Reviews (6)

Well-written and excellently illustrated
Dinosuars/Big Sky is well written and excellently illustrated. It provides a basic history of bone hunting in Montana and a "how-to" of conducting field research. It also discusses the various geologic formations of the Mesozoic in Montana. All of this is illustrated with appropriate graphics and period and contemporary photos. As is the case with most well-written dino books of the past decade, Horner also discusses the paleo-environmental information that the geologic data provide - how paleontologists know in what setting the various dinos lived. An appendix clarifies some of the sometimes confusing anatomical terms that are used when discussing dino skeletons.
Chapter 4 and Chapter 5, at 60 pages the longest, discuss where Montana's Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous geologic formations are found and the dinos that have been found in them. It is arguable that the info on the geologic formations could have been better placed with the dinos rather than separately.
The only weak part of Dinosaurs/Big Sky lies in a couple of erratic metric to imperial measurement conversions and the pronunciations given with the descriptions of each dinosaur.
Paleontologists are not experts on classical or church Latin pronunciation or the vagaries of classical Greek pronunciation, and most paleontologists end up pronouncing the dinos' names with much inflection from their native languages, but Horner or his editor have not managed to be consistent from one page to the next in this section. Some pronunciations are incorrect by any standard. Richardoestesia gilmorei, for example, twice has its genus name butchered - both wrong.
All in all, this is an excellent introductory to mid-level book for anyone interested in North American dinosaurs and how professionals do field work.

dinosaurs
I LIKED THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT GAVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT DINOSAURS.

For would-be dinosaur hunters
Amateur collectors and lay readers will find Dinosaurs Under The Big Sky to be an intriguing guide to the dinosaurs which once roamed Montana. From the geologic history of the state to fossil finds and techniques for collecting, Dinosaurs Under The Big Sky will appeal to a specialized but interested audience of would-be dinosaur hunters.

I liked this book very much
Hi, I'm just a kid but I want everybody to know how much I enjoyed this book. I was hoping to get it for Christmas but now I got it early and I'm glad. I think dinosaurs are a lot of fun and I'm glad to get this book and study up on it. I hope to someday be like Jack Horner and work with dinosaurs out in Montana. I don't live in Montana but I wish I could so I could find more dinosaurs. I found some pieces one time in North Dakota and that got me interested. I like to go to museums and look at the skeletons and all the other information on dinosaurs, especially the T-Rex. I hope my parents will take me to Montana this summer and I can go to the museum and visit with Mr. Horner. It should be a lot of fun. I will ask him to autograph my book. Thank you very much, Dr. Horner for writing this book. It is my new favorite of all my dinosaur books.

An interesting book that I enjoyed
This was an interesting book that I enjoyed. Although I have never had the opportunity to go to Montana, I have heard much about it and about Jack Horner, the famous dinosaur man. I was very interested in reading about how a dinosaur dig was made and especially how paleontologists figured out what bones were what. This book came as close as any I've read or heard about to tell me what I would need to know if I ever actually went out to Montana and went on a dig. I have heard that Dr. Horner occasionally takes tourist paleontologists out with him. I have searched for that on the internet but never found anything. I think it would be a lot of fun to go out in the desert or the badlands and look for these bones. Dr. Horner's book also told me a lot about where to go to find museums that have more information on dinosaurs and especially those that do field research. The glossary was very helpful, too. As is obvious, I am an enthusiastic amateur and read everything I can find on the subject. I saw where Dr. Horner says that Tyrannosaur Rexes were scavengers. I also read that they were kind of slow. This changes everything I ever saw in the movies or on television about them. It was fascinating to read about how the length of the leg bones allowed Dr. Horner to come up with that idea. Anyway, I just wanted to say that this is a very good book and that it has given me many ideas on dinosaur research in the field and I hope someday I will be able to go out in the field and do some research with Dr. Horner. As soon as I find out how to do that, I will. Thank you, Dr. Horner for your very good book that I really enjoyed! ... Read more

Book Description

>The rich fossil record of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the United States is a gold mine for interested scientists. The last thirty million years of Earth history are superbly chronicled by a succession of fossil assemblages extending from the St. Lawrence River to Florida. Marine scientists, paleontologists, and systematic biologists alike need a thorough guide to interpret this history.Cenozoic Seas: The View from Eastern North America analyzes the changing geography, the arrival and departures of ecosystems and species, and the affect of climate on living things. The author classifies all of the region's fossil-bearing formations and their contents within a logical, descriptive framework of space and time, providing a clear path for those studying evolution and extinction within specific communities of organisms. The book is also an excellent field guide for fossil collectors, providing detailed information for all species illustrated. Many organisms have never before been illustrated in a book on fossil shells. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A MUST HAVE book for fossil shell collectors
Ed Petuch presents a vast amount of information in a very well organized, readable form. Hundreds of fossils are beautifully illustrated on the 98 plates. Many species and genera are illustrated and described for the first time. The changes in the coastal waters of eastern North America during the last 30 million years are well documented in this book.

Ed uses drawings and vivid descriptions to detail the physical changes to the coast, but he goes one step further by describing the fossil communities that existed in specific areas at specific times. As a fossil collector, I appreciate the way Ed brings the fossil shells to life by using his knowledge of modern marine biology to describe the physical environment and the interactions among the fossil organisms. The book has proven to be a valuable resource for the identification of fossils, but more that that, it has given me an understanding of how these fossils acted while they were alive.

I highly recommend this book. I feel that reading this book has increased my understanding of paleontology and it will be a valuable part of my reference library for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

What do we now know about the origins of plants on land, from an evolutionary and an environmental perspective? The essays in this collection present a synthesis of our present state of knowledge, integrating current information in paleobotany with physical, chemical, and geological data.

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A "must read" for palaeontology students!
Rudwick chose the title "The Meaning of Fossils: Episodes in theHistory of Palaeontology" for his book, but I think that a subtitlemore descriptive of the contents would be something like "Essays onthe History of Palaeontology."A subtle difference, perhaps, butmeaningful, since in many respects this book is about the people behind thefossils as much as it is about fossils themselves.

The book includes thefollowing contents:

1) Fossil objects -- this section presents ideasabout what people thought fossils were before they realized they wererelated in any way to once-living things.It also includes early work onfossils, their descriptions, the light bulb going on about where fossilsreally come from, and related topics.

2) Natural antiquities -- thissection presents an example describing how we came to the realization thatfossils really are parts and pieces of things that were one alive -- allfrom study of fossil and living sharks' teeth.This section also describesalternative explanations (from antiquity) that explain where fossils camefrom...interesting stuff.

3) Life's revolutions -- this section describesCuvier's work and evidence he presented that showed that there is, in fact,a process of extinction that operates on earth.This thought, that a kindof living thing (a species), that was once alive are all now dead was arevolutionary thought!This section also introduces the notion of geologictime...deep time, of a length not realized or considered before...anotherrevolution in thought.

4) Uniformity and progress -- this sectionincludes a description of Lyell's new view of geology and geologicprocesses, that an ongoing gradual process of small magnitude can, overlong periods of time produce all observable geological features.That ideafed into the new ideas being applied to fossils, the appearance anddisappearance of fossil species.

5) Life's ancestry -- this sectiondiscusses the importance of actually looking and seeing for one's self, asHeinrich-Georg Bronn's work did by "Being taught by nature (Naturadoceri)."There is also a discussion of what "species"means, and how that plays into the whole idea of fossil and extinct thingsas described by the evolutionary theories of Wallace and Darwin.

This isa good book with good examples.It provides an excellent historicalperspective on the development of thinking relative to palaeontology.Thisbook should be read by every student of palaeontology, and by most biologystudents as well!

Great stuff!

5 stars all the way (though the titlecould use a little work).

Alan Holyoak, Dept of Biology, ManchesterCollege, IN ... Read more

Book Description

Green Fire doesn't just pose the question of why are we here; it dares to answer it: humans are the thinking incarnation of nature. Along the way, the authors, two of Europe's most celebrated and original thinkers, freewheel through history, touching on the work of Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, Francis Bacon, and even Baron von Munchausen to link the origin of life on Earth with the development of the human brain. In these pages, readers learn how Aristotle and Galileo disagreed, how Queen Christina's clock flummoxed Descartes, and how a jellyfish and an airplane share the same navigational system; you'll even learn the meaning of words like "karst" and "cnidarian." But mostly, readers of Green Fire will enjoy a masterful book that combines scientific rigor with an entertaining narrative to explore the evolution of life on Earth and humankind's place in it. ... Read more

Book Description

Practical, concise, and easy to use, Simon & Schuster's Guide to FossilsSimon & Schuster's Guide to Fossils contains everything the fossil enthusiast needs to know. A thorough introduction discusses science, evolution, and history and describes the process of fossilization, how we trace evolution with fossils, how fossils are classified, where fossil organisms lived, and where fossils can be found today. This indispensable guide includes 260 entries, including dinosaur fossils, all beautifully illustrated in color, and is complete with each fossil's classification, description, geographic distribution, and notes on the main areas where examples have been found. Information on age, appearance, and environment is provided and highlighted with easy-to-read visual symbols.

Whether you are a serious collector or an absolute amateur, fervently hoping to trip over an ancient shell or bone, this incomparably stunning, authoritative reference is the most useful and valuable book on fossils you can own. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

On Your Bookshelf At home, In Your Pocket On The Field
Simon and Schuster's Guide to Fossils, is the best choice for field usage and as a good reference. In the book, you not only find the right definition and name for the fossil you have found, but also the specific facts about it. From classification to description, from description to stratigraphic position and geographical distribution... It also includes special notes about the specimens that you've collected, to make you completely understand the organisms... In short, this book is what you need on your bookshelf at home, and in your pocket on the field. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A good try, but not very satisfying
This is a comprehensive and well written book about the evolutionary relationships among early vascular land plants. The problem with this book is that it is incomplete as far as the actual biology of these plants. The authors seem to spend endless time going over all the various features of these ancient plants but never once tell us why these features might be biologically important. Also, they analyze their plants in cladistic piece meal, that is, they never provide a single global cladistic analysis, which as far as I am concerned is a major methodological problem. This book is for the expert, not for students. And it is certainly not for the average reader. ... Read more

Book Description

In the days when dinosaurs dominated the earth, their marine counterparts--every bit as big and ferocious--reigned supreme in prehistoric seas. In this entrancing book, Richard Ellis, one of the world's foremost writers on the denizens of the deep, takes us back to the Mesozoic era to resurrect the fascinating lives of these giant seagoing reptiles.

Working from the fossil record, Ellis explores the natural history of these fierce predators, speculates on their habits, and tells how they eventually became extinct--or did they? He traces the 200-million-year history of the great ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs who swam the ancient oceans--and who, according to some, may even still frequent the likes of Loch Ness.

Picture if you will seventy-foot dragons with foot-long serrated teeth, or an animal that looked like a crocodile crossed with a shark the size of a small yacht. With its impossibly long neck, Plesiosaurus conybeari has been compared to "a giant snake threaded through the body of a turtle." At a length of nearly sixty feet, Mosasaurus hoffmanni boasted powerful jaws and teeth that could crunch up even the hardest-shelled giant sea turtle. And Kronosaurus queenslandicus, perhaps the most formidable of the lot, had a skull nine feet long-more than twice that of Tyrannosaurus rex--with teeth to match.

The first book about these amazing animals in nearly a century, Sea Dragons draws upon the most recent scientific research to vividly reconstruct their lives and habitats. Their fossils have been found all over the world--in Europe, Australia, Japan, and even Kansas--in lands that once lay on the floors of Jurassic and Triassic seas. Along the way, the book also provides intriguing insights into and entertaining tales about the work, discoveries, and competing theories that compose the fascinating world of vertebrate paleontology.

Ellis also graces his text with a set of incomparable illustrations. Widely hailed as our foremost artist of marine natural history, he depicts vividly how these creatures probably appeared and, through these likenesses, invites us to speculate on their locomotion, their predatory habits, their very lifestyles.

A genuine book of marvels and wonders, Sea Dragons will certainly stir one's curiosity about our planet's prehistoric past. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

not as good as his other stuff
I read "Monsters of the Sea" and "Search for the Giant Squid" by Mr. Ellis and was expecting the same great read. I was disapointed. Slow, and far too technical. I am still hacking my way slowly through the last few chapters.

Read those other titles first!

Going for a swim?
The next time you're setting up a putt on the ninth hole at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, Kansas, pause a moment. Glance around you at the arid hills and scattered vegetation. It's difficult to comprehend that where you're standing was once under hundreds of metres of sea water. Millions of years in the past most of what is now central North America lay beneath the great Niobrara Sea [better known as the Bear Paw Sea]. Nor would you feel lonely - it was inhabited by all manner of creatures. However, some of these rivalled in size and ferocity the great land-dwelling dinosaurs of the same period. Richard Ellis has started to fill a long-standing gap in revealing how these creatures likely lived. And perhaps why they are no longer with us.

Ancient marine reptiles developed to immense sizes and bizarre shapes. Ellis focusses on the four major types, all of which had one commonalty - size. After a brief lesson on nomenclature and a dismissal of the Loch Ness enigma, he goes on to introduce us to some true monsters. And gargantuan they are! The fossils found in Britain and Belgium almost two centuries ago amazed the world with their likely size. Those revealed since, many from around Hays, Kansas, achieve lengths of up to twenty metres. In line with their massive bodies, some bore impressive dental equipment, with some teeth achieving twenty centimetres in length. Seeking prey at depth, they developed eyes the size of dinner plates. These were formidable creatures, indeed.

Ellis compiles fossil evidence to develop a picture of marine reptile lifestyles. They were all predators, but shape, locomotion and capacity for diving to extreme depths combined to focus on particular niches. Some must have been a glorious sight [if they didn't see you!], literally "flying" through the water like penguins. Others undulated their bodies like snakes, although, as Ellis states, no snakes were present in the seas at the time. The ichthyosaurs seem to have resembled tunas in shape and motion. The most extraordinary were the long-necked plesiosaurs who may have been bottom feeders. The range of body types and swimming styles is a reflection of the long period of their dominance. They were successful enough to have occupied the full extent of the world's oceans of the time.

There are a few quirks in this book the general reader should note. These reptiles maintained an imposing set of food processors and there's a challenge in demonstrating many factors in but one illustration. As Ellis notes often, how they appeared and how they lived relies much on what they ate. But, unlike the many illustrations he provides for dramatic effect, they didn't cruise the seas mouths agape. That's for fish with gills, not air-breathing reptiles. There's some irony in the illustration [p. 212] depicting a mosasaur swimming closed-mouthed, but bending its neck in a manner no large reptile with only seven vertebrae could achieve. These are, of course, minor issues and detract little from Ellis presentation. Still, as a learning resource for the non-paleontologists among us, it was incumbent on Ellis to use his wealth of information accurately. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Regretfully mediocre
I wish that I could be at all as enthusiastic in my evaluation of Sea Dragons as were those who wrote the dust jacket blurbs. I do not find Mr. Ellis's writing riveting, vivid and delightful, or readable and accessible. Sea Dragons managers to be both superficial and prolix. I find it poorly organized, diffuse, and repetitious, and I can only recommend it to someone who is desperately enamored with the Mesozoic Era.

Ellis is an excellent artist, but his black and white illustrations are often not well posed to show the particular features he discusses in his text. There are few detail drawings to show the particularities of form, bone structure, dentition, or skin that he mentions. A few drawings look to be at odds with his text.

Ellis's text includes pairs of sentences where the second repeats the first with minor modification or elaboration as if he intended to discard the first but didn't. There are paragraphs that are dustbins of assorted sentences with no topic. There are paragraphs that change topic in mid stream. There are collections of paragraphs with neither topic sentences nor transitions between paragraphs. Sideshows are numerous and only wander back to the main topic with difficulty. Ellis uses long footnotes that should have been incorporated into the text. He does provide good translations for many of the species names.

Most technical areas of anatomy or cladistics are dealt with by quoting a jargon-filled paragraph, noting its incomprehensibility to lay readers, and skipping on to something else. Ellis notes opposing viewpoints but does little to clarify which is to be preferred or why. There are no cladograms or old-style trees of proposed descent whatsoever. No group of Sea Dragons is dealt with in any specific order. There is very little paleoenvironmental information to make clear why a given animal is said to have lived in a particular setting, and only one or two illustrations supply any such information.

Many of these problems might be attributed to inadequate editing. Sea Dragons is the first book I've read in ages that contains misspelled words as opposed to spell-checked misuses. The organizational and editing problems can be seen most obviously where Ellis discusses the mosasaur Globidens, a supposed bivalve-eating creature with rounded teeth. Globidens is mentioned five different times on different pages, but in detail with an illustration only the last time. At that point we are reminded that the ichthyosaur Grippia was also a presumed shellfish eater, but in the previous mention of Grippia, one hundred and forty-some pages earlier in the proper section on ichthyosaurs (Ellis truly loves ichthyosaurs; they turn up in every section), we were told twice only where Grippia was found. In the last section, Ellis first has plesiosaurs going extinct with the ichthyosaurs 20 million years before the K-T asteroid strike, then two pages later has them going extinct "around the K-T boundary," "about 65 million years ago." These would be small matters if they were isolated occurrences, but they are not.

Ellis includes the obligatory attack against creationists in the middle of his section on ichthyosaurs. Creationists have such problems with truth and accuracy and there are so many obvious points on which to criticize the ludicrous nature of their views that it is embarrassing to have Ellis pointlessly write that "here we will assume quite the opposite" when his disorganization and omissions obscure the evidence for evolution marine reptiles do provide. Assumptions aren't good enough to overcome willful ignorance.

Sea Dragons desperately needs a listing in each section of the species/genera discussed and those placed on a graph with location on one axis and time on the other. A side-by-side listing of European and North American geological divisions with radiometric dates should be included. The illustrations need a scale bar or human figure for comparison.

For younger readers, certainly not Ellis's target audience, I would recommend any of David Norman's books that touch on marine reptiles, recognizing that he has little to say on Mosasaurs.
For adult readers, Christopher McGowan's Dinosaurs, Spitfires, & Sea Dragons or Richard Cowen's History of Life provide a more cogent though far briefer account of these truly great dragons of the seas. For those willing to brave the terminology and jargon, Ancient Marine Reptiles, Jack M. Callaway and Elizabeth L. Nicholls, eds., remains the most informative volume.

Sea Dragons: Predators of the Prehistoric Oceans
Sea Dragons: Preators of the Prehistoric Oceans written by Richard Ellis is a wonderful book. This is the first book to present a detailed summary of the history on marie reptile paleontology. This book is well-written and vivid and delightfully illustrated.

"Sea Dragons" chronicles a lesser-known but equally magnificent group of megafauna... those remarkable giants that swam our oceans in the great Mesozoic era. In that era when dinosaurs dominated the earth, there were marie counterparts, every bit as big and mean.

The contents of the book takes us on an overview of marie reptiles then we get into the heart of the book.

The Ichthyosaurs
The Plesiosaurs
The Plisaurs
The Mosasaurs

Each of these sections are very detailed and are wonderfully written and very understandable with illustrations to show the reader what the author is writing about. Although these marie reptiles are merely fosilized bone now, it is not difficult to flesh them out in our minds and see this tableau as a representation of what may have taken place when the world was 150 million years younger than it is now.

Many of the descriptions of the creatures in this book, all of which are extinct, and all of which are known only from fossils, consist primarily of osteological terminology. Osteology is the study of bomes. What I found interesting was that even the size of the eye, so critical of the differentation of various ichthyosaur genera, relies largely on the circle of bony plates in the eye socket known as the sclerotic ring.

Throughout the discussion of the marine reptiles in this book the author cites the various chronological periods making for good reference points for the reader as to how long ago these creatures existed. All in all, this is a well-compiled work and is very easy to understand.

I enjoyed this book and gave it a solid 5 star rating for its ease of readability and the logical way it was written. This book would make an excellent addition to your home library as it explains about life in the Mesozoic ear.

A very impressive review of Mesozoic ocean reptiles
This book has no real peer at the moment. Indeed, a comprehensive, detailed, but easily understandable book on marine reptilian predators of the Mesozoic has been long awaited, and overdue. These animals approached whales in size in some instances, and easily dwarfed their terrestrial counterparts. Indeed, a T Rex may have been only one eighth the size of the largest pliosaurs. Yet, most books on Mesozoic life have, until now, relegated these marvelous animals to one or two back chapters or sections at the most.

Author Ellis, a renowned illustrator, writer, and researcher, has produced a masterpiece. His drawings of these seagoing reptiles are impeccable, if sometimes a bit speculative, and enable the reader to capably visualize these gigantic creatures.
Likewise, the text is enormously informative, not only about such FAQ's as size, weight, methods of reproduction, etc., but also on more arcane matters, such as how these huge beasts propelled themselves quickly and efficiently through the water. One glance at a long-necked, flippered plesiosaurus reveals that the answer to this problem is far from simple.

After an excellent introduction, the author covers icthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, pliosaurs, and mosasaurs in turn. Ellis then concludes with what seems to be the mandatory conclusion to any Mesozoic book; i.e., what caused all of these fabulously efficient, dominant predators to disappear in one fell swoop.

I found this book enormously enjoyable, and it was one of my best Christmas presents in years. I shall read it again and again. Anyone with a high school background will enjoy this book to the hilt, and my recommendation is extremely high.

By the way, this is the sort of book one loans out only very carefully. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

A valuable text on Pleistocene megafauna
Pleistocene megafauna lived in my home state until appproximately 8,000 years ago. I am currently working on a possible trade book in the area. Holman's book has proven invaluable as a research text and resource material. It is well organized, well written, and entertaining.
While Paleozoic life in Michigan is not high on my list of interests, I believe anyone so inclined would apply my assessment to that topic as well. A must read for the paleontology buff.

An extraordinary glimpse into Michigan's distant past.
This book is for anyone who has wondered at the origins of a Petosky Stone or counted the layers in a cut of sedimentary rock. Holman wraps the most interesting aspects of geology, geography, paleontology, and anthropology into a single comprehensive picture of ancient Michigan, readily understood by anyone with interest. Coral reefs, 30 million years of tree growth with no animal intervention, and giant land tortoises all share a common history in Michigan. Holman takes you back, way back, and then just like the sedimentary rocks of the Great Lakes Basin, builds layers of interesting and entertaining information as you journey forward in time. Read this book, and I guarantee that the next time you climb Castle Rock or hear the call of a loon, you will be filled with just a bit more awe. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

IT'S A GREAT BOOK!!
I THANK THIS BOOK IS A HELPFUL TOOL FOR FOSSIL COLLECTING IN MISSOURI ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great read all around!
I was digging for books about amber to write a genetics report and chose this one. I couldn't have chosen a better book! It was more than a scientific study, it was an all around adventure book! The author draws you right in. I'd suggest this book to anyone anyday!

Very interesting and easy to see the scientific adventure.
This book is very interesting and easy to readers who want to know about scientific quest for ancient animals and plants in amber. The authors wrote this book very well to describe and explain scientists' life for exploring secret and truth of Nature. It isn't too scientific for people to understand about amber. And it isn't too plain to describe the scientific quest. I think this book is good for both students who are going to study biology and people who would like to explore the world of science. ... Read more

Book Description

This thorough introduction to the world of paleontology has been completely revised and updated, reflecting changes in the ways that fossils are viewed and interpreted. Using the fluid writing style that made Trilobite! Eyewitness to Evolution such a success, Dr. Fortey brings the study of fossils into the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Prizes from paleontology
Fossils retain a mystique unmatched by most other natural wonders.They provide a window into the deep past and a hint of life's immense variety.Richard Fortey, whose reputation is built on a long career studying trilobite fossils, provides a richly illustrated summary of the prizes of paleontology.Carefully written to show the science behind fossil hunting, he avidly encourages amateurs with this book also.He explains how fossils were the key element in establishing the science of geology by William Smith.In later years they would be the buttress supporting Darwin's idea of evolution by natural selection.In the 20th Century these silent witnesses would provide the finishing touches on the concept of plate tectonics.

Fortey has arranged this book well, with different animal and plant fossils and images carefully categorised, described and imaged.He guides the novice through the process of recognizing and retrieving fossils from the various rock types.Shales, as the product of shallow seas are likely rocks for many fossils allow easy retrieval.However, Fortey notes the specimen will likely be shattered through geologic processes.Limestone, on the other hand, hides its treasures well, but lucky finds may be dazzling in completeness or detail.He explains the necessity of careful record location and condition of finds.After all, careful records led to the understanding that western and eastern Newfoundland began their continental careers far apart.Millions of years ago, eastern Newfoundland was far across the equator near the South Pole.Fossil records traced its movement until it merged with the western side some time later.

Fortey's book is stunningly illustrated, well worth the price for that aspect alone.Large, clear photographs, line drawings and maps support his animated writing style.His enthusiasm for his science sparkles every page.You become anxious to join his next expedition or set out on your own at the first opportunity.His warnings about seaside drenchings, icy winds or smashed fingernails seem inconsequential compared to the possibility of obtaining one of nature's true treasures.Gemstones seem dull and faded next to an object that once lived on a sea bottom or ancient prairie.His final chapters on finding and preparing fossils are a welcome addition.With the dual purpose of presenting beauty with education, this book is of value to anyone wishing to learn about the life of the past.
[stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition of a successful textbook describes and explains in a refreshingly clear way the origin and evolution of plants as revealed by the fossil record and summarises paleobotanical information relevant to our present understanding of the relationships between the major plant groups, extant and extinct. As in the first edition, the text is profusely illustrated with line illustrations and half-tones. For those students with little knowledge of plant structure and morphology there is a brief resumé of those features of extant plants that will be needed to gain a better understanding of the fossil record. Summarizing charts are also used to help students visualise the interpretative material. ... Read more

Book Description

Human remains recovered from archaeological sites can help us interpret lifetime events such as disease, physiological stress, injury and violent death, physical activity, tooth use, diet, and demographic history of once-living populations. This is the first comprehensive synthesis of the emerging field of bioarchaeology. A central theme is the interaction between biology and behavior, underscoring the dynamic nature of skeletal and dental tissues, and the influences of environment and culture on human biological variation. It emphasizes research results and their interpretation, covering palaeopathology, physiological stress, skeletal and dental growth and structure, and the processes of aging and biodistance. It will be a unique resource for students and researchers interested in biological and physical anthropology or archaeology. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An excellence and thoroughness in exposure of the subject.
A quite outstanding clarity in usage of concepts that used to be property of paleoanthropology is achivied here that will certainly provide archaeologists with full account on value of skeletal samples in forensic analysis that includes not only well known paleopathological procedures,but a very vividly exposed summarisation of pecularities that are to be found within skeletal samples of non-pathological character,thus providing full and fruithfull synthesis between social and biological sciencies.Back-up with solid refference and carefull,non-spectacular exposure of results that are achievable conclusive to book's publishing,caries insight into archaeological methodology a large step further.

Good outline of the new bioanthropology
What make this book unique is its dealing with various interaction between humans and their ecological milleau in a non-procedural fashion,but rather in an affirmative one.Examples from which author derives his conclusions are drawn mostly from North American stone age,but some sites from Euroasian as well as African prehistory are also discussed.Even a reader with elementary knowledge of human biology can comprehend this book,by its virtue of presenting logic of deduction about biological realities,quite unlike mechanical and mathematic idealisations of old physycal anthropology.Highly recomended title not only for anthropologists and archaeologists but also for everybody dealing with historical and paleosociological issues.

the best aviable compendium in area of osteoarchaeology
Chief advantage of author's approach lies in bringing together many dispersed areas that are relevant in understanding individual and social behavior of archaeological populations with critical and introspective evaluation of various up-to-date analythical methods as well as more classical morphology-orientated approaches in physical anthropology.Although,regrettably,there is no attempt to provide sociobiological explanation of cultural phenomena(a very controversial subject) ,neverethless,author's erudite presentation of long-neglected potentials of skeletal material in archaeological context brings so much needed anthropocentric perspective in exgesis of behavioral content behind'bones and artefacts'. ,Bioarchaeology..'with it's comprehensive and concise-styled presentation of everything essential in this branch of science (excavation,taphonomy,wear and striation analysis,dental anthropology,paleonutrition,behaviour-induced changes in osseus tissue,biodistance,paleopathology,dating techniques and many other interesting topics) plus most complete and relevant bibliography is textbook from which both professionals and students worldwide will benefit. ... Read more

Book Description

The Ice Age is one of the most difficult eras in geological history for a uniformitarian (those who believe the earth evolved by "slow processes over millions of years") scientist to explain, simply because long ages of evolution cannot explain it. Many mysterious questions about the Ice Age arise:

What would cause the summer temperatures of the northern United States and Europe to plummet over 50 degrees Fahrenheit? What was the source of the abnormal amount of moisture necessary for heavy snow? What caused the cold summer temperatures and heavy snowfall to persist for hundreds of years?Why did mammoths become extinct, not only in Siberia, but also across the earth, and at the same time as many other large mammals? How could they still have partially decayed food in their stomachs?

Author Michael Oard gives plausible explanations of the seemingly unsolvable mysteries about the Ice Age and the woolly mammoths in this intriguing new book. Many other Ice Age topics are explained including super ice age floods, ice cores, man in the ice age, and the number of ice ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Definitive guide provides paleontologists and amateur fossil enthusiasts with invaluable information about where fossils have been found, how to care for samples and what can be learned by studying them. Profusely illustrated and expanded edition contains fascinating information about everything from single-celled organisms, arthropods and amphibians, to dinosaurs, birds and mammals. Includes identification keys, glossary and more. Over 1,500 illustrations.
... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Fossil Book
The original version of this book was published in 1958. It is a wonderful introduction to the fossil record. The book is organized by begining with the oldest fossils, and working forward through time to the most recent fossils. There are many excellent drawings and phtographs to help the reader understand not only what the living animal looked like, but what the typical fossil parts look like.

This book does not require the reader to already be a scientist in order to understand and enjoy it's contents. For the amateur fossil collector, this is a valuable reference book that will be used over, and over again.

Many important discoveries have been made in geology since 1958, and the more recent edition(s) incorporate these discoveries. Like all sciences, geology is a growing body of knowledge.

If you only purchase one book on fossils, make it this one.
Much in the way of really good material on fossils including some 1500 pen and ink drawings in this excellent compendium. It also includes highly readable text which others of its ilk seem not to include. Would highly recommend to both the novice and somewhat advanced collector. Has been revised and updated several times since its original 1958 publishing with 1996 being the latest. I equate it to the USA Today of fossil books. Bottom line, an excellent value.

Dishonesty
The "review" above from "A reader from the land of honest intellectuals" is not a review at all. The writer probably hasn't even seen the book. It's just another creationist rant, exploiting debates among evolutionists over the speed of evolutionary transitions to argue -- what? That all fossils were placed in the rocks by the Devil to lead men astray? Sure, fossils are rare enough that it's hard to find one that lies directly between two other closely related fossils, but there are plenty that show characteristics of two related present-day groups. For instance, how do dishonest Christians explain the fossil ape-men, the Australopithecines? Their usual tactic with such fossils is to say they're either too different or too similar to be related. Their arrogance is such that I'm sure they'll say the ape-men are nothing like them. Maybe they're right -- the ape-men were too honest to be Christians.

Good
It is really good because it is local based for Melbourne, Australia, not America.

A must if you're interested in fossils
It gives the reader a solid foundation of paleontology and fossil knowledge on which to build upon. It may not have all of the most recent theories and discoveries because the last revision was in 1996, but it is easy to read and well illustrated. It can be understood by anyone, and contains a wealth of information. It covers the entire 3.5 billion-year history of the fossil record in its 760 pages and is an excellent reference book that I keep returning to time and again. ... Read more

Book Description

WHERE DID WE COME FROM? Drawing upon a wealth of research into archeology, genetics, reincarnation memories, out-of-body experiences, parapsychology, cross cultural cosmology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Cremo provides a refreshing perspective on human origins according to the ancient philosophy of India. In their controversial bestseller Forbidden Archeology, Michael A. Cremo and Richard L. Thompson documented evidence showing that humans have existed on earth for hundreds of millions of years. Such anomalous evidence, contradicting Darwinian evolution, catalyzed a global inquiry: If we did not evolve from apes then where did we come from?Human Devolution is Michael A. Cremo's definitive answer to that question: We did not evolve up from matter; instead we devolved, or came down, from the real of pure consciousness, spirit. Basing his response on modern science and the world's great wisdom traditions, including the Vedic philosophy of ancient India, Cremo proposes that before we ask the question, Where did human beings come from? we should first contemplate, What is a human being?For much of the twentieth century, most scientists assumed that a human being is simply a combination of ordinary physical elements. In Human Devolution, Cremo says it is more reasonable to assume that a human being is a combination of three distinct substances: mind, matter, and consciousness (or spirit). He shows how solid scientific evidence for a subtle mind elementand a conscious self that can exist apart from the body have been systematically eliminated from mainstream science by a process of knowledge filtration. Asserting that humans are a combination of matter, mind, and consciousness, Cremo pilots a cosmic tour through incredible enigmas of time and space, ranging from Precambrian microfossils to black holes to superhuman beings, thus revealing the cosmos itself to be divided into corresponding regions dominated by ordinary matter, the subtle mind element, and pure consciousness.Human Devolution illustrates how the self originally exists on the level of pure consciousness, in harmony with the personal source of all conscious beings. When a conscious self relinquishes its connection with the source of all conscious beings, it becomes covered by the lower energies of mind and matter. Cremo calls this devolution. But devolution can be reversed, and consciousness can be restored to its original pure state by a process of spiritual evolution. The Controversy Continues: The highly anticipated sequel to the controversial best-seller Forbidden Archeology has arrived. Darwin Debunked by best-selling author of Forbidden Archeology (200,000 copies sold) Thoroughly researched work (includes an extensive 36 page bibliography and 28 page index). For the first time the ancient Vedic or Hindu version of the origins of man are presented. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Encyclopedic compilation; guarded recommendation
I read with great interest the shorter version of "Forbidden
Archaeology," "The Hidden History of the Human Race," and with even
more interest "Forbidden Archaeology's Impact," a large book of
reviews/criticisms of the author's monumental first book along with
Mr. Cremo's counter-countercritisms. I am definitely one of those who
thinks that science has gotten way out of hand when it comes to rejecting
anything beyond the physical. The author is among the leading anti-scientism
voices in the world. "Human Devolution" was written to answer critics who
"demanded" that he be more "scientific" and provide an alternative to
Darwinian evolution, rather than just criticizing it. As he comes from a
Vedic perspective, "Human Devolution" purports to be from that point of view.
The title encapsulates the Eastern belief that to occupy a physical body,
a soul "devolves" into matter; we are not physical-only, soulless beings.

As a reviewer, one has to decide if the author actually presents a
coherent model to counter Darwinian evolution. With regrets I think that
Mr. Cremo does not present such a model, certainly not a scientific model,
with clear data points that lead to clear conclusions, and in fact he
definitely argues for not only a "default" God of the gaps when the
neo-Darwinian and Big Bang models are found wanting, but the "gap approach"
is the main approach to prove the validity of the Vedic model. For example,
on p. 239, after rightfully dismissing a quantum mechanical approach to
consciousness and non-locality, in comes the Vedic model: everything
emanates from God, the "Supersoul" is all knowing, etc. Fine, but too
vague for me, certainly not a detailed model, and I will at least credit
scientists, who for the most part are very conservative and will usually
present good data points.

I can agree with Mr. Cremo that spiritual "models" are given by Divine
revelation, but we must at least admit that they are often quite nebulous,
if not overwhelming. To the point, in the final chapter of the book there
is an all-too brief discussion of some of the time scales in the Vedic
teachings. We learn about the Day/Night of Brahmin (4.32 billion years),
composed of manvantaras and yugas, but little "filling in the gaps." And
the real kicker is in the prior chapter; while presenting a very fine
discussion of the 6 crucial constants in the universe which are so finely
tuned it could not possibly be a matter of chance, we read that the "ultimate"
number of the Vedic model is actually 311 trillion years, the "breath of Maha
Vishnu!" Such numbers make Big Bang cosmology look young, but again I yearn
for more of the details of the reasons for these cycles, also what goes on
in the cosmic Hierarchy, in the physical world(s), during these cycles, rather than
the detachment of incomprehensibly large numbers.

The book would have better been entitled "Forbidden Anthropology and
Suppressed Scientific Research Into The Paranormal." There are staggering
amounts of details on comparative anthropology, particularly as it relates
to common mythologies about a Supreme God, a separate Creator God, and
paranormal beliefs among a wide variety of cultures. This is more or less
presented in conjunction with a topic Cremo covers with great success:
the integrity and open-mindedness of scientists from Newton and Kepler
(Middle Ages) to 19th century pioneers Wallace (co-founder of evolutionary
theory) and Crookes, who either believed in a higher God force behind the
material world, or themselves did extensive research into the paranormal.
The author devotes a lot of pages to Wallace's writings late in his life,
writings you will never see in contemporary scientific discussions.

Yet these details are to me another problem with the book, an
incredible number of pages in a number of sections covering mediums
and seances. Certainly there is some amazing data here, but surely
more effort could have been spent on clarifying the Vedic model than
bringing out yet another seance or medium. As for the discussion on
comparative mythologies, I can only say that at times I found the
details interesting, at other times not, and what is really lacking is
an overall consistency about what is being covered!

A real irony in "Human Devolution" is the author's great ability to
summarize scientific theories and concepts when he so chooses. I am not
that well-versed in genetics, paleontology, and cosmology (to name a
few disciplines!), yet I much enjoyed his discussions in these areas,
but let me be clear, I am not saying he is completely correct either.
Ch. 3 is a good presentation of possible proof that non-human species
(insects and plants) existed long before the Darwinists would allow.
Ch. 4, covering genes and molecular evolution, is clear and interesting,
as is the discussion in Ch. 10 on Sir Martin Rees's "Just Six Numbers,"
mentioned above.

"Human Devolution" has many interesting references, including obscure
though relevant books and articles, and that is to the credit of the author
and his research assistant(s). In the end I would recommend "Human Devolution,"
but be ready to skim!!

The masterpiece of modern thought.
Mr.Cremo's book is truly enlightening one. It is indeed very well-written. It furhter exposes the flaws of the current gross materialistic consensus view of the reality. It raises the question of our true origins, the question any intelligent human being ought to ask oneself. In his book Mr.Cremo shows us our place in the universe, our relation to other sentient beings in the cosmos who have been the co-creators of life. It is indeed the masterpiece of modern thought. It is a must read for any thinking, educated man.

"Human Devolution" is a master work.
"I enjoyed M.Cremo's book. It is a master work. 'Human Devolution' exposes the fatal weaknesses in Darwinism and relates the tradition doctrine in a most compelling and attractive way. This book deserves to be widely known. It is a firm corrective to modern errors and a guide to new standard in thinking."
John Michell, the author of "The New View over Atlantis", "New Light on the Ancient Mystery of Glastonbury", "The Temple at Jerusalem: A Revelation".

A dull, unoriginal encyclopaedia of the paranormal
Having read "The Hidden History of the Human Race" with great interest, I came to Michael Cremo's new book both with high expectations and a dose of scepticism. I had heard the author talk about "Human Devolution" on two radio programs before ordering it on amazon.com and therefore knew more or less what to expect: it would be an attempt to provide a non materialistic alternative to Darwin's battered theory of evolution, based on the Hindu scriptures(the Vedas).

My scepticism stemmed from the consideration that since non materialistic explanations of human origins have been around for millenia, new revelations would be highly improbable even coming from a researcher of Michael Cremo's caliber.

To put it briefly, the material on which this book is based is as fantastic (but familiar) as the material of "Forbidden Archaelogy" was ordinary but nonetheless novel.

Throwing all those dull Late Pleistocene flint implements from his previous works to the wind but remaining his old self in his meticulosity, love of detail, erudition (and lack of humor), Michael Cremo boldly presents the reader with what unfortunately amounts to little more than a lengthy encyclopedia of the paranormal.

In its more than 500 pages you will meet a motley crowd of stigmatics, extraterrestrials and angels, faith healers, mediums, children with previous lives memories, the Virgin of Fatima and a host of other freaks and exiles banished from the serious scientific literature. Then you have the umpteenth retelling of the Maori and Inuit myths, all the stuff that is the stock-in-trade of so many other(and better)books.

Michael Cremo does not even try to give an new interpretation to unexplained phenomena like the apparitions at Fatima. No, he just retells the whole story in lengthy detail, begging the reader to take it as evidence that human beings are more than just a handful of cosmic dust.

The teachings of the Vedas, which I thought would be the highlight of the book, are discussed perfunctorily in the last chapter. In an unusual display of brevity, Michael Cremo rounds off his subject in eight pages. Here we learn about demigods and goddesses mating happily to repopulate the earth with humans and other living beings after each cyclic devastation. Basically, that is all the Vedas have to teach us about one of the greatest mysteries of the universe...

Is there really nothing new to be gleaned from this book? In rummaging through the cupboards of the scientific community, Michael Cremo does seem to bring to light some interesting skeletons. He shows for example that famous scientists like Wallace (co-author of the theory of evolution) and Pierre and Marie Curie studied paranormal phenomena, to the point of coming to believe in the existence of spirits.

But is the heterodoxy of some scientists really something shockingly new? And should the mere fact that a scientist believes in ghosts be regarded as a proof of their existence? After all, scientists are just as gullible and biased as everybody else! It is by now a well-known fact that Newton, besides being a mainstream mathematician, was also deeply interested in hermeticism. People who have read books about ritual abuse, mind control, secret societies and global conspiracies also know that materialism and rationalism are just a convenient facade for the real beliefs of the elite, which is completely under the spell of spiritism and other abominations.

Briefly, if you are already familiar with the field of parapsychology, you will find almost nothing in the pages of "Human Devolution" that is not already known to you.

Finally, I found Michael Cremo's treatment of the human trilogy of body, mind and spirit deeply disappointing. I recommend readers with an excellent command of French to read " Corps, Ame et Esprit" by Michel fromaget (available on amazon.fr) for an in depth analysis of this essential aspect of anthropology.

Human Devolution's Evidence for a Dualistic Worldview
As a professor of philosophy, I found merit in the epistemological critique of standard human evolutionary theory offered by Michael A. Cremo and Richard Thompson in "Forbidden Archeology." Chapter fourteen of my own "Origin of the Human Species" discusses at length their thesis that anatomically modern humans predated hominids from which evolutionary theory claims we descended. My own work aims to show that sound natural science and authentic reading of Genesis, including Adam and Eve's reality, are entirely compatible. After consulting with Mr. Cremo while writing my own book, I came to respect his intellectual honesty in proposing a Vedic perspective of human origins. While retaining my own Catholic perspective, I learned that we shared many common elements of metaphysical dualism, especially in rejecting naturalistic evolutionary models of the world and human origins.

In "Human Devolution," Cremo explores multifaceted evidences for spiritual realities permeating our material cosmos. In so doing, he presents careful documentation of both preternatural and supernatural phenomena, including various forms of spiritism, miracles such as those at Lourdes, reincarnation claims, UFO phenomena, intelligent design scientific arguments, and many other evidences of spiritual and paranormal phenomena far too extensive to detail here.

Some might object that not all of his data is equally convincing - that anecdotal evidence ought not be put on the same plane as, say, the carefully documented scientific work of the Lourdes Medical Bureau. Similar comments were made about "Forbidden Archeology." Still, both works appear to present a full range of evidence for the sake of completeness. In any event, the truth claims about spiritual realities ought not be judged by the weakest evidence, but by the strongest. Just as counterfeit money exists only because genuine money first does, so too, the actual existence of the spiritual realm undergirds phantasms of its presence.

"Human Devolution" constitutes a valuable reference work for anyone wishing to examine a detailed overview of the many kinds of evidence supporting a dualistic, spirit-based view of the universe. If nothing else, Human Devolution documents the extreme tenuousness of persistent attempts by modern evolutionary materialists to explain the universe and human origins in purely materialistic terms. Even if our religious perspectives remain distinct, I concur with Cremo in concluding that clear evidence exists that God created the world and that human origins proceed, not upward from materialistic forces, but rather downward from spiritual powers that introduce existential dimensions utterly transcendent to evolutionary explanations.

Nonetheless, as a Catholic philosopher, I do not accept a Vedic interpretation of some of the phenomena reported in "Human Devolution," but rather would offer alternative interpretations more consistent with the exclusivity of Christ's claims. In fact, Cremo so persuasively presents his material that I am obliged to caution that only competent Catholic philosophers and theologians are properly positioned to understand fully how Catholic speculation might explain, among other things, reincarnation claims and apparently genuine healings by non-Catholics.

Still, regardless of one's personal convictions and subsequent interpretations, "Human Devolution's" fascinating accounts and detailed documentation of some of the most intriguing human experiences, amazing historical occurrences, and important scientific speculations should make thought-provoking reading to a wide audience ... Read more

Book Description

The Foraminifera constitute the most diverse group of shelledmicroorganisms in modern seas. This book, designed as an unusuallywide-ranging, authoritative, graduate text, deals with thesystematics, cell biology, chamber construction, biogeography,ecology, shell geochemistry, and taphonomy of these fascinatingprotists. The chapter authors are recognized experts in their fields.The main theme concerns large-scale and small-scale patterns ofspecies distributions and the environmental processes that affectthese patterns. Critical first principles, whether derived frombiology, chemistry, or geology, are carefully explained. Audience: Apart from meeting the requirements of courses inforaminiferal ecology, the book will serve well as the major referencein a general course on Foraminifera or one on foraminiferalpaleoecology. It will be of great value to graduate students, and alsoto professionals who are interested in using the sedimentary record offoraminiferal species to answer environmental, paleoenvironmental, orpaleoceanographical questions. ... Read more