Reviews (84)

Very Very cool book
My son loves dinosaurs but had outgrown alot of the kids books out there. This is a great book for older kids and adults will like it too.

Great eye candy for your inner child, and for your other children if you decide to share
This book produced much glee in my house the day it arrived, gasps of joy and amazement, awe and delight. One of these days I'll let my kids look at it, too. I enjoyed it so much that I promptly bought Sabuda's "Alice in Wonderland," "The Wizard of Oz," and another Encylopedia Prehistorica volume, "Sharks And Other Sea Monsters." They're all sensational.
Awesome gift for kids and adults alike!
This book is just simply amazing. When you open each page you cannot stop but to wonder how on earth do they figure out how to not only design and engineer its illustrations but also how to implement it and still manage to sell it at a reasonable price. The content is very informative and educational. Definitely something that one can re-read with interest for many years. It also works great as a reference book for children and it could very easily be helpful for one of their school projects. Speaking of school, instead of getting a mug as an appreciation book for your kid's school teacher, consider offering this book. It is money well spent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures    2. Children's 9-12 - Nature / Guide Books    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Dictionaries    6. Dictionaries, Juvenile    7. Dinosaurs    8. Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures    9. Fossils    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Specimens    12. Toy and movable books    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Dinosaurs   

Subjects:  1. Fossils    2. Nature / Field Guide Books    3. Palaeozoology    4. Vertebrates   

Reviews (6)

Great Book
This is a great book, considering how huge it is. Being written in 1998, this book has all the current knowledge. There's more info on the actual era and the technical asspects of dinosaurs than the actual dinosaurs. Despite the price, this book is worth it.

Questions about dinosaurs that go deeper than the surface?
If so, then this is the book for you! The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs is a wonderful, up-to-date book that covers most, if not all, topics concerned with dinosaurs.Well put-together, beautifully illustrated, and written by today's top paleontologists, the Encyclopedia is well worth the price.Although it doesn't get too technical, this book is not for the uninformed.A must have for any serious dino-enthusiast - believe me, it will answer your questions, and lead you to ask more!5 stars may not be enough for this one!(Plus it's massive enough to knock some sense into the not-so-dino-loving loved one or associate in your life!)

This definitely belongs on the shelf of any dino-lover.
When I first received this book for Christmas, I was shocked!The book was the size and weight of a telephone book!It's packed with skeletal drawings, cladograms, paintings... You name it, it's in the text. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dinosaurs    2. Encyclopedias    3. General    4. Paleontology    5. Reference    6. Science    7. Science Fiction    8. Vertebrate Paleontology    9. Nature / General    10. Palaeozoology    11. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds, Fossil    3. Earth Sciences - General    4. Evolution    5. Fossils    6. Mesozoic    7. Paleontology    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Birds (ornithology)    11. Palaeozoology    12. Science / Earth Sciences   

Reviews (2)

Strong on Fossil Forms, Weak on Latter-Day Cultures
I have used this book for about three years in my archaeology class, discontinuously I must admit. It's good for those who want a strong biological perspective in humankind's cultural evolution, but it comes up short when it comes to regional civilizations. Treatment of the state-level societies in each region (e.g., Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Mesoamerica, Andean America) could be more detailed, and the book would be easier to follow if it used a sequence of culture model for each region from its Neolithic to florescence to decline. In treating fossil hominids and their material culture, from the earliest human and humanlike forms through the Lower Paleolithic to the Mesolithic traditions and their makers, however, this is a solid presentation.

Putting more than the past into perspective
Kenneth Fader's "The Past In Perspective" is a book designed for those who wish to learn the basics regarding the field of archaelology. Focusing on the cultural evolutions of mankind, Fader never lapses into thejargon so popularly found in some textbooks. This is a book designed tointroduce over five million years of human evolution, so naturally it isbest for those who are new to the topic. Although I used this book for myarcheology class, it contains information that could interest anyone with aflair for history. All in all, it is easy of to follow and does its best torepresent all sides ofarguments that are presented, although at times itseems to stress a war between religous and evolutionary ideas that may, ormay not exist as much as the author would like them to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Physical    2. Archaeology    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Fossil hominids    5. Fossils    6. Human Evolution    7. Human remains (Archaeology)    8. Prehistoric peoples    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Social Science    11. Anthropology    12. Social Science / Archaeology   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (1)

Power of Paleontology
This very fine invertebrate paleontology textbook strikes a nice balance between focus on the paleobiology/taxonomy of the organisms and theoretical topics in the science. The well-crafted illustrations help to make the sometimes intricate details of fossil morphology clear. Clarkson has a knack for bringing forth key details that illuminate ancient organisms (e.g., the hysteresis mechanisms that control the liquid in cephalopod chambers), and he writes with a wry sense of humor (see the Lehmann quotation on p. 245). The importance of convergent evolution is apparent throughout the book, and is one of the main lessons to be learned from the science of invertebrate paleontology. The next edition of this book needs to stop calling the Ediacarans a "fauna" (the term "biota" is preferable, as we are not sure that Ediacarans were indeed animals). I also havequibbles with the higher taxonomy presented in this book for other groups. Overall, however, this is an outstanding presentation of invertebrate paleontology. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fossils    2. Invertebrates, Fossil    3. Life Sciences - Evolution    4. Paleontology    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. EVOLUTION    8. Palaeontology    9. Science / Evolution   

Reviews (5)

CERTAINLY FITS MY NEEDS
I am certainly not an expert in this field, have no formal training.I am simply a rather old man who has been grubbing in the ground and dirt and in the rocks for most of my life and have had a fascination with fossels since a very, very young child.This particular book has brought me a lot of pleasure and added greatly to the enjoyment of my hobby of "grubbing."I realize that no one book can provide all the answers and identify all the fossil remains known (good grief, there are new ones being discovered every day it seems), but this work certainy meets my needs.I have yet to find a fossel that I was unable to identify with it's use, and at the very least, has given me clues as to where I might go to find the answers I needs.The photographs are great as are the written discriptions.I carry this one with me always when out in the field.Recommend this one highly.

Great for Invertebrate collectors
I bought this book through the Amazon marketplace with great anticipation. However, it contained little information on plant and Vertebrate fossils which are my main interest. About 90% of the book focused on Shells, Corals,Sponges,Triliobites, Bryozoans, Sand Dollars, etc. In that subject matter the photos and detailed information about each was excellent. It was a bit trying to read the map plates; the text was small and difficult to find in the shaded areas. On another note it has great information about Geologic time and where to look for fossils.
"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.Read more

Subjects:  1. Collection and preservation    2. Fossils    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Identification    5. Nature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Nature/Ecology    8. North America    9. Paleontology (General)    10. Nature / Fossils   

Subjects:  1. Dinosaurs    2. Evolution    3. Extinction    4. Fossils    5. Life Sciences - Evolution    6. Nature    7. Paleoecology    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Birds (ornithology)    11. Palaeontology   

Reviews (3)

MultiregionalismDebunked
Alternating between hard-core and literary, "Bones, Stones and Molecules" covers all of the latest anthropological discoveries and developments.Sahelanthropus and Orrorin are breaking news in paleontology and are covered early in the book.The new fossils are from the "wrong" side of the Great Rift Valley and neatly dispense with another recent favorite theory of human origins.
Valuable reference for academics and laymen alike
Cameron and Groves have produced a handsome volume that details the anatomical structure of the species immediately ancestralto homo sapiens, and fleshes out the multiple "Out of Africa" episodes that have characterised the longer span of human evolution.
Great read, showcasing the latest fossils!
This is a great read for anyone interested in human evolution.It includes all of the most recent fossil hominid discoveries as well as providing an up-to-date overview and systematic analysis of human evolution over the last 6 million years or so (including molecular - archaeological information).It provides a convincing argument for the 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis for modern human origins.I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in evolution and human and great ape evolution in particular. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Anthropology - Physical    3. Fossils    4. Human evolution    5. Life Sciences - Anatomy & Physiology    6. Life Sciences - Evolution    7. Life Sciences - Evolution - Human    8. Nature    9. Paleoanthropology    10. Paleontology    11. Science    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Human biology & related topics    14. Science / Physiology   

Reviews (2)

Very informative, shows more than only the best specimens.
I have used this book to refer to numerous times. A great guide to texas fossils
This book is easy to use, informative and quite helpful to the texasfossil hunter. The pictures cover a very broad range of texas fossils, andthough not always in color, are very helpful in identification. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fossils    2. Nature    3. Paleontology    4. Paleontology (General)    5. Reference    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Texas    9. Nature / General    10. Reference works    11. Rocks, minerals & fossils   

Reviews (10)

The lesser of many evils?????
Apparently, there is a dearth of good fossil shark tooth guides.The quality of the most important aspect of the book, the illustrations, is very poor.Most look like third generation Xeroxed photographs, others appear to be blown up beyond recognition, many are white-washed, some are pixilated, and a few are so grainy and out of focus that they could represent just about anything.In the Scyliorhinus photograph, the teeth are less than three millimeters across!The information the author provides, however, can be quite beneficial.Each species comes with a description including the age of the fossil, synonyms, key characters and a listing of similar species.This information, and considering that the cataloging is quite extensive, allows me to rate this book with three stars.There is a great deal of room for improvement, however.The collection locality (often, just the state) is given for each image, but other locales are not provided.Morphometric information may be a valuable addition, especially to distinguish juveniles, sexually dimorphic forms and underdeveloped teeth.In addition to the listing of similar species, an actual description of the defining characters of each would help to differentiate the species.There is some additional information-associated fossils, a few Paleozoic and Mesozoic forms, a dendrogram of Lamniform evolution, etc.-but none of it is complete.Unfortunately, this is best guide that I've found to date!

Great book from a really nice guy!
Joe signed a copy of this book for me after buying one of my shark teeth on eBay.It's a GREAT reference!I use it almost every day to ID the teeth I buy and find.It's extremely easy to use!I recommend this for anyone that collects fossil shark teeth!

a good fossil shark tooth reference
This book has been an excellent help to me. I normally collect Cretaceous teeth in the Monmouth County area of Northern New Jersey and the teeth in this book have helped even with this. I highly recommend it to other serious collectors. I would have liked to have seen other areas referenced though. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature / Fossils    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Paleontology    4. Science / Paleontology    5. Sharks, Fossil    6. Teeth, Fossil    7. Identification    8. Science   

Reviews (1)

very good but very overpriced
A very useful book for essentially all the genera of mammals in the groups listed in the title.The two things that kept me from giving it 5 stars are; it is VERY overpriced, aside from libraries, few can afford it, also the listings of localities are done a bit ackwardly.Overall a very useful resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fossils    2. History    3. History: World    4. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    5. North American    6. Paleontology    7. Science    8. North America    9. Palaeontology    10. Science / Paleontology   

Reviews (6)

A delightful saurian romp
What would have happened if the K-T had never happened? What if the dinosaurs and their relatives had continued their succesful lineage and continued to gradually evolve? Renowned paleontologist Dougal Dixon delves headfirst into this interesting topic. We start our tour with a brief history on the different theories of the extinction of the dinosaurs. We then move into the present-day dinosaurs. We start in the steamy jungles of Africa, where we see "arbrosaurs" (tree-climbing dinosaurs) eating insects and wasps in the canopy. We then see bizarre giraffe-like creatures on what would be the African Savannah, descended from pterosaurs. In the desert, there are "sandles" a subterrenian predator, and Wyrms, which kill and eat small mammals. We move up to North America, in which we see "gestalts" a social dinosaur, with a queen, soldiers, and workers. We see agile brickets (descended from hadrosaurs) and the zwims, aquatic mammals. We move into the tundra, where giant flightless birds (trombles) migrate to breed. Smaller birds (whiffles) follow in their wake. In the colder deserts, we see ankylosaur descendants, adapted for colder weather. In the grasslands, we see gazelle-like sprintosaurs and the raptor-like northclaws. Dinosaurs have even colonized the mountains, like the herbivorus balacvlavs, and their predators, the mountain leapers. In South America, we see manatee-like watergulps and scaly gliders in the rainforests. On the pampas, heavily armoured turtosaurs roam, sharing their food with the larger lumbers. In Asia, we see panda-like Taddeys, and Numbskulls (their real name!) on the steppes of the Asian highlands. In Australia, things get really bizarre. We see flamingo-like dinosaurs (cribrums) and dingums, poisonous dinosaurs. In the trees, we see tubbs, a saurian equivalant of the koala. On the offshore islands, we see Seussian wandles, and Kloons, flightless pterasaurs. On the beaches, coconut grabs, amphibious ammonites (much like the swampus of The Future is Wild) and Shorerunners, small flightless pterasaurs which are their predators. There are more creatures, but I won't reveal them all. Get the book and find out about them for yourself!

If this was the Dinosaur Heresis, would it be alien or warm-blooded? That's the question.
Move over, Speculated Dinosaur Project! Long-time time paleomtologist Dougal Dixon has unleashed his view of the Earth right this very second-if the K-T event had not happened, EVER. According to this book, published in the 1980s, the dinosaurs and their relatives would diversify into a varied collection of species that would look as weird as they are magnificent to our very eyeballs. Except our eyeballs would never be able to see them, since we mammals would still remain small (weighing less than 100 killograms)and remain relatively unspecialized.
What if dinosaurs had not died out?
This book by Dougal Dixon asks, 'What would the Earth be like if dinosaurs had not kicked the bucket?'The first chapters deal with evolution in general and with real dinosaurs, where they came from, how they changed and why they might have died out. This is followed by chapters that deal with the different regions of Earth, how they have changed over the millions of years and what the animals are like.Not just dinosaurs either, but also creatures evolved from birds, pterosaurs, sea-reptiles and other animals.As in 'After Man' the whole book has been designed like a non-fiction text book, or a nature guide, but doesn't seem as detailed or as fun.While Dixon's 'The New Dinosaurs' seems slightly more realistic than 'After Man' which had such weird creatures as parashrews, it also seems to have less imagination. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dinosaurs    2. Fantasy    3. General    4. Science    5. Vertebrate Paleontology   

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. Fossils    3. Nature    4. Rocks & Minerals    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Nature / Reference   

Reviews (4)

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. 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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fossils    2. Nature    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Science / Evolution    6. Social Science / Anthropology / General    7. Anthropology    8. Human beings    9. Human evolution    10. Origin    11. Physical anthropology    12. Social Science    13. Sociology   

Editorial Review

Roy Chapman Andrews was never much of a scholar, and anyone who looked at his high school report card might have foretold an undistinguished future. But, from an early age, Andrews's ambitions lay outside the social norm; an ardent fan of Read more

Reviews (17)

The flaming cliffs
This book tells the tale of Roy Chapman Andrews. He was an outdoors man, who talked his way into the American Museum of Natural History, and eventually becomes the director there. Andrews has the strong belief that the human race originated in Asia instead of the more common belief of Africa. Andrews is able to find backing to fund trips of Asia and Mongolia to find proof to back up his belief.
many errors in there
Gallenkamp did a good job in bibliographic research, but please be careful when you read this book. Don't believe everything therein is true. I have noticed that there is a tremendous amount of inaccurate information included in text especially in accounts of Andrews' whaling trip to Japan (I am a native Japanese, so I know more about Japanese geography than him!) although most of the errors do not affect significantly the whole story of Andrews' life with a full of adventure.

A DIFFICULT BOOK FOR ME TO REVIEW
I must start by admitting that as a young boy, many a many a year ago, that I thrilled to Andrews' first hand accounts of his adventures.They were the sort of stuff a small boy in the midwest dreamed of.That being said, and having to admit that I am no longer that little boy (well, not much anyway), I had very mixed emotions about this book.I was a bit disappointed in the scholarship shown at times.Some of the writing was a bit flat, and viewing Andrews through the eyes of what I know now and did not know then, Andrews' image has been sort of tarnished for me.
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Subjects:  1. 1884-1960    2. Adventurers & Explorers    3. Andrews, Roy Chapman,    4. Asia - Central    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Fossils    8. General    9. History: World    10. Naturalists    11. Naturalists & Gardeners    12. Scientific Expeditions    13. Travel    14. United States    15. Central Asia    16. History / General    17. History of science    18. Rocks, minerals & fossils    19. Travel & holiday guides    20. World history   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Antiquities    3. Archaeology    4. Asia    5. Fossils    6. Hominids    7. Middle East    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Neanderthals    10. Prehistoric Anthropology    11. Prehistoric Archaeology    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Early man    15. Social Science / Archaeology   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (3)

Excellent intermediate level book
This book provides a readable, self-contained, description of the evolution of vertebrates. I think it's a great book.
Vertebrate Palaeontology
"Vertebrate Palaeontology" written by Michael J. Benton is a chronological narritive wriiten like a college text book about the subject of vertebrate palaenolology.There are a few diversions into related current subject matter throughout the text making for some interesting reading but the focus of the book is how the vertebrate palaeontologists obtain their information.
Useful and interesting
Benton manages to write a thorough text on various vertebrate groups and their evolutionary trends, mentioning specific important species and basic morphology without making the book as dry as a bone. As one can always state about books that are overviews, one could wish for more thorough coverage of personal groups of interest, but as an overview, this is a great book. The diagrams and phylogenetic charts are very helpful, and the case studies that are provided in offset boxes are very interesting. Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - General    2. Fossils    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Paleontology    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Vertebrates, Fossil    8. Palaeontology    9. Science / Paleontology    10. Vertebrates   

Reviews (5)

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. 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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Archaeology    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Collection and preservation    4. Fossils    5. Paleontology    6. Paleontology (General)    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Palaeontology    10. Rocks, minerals & fossils   

Reviews (1)

An excellent resource, but too big for my budget!
This is an excellent collection on the subject of the proboscideans, with contributions from some of the most important scholars in the field. The book includes well-written and though-provoking sections on the biogeography, paleoecology, and extinctions relating to this order, and is well worth a perusal for the collected references and appendices alone. I found the segments on the extinction of North American mammoths and mastodonds, the Great American interchange and the Gomphotheres, and the paleoecology of central and Western North American proboscideans to be especially helpful.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Nature    2. Evolution    3. Fossils    4. Paleoecology    5. Proboscidea    6. Proboscidea, Fossil    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Vertebrate Paleontology    9. Mammals