides attempt to cover fossils of the world in the same size book (or smaller), which is doubtless a very ambitious project, but probably impossible to do successfully in the form of a fieldguide. So with the National Audobon guide, you get more pertinent information. Granted, not everyone is looking for an American-specific guide. But if you
want information on, say, European or Morrocan fossils, the same concept applies: Purchasing a more specific guide gives you more specific information for your money.

Third, the photos in this guide look like fossils as they occur in nature (as opposed to some fossil guides picturing specimens that have been prepped and polished and perfectly repaired). This is an obvious advantage when trying to identify a specimen that you have just brushed the soil off of. (In fact, most "serious" paleontologists recommend that the natural condition of a fossil be altered as little as possible.)

Fourth, the book diagrams and labels the different parts of the major fossil types. So by studying the diagrams, one can learn the paleontological names for the parts.

I will say that the book focuses mainly on invertebrate fossils, so if you're interested specifically in vertebrate paleontology this would not be the book for you. But again: Purchasing a more specific guide gives you more specific information for your money.

In conclusion, I very highly recommend this book to someone that is interested in identifying and learning more about invertebrate fossils. I have yet to find a guide that tops it!

Great Field Guide... but it cant have everything....
It would be impossible, I'm sure, for a field guide to North American Fossils to provide us with every single fossil that can be found on our continent. No doubt the Audobon Society did not have in mind for a user of this guide to be able to identify everything they find, but to at least highlight the more common fossils, and to guide the reader to look for answers to all the rest. For instance, in Nebraska there are at least 3 types of horn coral that can be found near the Omaha region alone, and there is doubtless many more species that can be found. The guide helps you find the most common and to surmise what you have found by those examples.

Furthermore, no book to be placed in the back pocket of us fossil enthusiasts could possibly be made very thin if it included every illustration, and every detailed description of every type of fossil.

If I have one complaint about this book, its that the maps are difficult to read, and could have been simplified a bit more.. and printed clearer. But, that is a small complaint as I am able to get further detailed maps, and descriptions from the State of Nebraska Geological Survey and other sources.

Get this book if you want to seriously hunt for fossils.. and identify them.

If you only have one fossil book, this should be it!
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American fossils was the first and best book on fossils I ever purchased. The pictures and maps have helped me may times to find locations to dig for fossils. Hundreds of beautiful drawings and complete descriptions help to identify the fossils you find. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Some of the most important clues indicating human brain evolution come from the cranial cavities of ancient skulls. Endocasts of these crania provide excellent three-dimensional models that yield information regarding the size, surface features, and asymmetry patterns of hominid brains. Looked at as a group, these endocasts provide essential information regarding the human brain’s overall development.

Brain Endocasts, Volume Three of The Human Fossil Record, is the only comprehensive, single-volume work dealing exclusively and uniformly with fossil hominid brain endocasts. Never-before-published photographs come together with easily accessible, coherent descriptions to create a detailed reference on the paleoneurological evidence for human evolution.

Each entry offers essential information related to the location, dating, associations, and morphology of a given endocast. The text also covers the latest methodologies and techniques available for studying endocasts. In addition, a concise summary shows how these fossil records contribute to our understanding of human evolution and behavior.

Written by some of the foremost authorities on the subject, Brain Endocasts is an invaluable resource for advanced students, researchers, and instructors in paleoanthropology, neurology, and evolutionary biology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very informative, shows more than only the best specimens.
I have used this book to refer to numerous times.
It gives a very good perspective of the diversity of the geography of Texas.
Good book, thanks for writing it, Chuck.
Jessy Boedeker
The Texas Fossil Collector

A great guide to texas fossils
This book is easy to use, informative and quite helpful to the texas fossil hunter. The pictures cover a very broad range of texas fossils, and though not always in color, are very helpful in identification. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by Monte Burch, a leading expert with over thirty years of experience of planting food plots and managing woodlots on his own farm, this book will help you to develop, manage, and maintain your property to attract and hold wildlife. Wildlife & Woodlot Management Handbook is the ultimate reference on the subject.

Over 330 pages with hundreds of instructional photographs & illustrations.

Chapters cover Choosing and assessing the right piece of land; Planning food plots, soil testing, preparing the land; How to select the right seed for your property; Food plot tools (including planting plots with ATVs); Timber stand improvement, maintenance, and management practices; Timber forest management tools; Improving soft mass crops and acorn management; Improving vines, shrubs, and other natural vegetation; Methods to monitor food and woodlot areas; Managing forage non-native grasslands and prairie grasses; Implementing controlled burns; Specific tips to attract mature bucks, wild turkey, waterfowl, upland birds, and small game; How to establish watering sites, improve springs and spring seeps; How to control predators; How to effectively deter poachers and trespassers.

Written in an easy-to-understand manner, the Wildlife & Woodlot Management Handbook not only provides all the information needed to create your own hunting or wildlife-watching haven but also how to enjoy owning or leasing your own piece of land. This is an indispensable book filled with information you won’t find anywhere else. ... Read more

Book Description

The Neanderthals were a people native to Europe during the Pleistocene period, who became extinct between forty and thirty thousand years ago. Challenging the commonly held view that extinction was caused by the arrival of our ancestors, Clive Finlayson provides evidence that their extinction actually occurred because the Neanderthals could not adapt fast enough to changing ecological and environmental conditions, not their relationship with modern humans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Impressive Research
This is a very scholarly and technical book. Be prepared for pages of charts and computer projections. But it is also a very refreshing book because the author is willing to follow the scientific evidence wherever it leads, and to disregard the previously established consensus which was based on incomplete research.

The case the author builds for his theory that there was minimal human-Neanderthal contact, and that Neanderthal extinction was caused by inability to adapt to unstable climatic conditions is quite impressive. I was especially interested in the author's review of climate changes during the Pleistocene. His research is so complete that it may also be relevant to the current global warming debates. Any serious criticisms of his theory or major revisions to it will need new and compelling evidence.

The book ends on an unnecessary negative note, "That we are here today is the end result of a series of chance events...It could easily have gone the other way." In fact C S Lewis and other Christian writers have long ago put to rest the notion that there is an inherent contradiction between evolution and the Christian message. The last paragraph could easily have been omitted, but the rest of the book is must reading for anyone interested in the subject of Neanderthal extinction. ... Read more

Book Description

The dramatic story of the discovery that forever changed man's perception of his place in the universe.

In 1812, the skeleton of a monster was discovered beneath the cliffs of Dorset, setting in motion a collision between science and religion and among scientists eager to claim supremacy in a brand-new field. For Reverend William Buckland, an eccentric naturalist at Oxford University, the fossil remains of a creature that existed before Noah's flood inspired an attempt to prove the accuracy of the biblical record. Gideon Mantell, a naturalist who uncovered giant bones in a Sussex quarry, also became obsessed with the ancient past, risking everything to promote his vision of the lost world of reptiles. Soon the eminent anatomist Richard Owen entered the fray, claiming the credit for the discovery of the dinosaurs.

In a fast-paced narrative, Terrible Lizard reveals a strange, awesome prehistoric era and the struggle that set the stage for Darwin's shattering theories-and for controversies that still rage today. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Witness the Birth of A New Science
The story of how a few great and nimble minds knocked relentlessly at the doors of established scientific thought and were, by dint of excellent work and bold imagination, eventually admitted.
From the painstaking, earnest and underappreciated Gideon Mantell to the flamboyant and eccentric Dean Buckland. From Sir Richard Owen, perhaps the finest comparative anatomist of his time, to the poverty-stricken fossilist Mary Anning here is a tale of fortunes won and lost and discoveries celebrated and forgotten, where brilliance walks hand in hand with heartache and madness...
Best of all, its true.

Interesting story about the first dinosaur hunters
An absorbing account of the pioneer 19th-century British geologists and fossil collectors. Our hero is Gideon Mantell, of a noble family long fallen on hard times. The son of a shoemaker, Mantell was smitten with fossils at an early age. Without resources but recognized as a prodigy, he was apprenticed to a surgeon and became a doctor in London. For the rest of his life he would balance his unenthusiastic practice of medicine with a passionate devotion to fossils. Enter one Mary Anning, who supported her family by gathering fossil "trinkets" from the dangerous coastal cliffs of Dorset to sell to tourists. Her keen eye led to her recognition as a prime "fossilist" among geologists and collectors, including Mantell. One of her major finds was the fossil remains of a giant sea lizard; little by little, other huge reptilian bones were unearthed by Mary and others, but not without controversy. Mantell waited years before the eminent Baron Cuvier in Paris agreed that he had found the remains of a huge herbivorous land reptile (reversing his earlier opinion that the fossil was mammalian). But the plot thickened with the appearance of the wicked Richard Owen, who rose to pinnacles of power within the Royal Society and the Geological Society, became a social lion, and was an intimate of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. At every step of the way he did his best to discredit and ridicule Mantell, at the same time claiming some of Mantell's fossils as his own. His comeuppance (and the recognition of Mantell's true worth) was the result of both his egregious behavior and his being on the wrong (creationist) side of the evolutionary debate as the scientific tide turned to Darwinian theory. "He lied for God and for malice," an Oxford don declared. "A bad case." A scholarly account infused with a rare drama and suspense: read it not only for the science, but to learn what happened to all these wonderful characters.

Bitter bones
Deborah Cadbury does the burgeoning genre of popular science proud with this book. It has all the necessary elements. A human interest story with heroes and villians, an interesting historical setting and a good scientific foundation. The history and science revolves around the gigantic fossilized bones that were being discovered throughout southern England in the early 19th century. Paleontology and Geology were just beginning as sciences. Evolution was a concept but not yet a theory as this was pre-Darwin's ORIGIN OF SPECIES. Indeed in 1812 when an uneducated and simple villager named Mary Anning found a gigantic skeleton on a beach under the Dorset cliffs, there was nothing else to call it but a monster. The word "dinosaur" didn't exist. It was coined in 1842 by Richard Owen, one of the principal characters in this story.

Mary's discovery started the great quest to identify, categorize, name and date these bones. We meet Gideon Mantell, the poor son of a shoemaker who by dint of hard work and education became a country doctor and a member of the scientific community. He is the sympathetic character this story revolves around and the author wants us to embrace him. Mantell was one of THE DINOSAUR HUNTERS which is in fact the more appropriate title used for this book's edition in Britain. Mantell was typical of these amateur paleontologists who were combing southern England in the hopes of making some great discovery. It's true that only some were eccentric but it's also fair to say they all shared an obsession for bones. Mantell filled his home with fossils, developing one of the finest private collections in England. His devotion to the world of dead creatures came at a cost. It drained all the life out of his marriage and his wife left him in 1839. Mantell did at least have some success, discovering the skeleton of what would later be named the Iguanadon. That's about the only success he had though and his life story as told here is one of disappointment and bitterness with a sad ending.

If Mantell is the sympathetic character then the opposite emotional responses should be directed towards Richard Owen. Cadbury paints a very unflattering portrait of the man (Sir Richard eventually) who founded the Natural History Museum, invented "Dinosauria", and was consulted by royalty, prime ministers, and academia on all things fossilized. The author says he was "instinctively predatory" and if Cadbury rather than her publishers chose the title for the book, then it's very appropriate as it's quite clear from her writing who she sees as the TERRIBLE LIZARD.

Mantell is reminiscent of William "Strata" Smith in THE MAP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. The same disdain as shown by the scientific elite and similar financial difficulties. Smith's story however had an ultimately redeeming end. Not so here. Mantell had to sell his fossil collection to the Natural History Museum and following a carriage accident which badly damaged his spine and left him with severe backaches he declined rapidly. He died from an ovedose of the opiates that he took to relieve the pain. Owen's success had been at the direct expense of Mantell as he had been quite willing to claim Mantell's work as his own. From his well connected position within the scientific community Owen was very effective in preventing recognition for others and garnering it for himself. A bit of poetic justice arrived by way of Thomas Huxley who discredited some of Owen's work (specifically his view on the differences between human and ape brains). In doing so Huxley did in large measure what Owen had done to Mantell. Owen had also argued that Dinosaurs were proof against evolution. He reasoned that since evolution said life progressed it was impossible then that ancient and extinct creatures should be more splendid than those living today. Since fossils proved that dinosaurs were in fact many times more magnificent that the reptiles Owen saw around him, then evolution must be wrong he said. If Huxley embarrassed him then Darwin's stunning and well reasoned theory of evolution published in 1859 pretty much put paid to Owen's arguments. He outlived Darwin but only to his chagrin as he finally accepted the reality of Darwinism and the sting of being bettered scientifically.

Would make a fascinating film
An excellent read, an excellent *story*, told by a very capable author. I actually picked up TERRIBLE LIZARD on a fluke, but I'm glad I did; while a little too light on the science for even my non-scientific tastes, it reads as well as many novels. The story of Gideon Mantell, in particular, is a page-turner, and ultimately a depressing one, while William Buckland's sad and desperate attempts to reconcile reality with Biblical myth is almost funny. I finished the book particularly disliking Richard Owen, and you probably will, too.

I can see this tale, as it's told here, making an interesting film.

My absolute must read of 2001!!!
If you have an interest in fossils, the Regency/Georgian period of English history, or anything Darwin - then I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did. This is my definite must read of 2001.

I picked up the story because of my fascination for Georgian and Regency England, and that is where this book begins. I kept reading because Cadbury has a wonderful style - and tells the story (and it is quite a story) without drama. It unfolds beautifully in fact. From the first discoveries and theories of the rocks and geology of Britain to the final acceptance of a world beyond the bible's theory of creationism.

I just loved how Cadbury refrained from turning this into some kind of tabloid/overly dramatic presentation. The story itself is dramatic enough and has tension, jealousy, pride, and a fair amount of mystery in it to keep the reader thoroughly absorbed. There are 4 main characters in this book - beginning with Mary Anning who without training or even education began to uncover the most amazing fossil shapes in and around Lyme Regis - following in her father's footsteps. Until this time the fossils had been sold without really knowing what they were - but in 1812 she uncovered what could only be the skeleton of a monster and the search for an explanation of what it was and how it got there began. Even at this stage the research was done with rudimentary knowledge of geology and formations - and any explanations conflicted with the accepted church teachings that god created earth in a week. After all - how could monsters have ever roamed the earth in another time? God created all things perfectly in 7 days.

The main defence for the church, the man who tried to marry religious doctrine with the increasing evidence of other generations of strange prehistoric creations, was William Buckland. His role became increasingly more difficult as evidence mounted both in England and in France.

However this is mainly the story of two men - Gideon Mantell, a rather poor English Doctor who dedicated all his spare time to trying to piece together the past from his obsessive fascination with fossils - and his rivalry with the pathologically jealous Richard Owen.

That in itself makes a story to rival the worst excesses of an Aaron Spelling TV series. Owen's strange behaviour and jealous protection of what he felt was his territory ended up crippling more than one avid researcher to the period, and certainly ended up crippling Mantell.

The story comes together so well. Cadbury has carefully pieced together each stage of the journey to discovery of our Dinosaur age, and its influence on later thinkers such as Darwin - as well as deftly writing of the personal troubles of all the main characters in the book. I found this book compulsive reading and highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Images of our ancient ancestors
If you've ever kept a scrapbook of old photographs, you'll understand the fascination of this collection. Instead of grandmothers, aged aunts or toddler cousins, this book reveals life from the dimmest past. With photographs and drawings, Briggs and his colleagues have restored to view rare animals that lived in ancient seas. These are our earliest forebears, and for that reason alone, this book is worth repeated scrutiny. The images, with their stories of discovery and restoration, are offered in a spirit of shared discovery. These are very special creatures and it behooves us all to understand their value.

Although the book is targeted for professional paleontologists, the authors give us text nearly as illustrative as the images. They are part of the team who personally enticed many of these fossils from their lithic prison. Beginning with an account of Charles Woolcott's trek into the mountains of British Columbia, they go on to describe the environment in which these creatures lived. The significance of the Burgess Shale fossils, of course, is that they are images of soft body parts, usually lost as fossilization proceeds. At the time of the original find in 1909, such artifacts, especially ones of such ancient deposition were pricelessly rare. Woolcott himself understood their value to science, but never dedicated the necessary time to tease out their full secrets. It took Briggs and others, particularly Simon Conway Morris to apply the painstaking effort to recreate the body forms locked in the shale. In so doing, they overthrew a number of blithe assumptions made by a number of commentators, in particular Stephen J. Gould who had popularized the Shale finds, but sadly misinterpreted what they represent.

As you slowly turn over the pages of this book, reflect on the vast ages separating you from these creatures. The sea has always kept some bizarre secrets, but few can match the multi-spined Hallucegenia or mud-burrowing Ottoia. Haplophrentis might be mistaken for a Roman dagger lost in the sea until you read that its maximum length was but 30 millimetres long. A more formidable denizen of these waters is the Anomalocaris, with its hooked feelers and rasping mouth. Swimming in a sea with this half-meter long predator might not have been dangerous, but observing it might best be done from the beach.

This book is a clearly valuable contribution to our understanding of life's history and the process of evolution. It belongs on the shelf next to the other albums of family history. Take it down from time to time and simply open it at random. With half-closed eyes it isn't difficult to see these creatures in their daily lives, clutching rocks, swimming through the water, or burrowing into the bottom. They are your forebears, and deserve as much of your respect as does Aunt Matilda.

An excellent book
This is a wonderful book. It is chock-full of photographs of Burgess shale fossils. The photographs are full page photographs and are accompanied by drawings that illustrate what the plant or animal probably looked like. The text is informative and easy to follow for a layperson.

Richard F.
"The Fossils of the Burgess Shale," the non-geologist will find this book fascinating and understandable - yet the author did not "water down" the facts for those of us who have the technical background in the fields of geology and paleontology. The only drawback of the book was that some of the species listed in the back were not included in the pictorial portion of the book. I do understand that if Briggs had placed them all in the book the volume would have been over a 1,000 pages in length; however, several of the species not included are equally spectacular!

The first third of the book provides a brief history of the site and it's significance within Cambrian paleontology; the remaining two-third portion of the book provides clear photographs and line drawings of the animals entombed in this special location. I have used this book in teaching about the Cambrian explosion. Students were awed by the content of the book. If you are interested in invertebrate paleontology; this book is a must!

Burgess Shale - treasure trove of Cambrian explosion
The Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies contains rarely preserved fossils of the soft body parts of animals, including many from the Cambrian. This reference provides good quality black and white photographs and illustrations of 85 of the 125 recognized genera of the Burgess Shale. Of interest, the proportion of the total Burgess Shale fossils a given specimen represents, is given.

A well crafted introduction to the fossils and site.
I recommend reading this book before undertaking any other work on the subject of the Burgess Shale fossils. It avoids the speculative, controversial and metaphysical conclusions found in Stephen J. Gould's A Wonderful Life and Simon Conway-Morris's Crucible of Creation and presents a superior first look at the remarkable Cambrian flora and fauna. The Fossils of the Burgess Shale begins with a simple, clearly written presentation of the site, chronology of fieldwork and the geologic essentials. The bulk of the book (199 pages) is dedicated to a celebration of the amazing life forms that have been uncovered. Fine B&W photography of selected fossils coupled with beautiful line-art reconstructions provides a visual framework that supports the highly informative and concise text. After reading this book, readers who wish to expand their knowledge of the subject will be well-prepared for the more personal interpretations of Gould and Conway-Morris. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With his new book Trilobite! Eyewitness to Evolution, Richard Fortey confirms his status as one of the best communicators of science around today. His hugely enjoyable previous book, Life: A Natural History of the First Four Billion Years of Life on Earth, was shortlisted for the 1998 Rhone-Poulenc science book prize, but Trilobite! is sure to receive even greater acclaim. Whereas Life took the reader on a whistle-stop tour of evolution from start to present--a huge undertaking that necessarily granted little space to each time period or taxonomic group--Trilobite! sees Fortey indulging in a whole book about his overriding paleontological passion, the long extinct and enigmatic creatures of the title. The result is a joy.

Trilobites--woodlicelike creatures that dominated the world's oceans long before the time of the dinosaurs--are, arguably, the most beautiful animals that have ever been chipped out of the fossil record. Fortey certainly seems to think so. His enthusiastic, almost loving explanations of the anatomy, ecology, and long evolutionary history of these fascinating vanished creatures carry the reader on an inspirational journey into the Earth's distant past. But the book is much more than a technical treatise on trilobites. We learn about Fortey himself, his formative years as an amateur then professional paleontologist, about his much-loved teachers and colleagues, and above all, about that strange but addictive pastime known as science. You may not find arthropods as charming as Fortey does, but you will not fail to be charmed by the author. A delightful read. --Chris Lavers, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Another Winner from Richard Fortey
This is a wonderful book! Trilobite! Eyewitness to Evolution is a skillfully crafted narrative that displays Fortey's impeccable scientific credentials and his engaging and highly entertaining style of writing. Readers unfamiliar with these remarkable creatures and their 300 million year history will benefit from well organized chapters that explain the physiology, life habits, evolutionary patterns and geological time line with insight and clarity. Those readers with a better understanding of the class Trilobita, will enjoy the personal observations and anecdotes of a superb writer, who just happens to be a leading authority on the subject. Fortey even tackles the role of ombudsman in his attempt to soften the contentious battles between Simon Conway-Morris and Stephen J. Gould over those controversial early arthropods and other creatures of arguable affinity. I applaud his restraint and gentle hand in dealing with the emotional fervor of his contemporaries. If I have any criticism of this book, it would be to step on to the soapbox and point out that Fortey details the moment when he chipped out his first trilobite at age fourteen as an epiphany that determined his lifes work. He discusses Walcott and other self taught geologists and paleontologists who started as eager young fossil hunters. Sadly, in several places throughout the text, Fortey explains that these sites are now closed to collecting. Typically, these closures are to protect the area from the hammers of interested collectors (with special emphasis on those who might profit from the sale of their collections) in the misguided notion that invertebrate fossils are national treasures that must be protected for all through restrictions and the intervention of government agencies. I subscribe to the belief that a fossil left uncollected is a fossil that is lost. The search for specimens, even for profit, benefits us all. In the final pages of his book, Fortey marvels at the recently discovered trident Comura trilobite. I only wish he'd made it clear that this unique fossil discovery resulted from the activities of Moroccans digging the Devonian strata for profit and that future fossil wonders, as well as future paleontologists, are much more likely to occur when people are allowed to explore the rocks as Fortey was allowed to do in his youth.

A Romp among the Trilobites
This is an excellent book from the point of view of the elucidation of the life of 300 million years of trilobites as well as the view of the discovery process in science. Fortey gives a lucid account, that is funny also, of his involvement in his life work on trilobites. He describes the details of the structure of these invertebrates and how they evolved over time. Their remarkable diversity of structure allows them to be used for the elucidation of the evolutionary process as well as the construction of maps of the early world, which Fortey explains in charming detail. In the focus on the trilobite there is less said about the simultaneous evolution of the predators of the trilobites, such as the toothed fishes, and the eventual extinction of the trilobites. This is a great gift book for the young biological scientist and for the old ones also who love the process of discovery.

Trilobite Science from an Expert in the Field.
To my surprise Richard Fortey's Trilobite! turned out to be a rich and insightful book. Not many books have been written on this subject. If you are interested in paleontology and the trilobites then let me assure you that you will not be disappointed in this work. At first glance this subject may seem dry and uninteresting to some but Fortey who is a senior paleontologist and a curator at the Natural History Museum in London manages to curve out an entertaining plot that flows smoothly throughout. In Trilobite! you will treated to 16 pages of black-and-white (Color photos of fossils tell nothing of animal's realistic coloration, therefore, it is possible that Fortey decided to present them in this style. Perhaps, BW photos offer more detail) photos of fossilized trilobites, 40 illustrations including charts, maps and timelines. Fortey pays special attention to structure and function of trilobite's legs, eyes, shells, antennae and provides information on their habitat, climate of those periods, and feeding styles of the animals. What this book may be lacking is a set of color photos of virtual live trilobites.

I was delighted to finally learn in detail what Burgess Shale and Cambrian Explosion really were. Fortey wrote up a lucid history of science behind excavations and classifications of trilobites and scientists who worked and were involved in propelling this field.

Also, Fortey can definitely make his reader laugh from time to time. I was not distracted by his memories and other stories that he included in the work. He can give a good idea of what feels like to be a scientist.

All in all, this is a good presentation of the world of trilobites. It is a shame that so few books were written about the animals that endured approximately 300,000,000 years of existence on Earth. As Fortey puts it, we only survived ½ % of time of their dominion so far. I believe that richer works can be produced but for now we are left to enjoy this little gem.

Fortey is formidable!
Fortey's writing talent is capable and captivating. Whether describing the cliffs of Cornwall or his journeys in search of fossils, he keeps your attention in thrall. He is even able to lead us into the realm of arcane terminology. In an early section in this book we are carefully introduced to the physical structure of long-extinct creatures. With graceful descriptions, he demonstrates how to painlessly add eight new words to our personal lexicons. He has much to tell us and he relates his story and his science with evocative skill. The exclamation mark of the title certainly reflects his enthusiasm for the topic. With his ability to communicate that zeal, it becomes infectious.

Trilobites, he continually reminds us, lasted far longer than the dinosaurs - nearly 300 million years, compared to the saurians' 120 million. Their persistence, Fortey explains, is due to their adaptability. They were so efficient at finding and filling ecological niches they are sometimes referred to as "the beetles of the Paleozoic". Fortey shows how various species inhabited deep oceans, shallow seas or glided through the mid-depths of the seas. The only niche left uninvaded, Fortey ponders ruefully, was fresh water streams and lakes. Had they done so, he muses, they might have persisted to modern times. Whether that step might have precluded our evolution, Fortey sets aside for others to consider.

We learn the anatomy of these lost arthropods, how the structure of the legs was discovered, how they grow from minuscule diatomic forms to more than lobster-sized. The most engaging aspect of trilobites was the variety and form of the eyes. Unlike the squishy, liquid-filled sensitive orbs we carry, trilobites "learned" enough chemistry to form eyes of calcite crystals. These are arranged in a wide variety of patterns and structures, reflecting the animals' diversity. Some lacked them altogether, having never developed vision, or losing it as successive generations migrated to the stygian depths.

Fortey has traveled the globe in search of these mysterious creatures. From misty Newfoundland through snake infested Queensland to an Arabian site infested with scorpions. He insists the risks are ignored when a new fossil emerges from the rocks. You feel that every new find should have a champagne celebration to accompany it. Fortey, however, is content with beer - sometimes just a bit of cool water suffices. Every page of this book dispels the mistaken image of the unfeeling, austere, white-coated academic. His contribution to the science is inestimable - he's named 150 species. Yet those accomplishments pale against his love for the science and the creatures he studies.

In explaining the diversity of his treasured trilobites, Fortey takes us through the mechanics of plate tectonics. Geology is the science that birthed paleontology, and the two sciences have been intimately entwined for generations. In explaining why different types of trilobites evolved, Fortey traces the movements of continents over the millennia. East Coast Newfoundlanders may be pleased to read how their part of the island was once joined to the European continent to later merge with the western segment. The key to discovering this phenomenon was, of course, trilobite species differences. This kind of information Fortey offers within a framework of why these lost life forms are important for an understanding of who we are in nature. A fine addition to any bookshelf. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Starts slow but is well worth the time
I almost returned this book to the library after the disappointing first chapter. That would have been a mistake. Fortey's prose tend to ramble (the book just uses too many words to say what it has to say) but the content makes the prose (which, in fairness, often were entertaining) well worth wading through. I had the advantage of a keen ambient interest in the critters going into the book but Fortey's command of the key discoveries and their implications is outstanding and his passion for trilobites is contagious. The book could use about twice the figures, but has included over 25 including some very instructive ones. On the whole a worthwhile read. ... Read more

Book Description

The aims of the book are two-fold: (i) to document unusual or rare samples of Eocene fossils, and (ii) to examine what sorts of new and different information can be gathered from these samples that is traditionally not available.New information may come in the form of a better understanding of morphology through specialized preservational circumstances that produce complete specimens, often with details of soft tissue anatomy. Other new information includes a better understanding of Eocene Biodiversity through documentation of fossil species from rarely sampled habitats. This may include evidence from rarely sampled geographic areas (African Eocene faunas are rare, for example) that will aid in a better understanding of the biogeographic distribution of Eocene animals. It may also include evidence from rarely sampled microhabitats (freshwater limestone deposits, for example) or different physiographic areas (upland areas that are almost never sampled, for example).This information, which is available nowhere else, gives a new perspective on Eocene Biodiversity and shows that it was even more complex than previously thought. ... Read more

Book Description

160 drawings 6 x 9 Complete beginners guide to fossil collectingIncludes lesser-studied vertebrate fossilsDetailed illustrations for identification and comparison Earlier life forms are buried all over the earths surfacein oceans, on mountain slopes, in our backyards. Discovering Fossils provides an essential background on where to search for fossils, how to scan for the right textures and shapes, and how to properly extract and protect ones findsa perfect reference for new collectors young and old. Includes practical advice on what to wear and which tools to carry as well as an illustrated identification section of common fossil finds. Frank A. Garcia is responsible for more than 30 previously undiscovered species of prehistoric animals. He lives in Ruskin, Florida. Donald S. Miller is a fossil collector, writer, and proprietor of Millers Fossils in Wilmington, Delaware. Artist, author, and fossil collector Jasper Burns lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great book about fossils
This book has very accurate illustrations. It is very helpful for people who are interested in fossils, and everything that has to do with collecting them. It is easy to understand, and interesting to read over and over.

Best Fossil Reference Book, Ever
Frank Garcia pierces the veil of paleontology and brings you right down to the surface of your own dig.

This book is the best fossil reference book for the casual collector as well as a great addition to any science or teacher's library where geology and-or paleontology are included.

Written in a very down-to-earth style, the book walks you step-by-step through the basics of why fossils exist, where you will find them, how to properly (and safely) collect them and what to do when you get them home or back to the classroom.

Any family that includes fossil-hunting in their vacation, home-school or travel plans should pack this book along for the added benefit of the wide range of fossils identified within.

Any teacher who brings students to potential fossil or geology sites on field trips should include readings from this book BEFORE heading out as well as keeping it handy while in the field.

There's enough packed into this book that every school library science section should include this volume if budgets restrict purchases.

It's a great gift for the budding fossil collector and an excellent addition to a serious collector's library.

The soft, but protected cover, makes it safe to handle in the field.

Take my advice - purchase two: one for the field and one for the desk or prep table.

Great guide to get you started in fossil collecting
A very good guide book to get started in collecting fossils. Great advice on equipment, locations and methods for collecting. The illustrations of typical specimens are extremely helpful in identifying finds. Mr Garcia writes with a great wit and a genuine love of science. His matter of fact story telling coupled with the excitement of discovery makes it obvious that to him, science is a verb.

Informative and easy to understand, with a sense of wit .
I enjoyed reading this book, as well as others by the same author. It was well written and easy to understand by the beginning fossil collector, yet it was not in any way condensending to the amateur. Frank writes, as he speaks, in a down to earth, witty and conversational form. I especially enjoyed his commentary on the other great amateur and professional paleontologists, in particular, Ben Waller. One could tell, by reading, that Ben help a special place in Frank's heart, it was good to see him write his feelings in this book. I would gladly reccommend this book to all ages. The book contains valuable knowledge for fossil collects of all types, and the well drawn and accurate illustrations provide excellent examples for what one should be searching. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Fossil Hunting- Hide and Seek for the New Millenium
I can remember pouring over the pictures in this book,using my book light,long after the final lights out call from my parents. I traveled back in time, imagining dinosaur growls and prehistoric seashells. By day, I would wander the acreage on my Grandma's farm, scouring the weedy earth for the slightest hint of ancient rock or dinosaur footprint. I wanted my school-age children to enjoy the imaginative art of archeology and paleantology and immediately remembered my favorite book, Fossils: A Guide to Prehistoric Life. I was delighted to see that it was still in print with the same exciting drawings. I immediatley ordered my copy! I then decided to order a copy for my kids! This is a great book that will encourage your children to look beyond the video games and satellite channels and into the fascinating world of the ancient past.

Only For Beginners!
This little guide is the best choice for beginners and children. Book gives the reader an idea about what a fossil is, where and how they can be found, and some information about major fossils. All the pictures are hand drawn illustrations, so that they are not very detailed but still OK for kids and beginers. (I liked it when I was young!) ... Read more

Book Description

Voted Best Book on Prehistoric Animals of 1997 by the readers of Prehistoric Times In this beautifully illustrated natural history that links extinct larger feline species with those still in existence, collaborators Alan Turner and Mauricio Antón weave together the evidence of modern feline behavior with that of the fossil record. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Evolution AND anatomy in one book!
One of few books to discuss fossil mammals in relation to their modern-day counterparts, and the only one I've found that discusses functional anatomy. Easy to read for the beginner, with beautiful illustrations. I began knowing almost nothing about the large cats, and ended knowing not only about the family tree, but also the history of the evolution of morphology. I've now read it three times, and am planning on going through it again.

Good reference work
The Big Cats by Alan Turner is a very thorough discussion of the cat family, past and present. It also sports illustrator Mauricio Anton's splendid sketches and paintings of various members of the family. Those of extinct cats bring them to life in a way that the usual drawings of the skull and skeletal remains cannot. There is a thorough discussion of taxonomy in general and of classification of cats in particular. Unfortunately while the drawings are wonderful and the information dense, the book is not light reading. It might be useful to the professional paleontologist or zooarchaeologist looking for a good overview of cat remains or possibly appeal to the dedicated cat lover, but I can't imagine settling in by the fire on a quiet evening with the book. Its most appropriate place might be in a school library for reference use by students doing classroom projects on cats, paleontology, biology, ecology, etc.

a must read
This is an outstanding book, hands down the best book of its kind I've seen. The text is very well organized and readable, both for the layperson and those with science backgrounds. It goes into enough detail to be comprehensive, yet in such a way as to make the material easily understandable and enjoyably read.

The illustrations are what really makes this book stand out above the crowd: they are always well drawn and detailed and pretty to look at, both functional and artistic. It really brings the subject matter to life, sort of like if you were able to examine the museum collection yourself, and then go on a prehistoric safari. If you have any more than a passing interest in cat biology, natural history, or paleontology, this book is a definite must have.

Worth the Money!!
Anyone interested in Big Cats or Prehistoric cats should have this book as a great reference. It also shows readers how the extinct and living cats are classified. Provides information on individual speicies and has tons of pictures (colored and pencil) that are beautifully illustrated. This is definitly worth the time and money....so hurry and buy it now!

Masterpiece!
I strongly recommend this book for any student of mammology or paleontology.The text is very informative and easy reading. The illustrations are so good and elaborate that I suggest art students working in pencil buy this volume. Unlike some books showing only static lateral views, the illustrator has shown these creatures going about their daily lives. Hunting methods are dealt with in great detail.
For book collectors looking for something different, this is it! For biology students and profs, what are you waiting for!?? ... Read more

Book Description

Published in conjunction with the BBC and based on the Discovery Channel series, Walking with Prehistoric Beasts is a fascinating visual odyssey of the prehistoric era. State-of-the-art computer graphics and simulated nature photography are sure to make a lasting impression on kids (and adults, too!) who love learning about the time before man. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

wow!
I saw the documentary and now I saw the book! Oh my God! This vlume sets new standards for book design/layout, fantastic computer illustrations, photographs etc... Sure some of the information concerning these beasts is guesswork but not much. Remember, many experts within the field of paleobiology have put in their `2 cents worth`and they know what they are talking about. As a fisheries biologist, i enjoyed the idea of a book that deals with the life histories of these animals on a day by day basis. Book of the year!!

Get to know ancient beasts!
A diverse audience from young children to adults will be enthralled with this companion to the television series produced by the BBC and follow-up to Walking with Dinosaurs (DK, 2000). The evolution of life on earth since the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction is illustrated as readers might view this world on a safari. The sequence begins forty-nine million years ago and in six episodes progresses to a year in the life of a mammoth 30,000 years ago. The adventure presents familiar sabre-toothed tigers, mammoths, and primates, as well as the less well-known early whales and hyaenodons. The narrative for each group of animals focuses on a fictional vignette that presents scientific knowledge with captivating creativity. One narrative depicts early horses of the Eocene forest, whereas another highlights the fighting entelodonts. Major fossil finds, analysis of fossil evidence, geological processes, and time lines are interspersed in sidebars for in-depth science. More careful editing of time lines would have corrected a misplaced divergence of apes and hominids as twenty-million years ago rather than four-million years ago, as correctly stated in the text. The colored illustrations are awesome, the stories captivating, and the information comprehensive. A younger or only mildly interested student will probably enjoy the illustrations and narratives but skip the more technical sidebars. This one is a must-buy for any library.

Carnivorous ground-sloth?!
I bought two copies of this book: one for myself and one for a 12-year-old relative. The illustrations are superb, the information secure and grounded on the latest paleontological finds, the narrative intersting...in short, one fine example of BBC expertise in documentary-making. However, there's something that has, I'm afraid, gone astray in Chapter 5, where the author, in order to arrange for a confrontation between a pride of saber-tooth tigers and a giant ground sloth, comes with the idea that ground-sloths scavenged carcasses from predators "to supplement their diet". Now, where did this come from? I've never heard the slightest hint of evidence about that, and I found this particular piece of informed guess-work somewhat aberrant, to say the least. Seems like something atuned to the necessities of more dramatic story-telling of a kind of Pleistocene