The Little Book of Humanism – Book Review

The Little Book of Humanism

by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts

I'd like to begin my review by making a statement: This is one of the most important, if not the most important, books I have ever read in my life. And I do wish I could have (and had) read this book way, way back when I was much younger. Yes, it is little indeed, as the title goes, but do NOT underestimate the impact this book could make on your life – it is gargantuan and potentially life-changing.

The Little Book of Humanism 👫🌏📖 by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts is a modest-sized book explaining what humanism is and what being a humanist is all about. Here you will find a treasure trove of humanist wisdom and insights in the forms of quotes, meditations, and poems. Among the vast number of humanists featured in this book are Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Margaret Atwood, David Attenborough, Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins, Confucius, and Epicurus. Why should you read The Little Book of Humanism? Well, this book is a perfect guide to living your life to the fullest as a human. It aptly begins with a discussion of the veritable nature of humans – how we came about and who we really are – and throughout the book, you will learn about humanist values, virtues, endeavors, and lessons in a good number of chapters on diversity and equality, thinking clearly, and science and progress, for example. What should we base our actions on? Is curiosity a good thing? Does technology deserve to be abhorred? How can we cope with the inescapable thing called death? You'll find answers to these questions and more in this wonderfully informative book.

The text in The Little Book of Humanism is exquisitely beautiful and profoundly luminous. The co-authors employ engaging conversational writing style which makes the book highly readable and accessible. Despite being a nonfiction book, I found this to be an absolute page-turner, wanting to devour more and more to sate my appetite for knowledge about humanism – I was completely hooked and absorbed throughout! It was an immense pleasure to let myself be toured by the superbly educational writers, and I would like to give them an infinite round of applause. 👏👏👏

You may already be a humanist – just as I was before reading it – or you may not. Whichever you are, I believe there is something to learn from this engrossing book which will make you a better human. The Little Book of Humanism is a thought-provoking book that will continue to serve to help people find "purpose, meaning and joy" and bring out the best in them – for themselves and for the world.

Notes:

• I think the best way to read The Little Book of Humanism is from cover to cover, but picking a random page and reading the content would work too. Enjoy!
• I could discuss the book in more detail. If you're interested to hear what I have to say, please do contact me personally.

Have you read The Little Book of Humanism? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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You're Roarsome – Book Review

You're Roarsome

Summersdale

It was serendipity that ultimately united me with this mini-book. I don't recall the details (although my dinosaurian passion must have been the trigger) but I am extremely glad that I ordered this from one of the most reliable bookstores on the planet: Book Depository. Now, what can this cute volume do to your life?

Let's be honest: we are fragile creatures. I reckon no-one in this world can say they are on cloud nine at all times, bearing no burden whatsoever. While it is true that we are physically built, we have psychology, an aspect that affects much of our own lives. I think it is natural for us to sometimes feel depressed or even down in the dumps. This is where You're Roarsome, published by Summersdale, comes into play.

You're Roarsome is a book chock-full of inspiring, motivating, and uplifting quotes AND dinosaur-related puns which are aimed to exert the same effect on its readers. This is a light book that you can read literally in a day (or an hour), but believe me, it is capable of making a profound impact on your life. The quotes are taken from various people, all of whom I believe are famous figures although I am familiar with only probably about 30% of them. The roster displays names such as Taylor Swift, Neil Gaiman, Hellen Keller, Theodore Roosevelt, Michelle Obama, and Bruce Lee. I found the quotes powerful and moving, boosting my self-confidence, brightening my mood, and encouraging me to be more of me and move forward. The wordplay is also deliciously witty and will surely raise beatific smiles for the readers. If you are in low spirits and need an injection of encouragement, I highly recommend reading You're Roarsome: it will make you believe in yourself more ('cause you are awesome!) and get you ready for what lies ahead in your life.

Note that it is best to treat this book as a self-development book rather than a science book. For example, it mistakenly categorizes a pterosaur as a dinosaur – Pterosauria and Dinosauria are two separate groups of animals. Other than improving its scientific accuracy, it would be wonderful to have numbered pages so that readers can easily find what they want.

Have you read You're Roarsome? What do you think of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Q&A (Q-Man and Answers) #2: What's your least favorite dino and why?

  

#2

Question from Christela Cindy: What's your least favorite dino and why?

Q-Man's answer:

Let me tell you the truth. Cindy, who is another English enthusiast and a fellow poet, actually (and kindly) sent me two questions, the first one being "Why are you so fond of dinosaurs?". This question can simply be answered by an article I wrote many years ago entitled Why Dinosaurs? and this is the reason why I decided to feature the second inquiry for Q&A #2 instead.

So, what dinosaur is actually my least favorite and why? Posing this question is akin to asking what my most favorite dinosaur is and what the reason is. As I've stated on Facebook, to say what my favorite dinosaur is is indeed exceptionally difficult, but I would not feel very "sinful" if I utter the name of the most popular dinosaur on the planet: Tyrannosaurus rex. This massive predator would have tipped the scales at between 5 and 7 metric tons and was capable of crunching the bone of its unfortunate victims with its bone-chilling teeth (see what I did there?). T. rex was definitely a dinosaurian badass. What about my least favorite dino then? Well, I would not take a much, if any, different approach: Asked this remarkably tough question, I would probably point to a dino that is sort of plain in appearance, like Dryosaurus or any of its close relatives. Despite these, in my book all dinosaurs are special and unique in their own ways.

Q&A (Q-Man and Answers) is a section where I answer questions from my readers. Feel free to send me any question through one of my social media channels. Note that you may choose to remain anonymous.

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Dinosaurs Without Bones – Book Review

Dinosaurs Without Bones

by Anthony J. Martin

Fossils. What does this paleontological word conjure up when you read or hear it? You may instantaneously get a vision of the humongous skeleton of Brontosaurus, the spine-tingling skull of T. rex, or something non-dinosaurian but memorable, such as the beautiful, coiled shells of ammonites. These are genuine fossils and there is nothing wrong with that. However, it seems that there is this strong tendency in the public mind to associate this term only with such relics of ancient life. We do need to realize it is not only body fossils (teeth, vertebrae, spikes, etc.) but also trace fossils which constitute the fossil record, the latter unfortunately appearing to be overlooked by a significant portion of the hoi polloi. Dinosaurs Without Bones by Anthony J. Martin is a book with a hugely important role to endow dinosaurian trace fossils with their well-deserved glory.

Ichnology is a branch of science that deals with traces and trace fossils, and Dinosaurs Without Bones, written by an ichnologist, covers this academic discipline with a focus on the traces that dinosaurs left in their lifetimes; a few examples of these behavioral remnants are tracks, nests, burrows, and gastroliths. With his comprehensive coverage of the subject, the author has done a great job in making the case that this dinosaurian legacy is massively important to our understanding of this incredible group of animals and that we would be indigent without the knowledge acquired from studying these prehistoric clues. Although Dinosaurs Without Bones is intended as an ichnological discussion of non-avian dinosaurs, extant dinosaurs, namely birds, have their share as well, and this book ends with a commentary of the future of dinosaurian ichnology. Dr. Martin has also suffused this book with a good sprinkling of fresh humor, which has successfully made me burst out laughing now and then. In short, this volume on ichnology is a must-read if you want to see a more complete picture of the world of dinosaurs.

There are two other points I'd like to raise before I conclude this review. Firstly, I noticed that Dinosaurs Without Bones is special in respect of science education that it can impart to its readers. I have gained valuable insight into how science works, including the process scientific papers need to undergo in order to be published in a scientific journal. Secondly (and lastly), in my opinion, Dinosaurs Without Bones is the best book I have ever read in terms of sentence complexity. So *calling out to my EFL students*, if you badly need to prepare for the IELTS Writing test, you may want to consider perusing this superlative read.

Have you read Dinosaurs Without Bones? What are your thoughts on this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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The Amazing World of Dinosaurs – Book Review

The Amazing World of Dinosaurs

by James Kuether

Needless to say, the world of dinosaurs is amazing. These unique creatures have ceaselessly captivated and intrigued the human race and prevail in the mind of numerous children all around the world. However, what we really encounter at present are their lifeless remnants in the form of fossils. By means of science, paleontologists attempt to work out the veritable reality of their world, but we need a kind of tool for "reviving" these remarkable animals in our mind, enabling us to visualize what the dinosaurs would have been like when they were alive. Paleoartists are people who fulfill this noble & crucial role, and it is a blessing that James Kuether, a member of this profession, brought to us The Amazing World of Dinosaurs, a dinosaur book that he wrote himself and filled with his own beautiful illustrations.

The Amazing World of Dinosaurs is a great summary that gracefully guides readers through the Mesozoic history of the non-avian dinosaurs. The author uses elegant language which is couched in conversational style, guaranteed to entertain the readers and keep them hooked on the subject throughout. His lifelike illustrations are absolutely stunning and they are certainly delights for those who appreciate these incredible creatures. To my mind, these are two things that stand out in this book.

This 176-page volume starts with a concise discussion on the history of dinosaurology, paleoart, and the importance of imagination in science as well in reconstructing these breathtaking animals. Then, the readers will be guided through the dawn of the dinosaurs in the Triassic Period up to the demise of the non-bird kind at the end of the Cretaceous Period around 66 million years ago. I am heartily glad that this book includes information about new discoveries such as Medusaceratops and Dakotaraptor, which I was not very familiar with. What is more, The Amazing World of Dinosaurs contains a pronunciation guide (which would help with the often daunting act of saying the names of prehistoric animals and plants correctly) as well as a glossary (which would greatly assist readers in understanding unfamiliar paleontological terminology used in this book). Overall, The Amazing World of Dinosaurs is well worth reading & collecting and it will be a nice addition to your dinosaur book pile.

This book is complemented by a deck of cards which is offered separately. Click here to purchase the cards.

Have you read The Amazing World of Dinosaurs? What do you think about this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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My First-Ever Podcast on Dinosaurs!

This past week has been a little surreal for me. Out of the blue, a former colleague of mine Aep Syaefullah, the host of Kantor Penasaran, contacted me and asked whether I would like to talk in his podcast about one of the most influential things in my life: dinosaurs. 🦖🦕 Is this for real? The invitation left me psychologically unstable for some time, and eventually I said yes! I felt it would be a great chance to channel my interest to the general public, specifically the Indonesians, the vast majority of whom, in my opinion, are indifferent to the majestic creatures. So, on June 1, 2020 we did the recording and talked about dinosaurs for about 45 minutes. Here is a poster for the event:

The podcast can be accessed on the following platforms: Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Breaker, and RadioPublic. The title is "Klinsman H: Talking about Dinosaurs in Indonesia" and, as you must have noticed, it was recorded in Indonesian, our native language. Although we did have a discussion about dinosaurs in Indonesia, the podcast actually covers more than that: what dinosaurs mean to me, my dinosaur-related collection, whether Komodo dragons are honest-to-goodness dinosaurs, and so on. Here is a snippet of the podcast:

Listen to the full podcast here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kLxn9T4W57KpVUKxNGSTI?si=WOMoIUEjTKWd2khL3TLwDw

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/kantor-penasaran/episodes/24--Klinsman--Bicara-tentang-Dinosaurus-di-Indonesia-eertb2

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kODc4ZjdjL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/OTc2MmM2ODAtNDVhNC00NzJkLWE3MTYtMmUyNzVjNTVkYmZm?ved=0CAcQ38oDahcKEwjYhs2Bq-jpAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBg

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/kantor-penasaran-podcast/e/64911697

RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/kantor-penasaran-podcast-8XPazn/s1!8fff2

I'm really sorry for any imperfections in the podcast – to be honest, I was somewhat nervous! However, I hope that the audience can enjoy listening to our conversation and get something useful from it! 😊

Related articles:

• Why Dinosaurs?
• Why Dinosaurs Matter – Book Review

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Evolution in Minutes – Book Review

Evolution in Minutes

by Dr. Darren Naish

Evolution in Minutes by Dr. Darren Naish is the very first volume fully dedicated to discussing evolution in my book collection that I've read. There is the Indonesian saying "kecil-kecil cabe rawit," which would translate to something like this in English: "Although small, they're/it's a bird's eye chili". I think this reference to a person's/thing's superb quality despite their/its small size aptly describes what this little book is like – keep in mind that it is composed of over 400 pages, however.

Of course, evolutionary change cannot be detected in minutes since the process is gradual and generational; instead, the title refers to the organization of the book whereby readers can learn about a topic in evolution in a matter of minutes. Evolution in Minutes is divided into 13 chapters, each of them nesting a number of sub-chapters. Personally I love how this book is laid out: the sub-chapters typically consist of a left-hand page for discussion text (3 paragraphs maximum) and a right-hand page for an illustration related to the topic (mostly with a caption as well).

The breadth of the information contained by this book is breathtakingly vast (it even touches the subjects of racism, consciousness, language, and future evolution) and I have acquired a prodigious amount of knowledge about this biological phenomenon through this fascinatingly readable book. Dr. Naish, without a single shadow of a doubt, is one of my most favorite authors. He masterfully crafts this book with easily digestible language yet in an outstandingly elegant fashion – I highly admire his explanatory skills and educational endeavors in science communication. I would hugely recommend Evolution in Minutes to anyone interested in biology, paleontology, nature, (pre)history, and/or evolution. Read this wondrously illuminating book and you'll end up with a much greater understanding and appreciation of the natural history of our planet and its underlying force.

If you are a dinosaur enthusiast, you should also check out Dr. Naish's other book Dinosaurs: How they lived and evolved, which he co-authored with his colleague Paul M. Barrett (read my review of the first edition here).

Have you read Evolution in Minutes? What is your opinion of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below! Continue reading

Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey – Book Review

Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey

by Sam Chiarelli

As there is a term for a person who loves cats -- that is "ailurophile" -- there is also one for those who are smitten with dinosaurs: "dinophile". I am one of them, and so is Sam Chiarelli, the author of Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey.

To begin with, this is a very special book on dinosaurs. It is a scintillating concoction of a memoir, science, and adventures with dinosaurs at its core -- I've never read a dinosaur book like this before. In this dino-craze–filled volume, Sam carries you on an exhilarating tour through the many dinosaurian places he has visited, from museums & prep labs to a dino-themed hotel & a paleontologist's office. Personal interviews with paleo-profiles are a point of appeal of this book -- you will gain a boatload of insights into their views on the dinosaur world, to which they dedicate their lives. Another reason to engulf this book is that it is beautifully crafted with the author's creative writing, which is spellbinding and certain to hypnotize readers into his blazing passion for the ancient behemoths (I am really grateful for the existence of such a book in dinosaurian literature). Through his linguistic work, Sam also invites us to ponder about the philosophical and psychological connections between the dinosaurs and us, humans. As you read this book, you will realize that Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey is an example of a manifestation of someone's genuine love for something that they are deeply passionate about. A heightened understanding of Dinosauria is guaranteed, and -- you are warned -- devouring this book can cause the following side effects: childhood nostalgia/reminiscences, passion reinvigoration, and, of course, love of dinosaurs -- dinophilia, a word that the author has embedded in this book countless times. I highly recommend anyone, including fellow dinophiles, to dig through Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey, a magnificent addition to your dinosaur book heap.

Have you read Dig: A Personal Prehistoric Journey? What are your thoughts on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!
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My Beloved Brontosaurus – Book Review

My Beloved Brontosaurus

by Brian Switek

Nearing the close of last year, I stumbled upon a Tweet by Goodreads asking its tweeps for a 3-word description of the books they were reading. Coincidentally I was in the midst of my immersion in this little book, and, as it wished, I replied to the book reader platform with three words whose attached qualities thoroughly emanate from the dinosaurian volume: superb, beauteous, and entrancing.

My Beloved Brontosaurus by Brian Switek is a passionate fête of one of the most exciting stories in the history of our planet – that of the dinosaurs. Bearing their own experiences with fervor for dinosauriana, the author captivatingly drives readers to examine and explore the many facets of dinosaur life. The first encounter of the author's younger self with "Brontosaurus" is the starting point, and from there Brian invites us to probe into a broad range of dinosaurian topics which include the animals' sex lives, the evolution of feathers, sauropod gigantism, dinosaur pathologies (the diseases and injuries inflicted on the marvelous creatures), as well as the annihilation of the non-avian forms. The author is a hybrid of a real dino geek and an adept raconteur. Their vast knowledge of the "fearfully great lizards", fused with a flair for writing, has yielded an impressive read to be consumed by any dinosaur fan. (Note: Some caution has to be exercised in regard to the colorful cover – which freezes the interaction between the author and their much loved "Brontosaurus" – as MBB actually takes a more serious approach than a typical illustration-packed dinosaur book for young children.)

Brian once claimed that "no dinosaur bookshelf is complete without a copy of My Beloved Brontosaurus." After swallowing the contents of this book, I can clearly see the truthfulness of this statement. If you are a dinophile, you are guaranteed to love and enjoy this highly insightful written work on dinosaurs.

Have you read My Beloved Brontosaurus? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!
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The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs – Book Review

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

by Steve Brusatte

I bet it is not very hard for the majority of people to grasp the content of this book just by scanning its title. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte is an epically written summary of the amazing history of the dinosaurs, from their modest beginnings in the Triassic supercontinent called Pangea, through their remarkably widespread dominance all across the Earth, to the tragic demise of most of them at the end of the Cretaceous Period, around 66 million years ago. It is probably not easy to crunch over 150 million years of dinosaur existence in the Mesozoic Era into a single book in an organized and comprehensive way, but the author has proven himself by successfully executing this noble, monumental task.

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a thrilling journey both in the present and ancient past. Steve takes readers from place to place on the globe, using his personal experiences and stories to guide the dinosaur-curious minds through the long, wondrous evolutionary tale of our distant reptilian cousins. Along the way, you'll meet many paleontological figures – before reading the book I had known or at least heard of many of them and it is nice to have furthered my knowledge of them through the oft witty descriptions given by the author. Steve presents the story in this book with his amazing rhetorical writing skills, producing a fantastic marriage between art and science that keeps the readers riveted along the ride. Throughout the book you will bone-deeply feel his immense passion for dinosaurs, and science more generally, as well as clearly see that Steve is a man of humility – I'd really love to chew the fat with him over a ketoprak dinner in Jakarta, if I have the chance. Tyrannosaurus rex is undoubtedly the most famous non-bird dinosaur and Steve treats us to one chapter fully devoted to the "tyrant lizard king". The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs certainly deserves a place on any dinophile's bookshelf and is too good to be left unread.

The book that you see in the picture above was published by Macmillan (UK version). A U.S. version was released by William Morrow and you can buy it here. You might also want to watch a brief video of Steve talking about the book here.

Have you read The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs? What is your take on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!
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Are We a Perfect Being?

The statement that we, humans (I believe no other organisms are capable of reading and understand this line), are a sort of creation that is impeccable, flawless, and the most majestic of all is ubiquitous. But do we really live up to the grandeur reputation that is passionately voiced in many, or even all, corners of the world?

The answer is "unfortunately" no. Let's probe into why this is the case.

Humans are living beings, just like other animals (I say "other" because we are animals), such as fish, iguanas, cats, dogs, and dinosaurs (birds included), as well as plants, which comprise those flowery stuctures making up your beautiful garden, if you do have one. All living things, including our little friends and foes bacteria, undergo a morphing process called evolution, that is gradual change in response to their environment for the sake of survival. In this harsh world, as we know and realize, sh*t happens, so not all individuals make it. Those who do not manage to continue their odysseys in this world are extinct, leaving the others with their "successful", selected traits. This phenomenon is known as natural selection, which, along with the theory of evolution, was proposed by British naturalist Charles Darwin in his 1859 seminal book On the Origin of Species.

Intermezzo: It is a real shame that the theory of evolution is still denied by many people, claiming that it is "just a theory." One must comprehend that scientists use the term differently from the hoi polloi, and we do have such an abundant amount of evidence pointing to the truth of evolution that it is unarguably, in everyday language, a fact.

Evolution has been going on ever since the first organisms appeared on Earth and the unfathomably deep passage of time that has passed by has resulted in the wondrous world we inhabit today, with the evolution-shaped, extraordinarily rich diversity of life spread all around it. It can be said that we are hyperlucky since we are some of the last remnants of life (shouldn't we be grateful?), those that represent the leaves on the tree of life or, in scientific terminology, phylogenetic tree.

All the individuals of the current life on this planet are "champions" in that we are the last bits of myriad unbroken chains that lead to the first ancestors of all living beings that have ever existed in the world, implying survival of mind-bogglingly immense magnitude. And all of us come with features that were left by our predecessors as a legacy. Modern humans have super complex brains and definitely are the most intelligent species on the globe. However, if you carefully examine the human body, many of the organs are not as "perfect" as people generally might think. Take the eye as an example. While it is true that our eyes are magnificent, they are not as remarkable as those of eagles, which can see four or five times farther than humans. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean eagles' eyes are "better" or "more perfect" than humans'; eagles' eyes evolved in that way because they are required for hunting prey, while humans do not need such visual acuity for their survival. Returning to the fabulosity of the human brain, our intelligence hallmark exists merely as a result of adaptation to our surroundings. This is also to say that we, including our brains, are still constantly evolving towards new trends as necessary – there is no such word or expression as "peak" or "end point" in the dictionary of evolution. In his best-selling book The God Delusion, British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins also enlighteningly points out that humans do possess infirmities caused by things such as lower back pain and prolapsed uteruses, owing to our upright stance after being in the quadrupedal mode for a vast swath of time.

Nevertheless, it must be admitted that Homo sapiens is a very successful species, and with our brain and, especially, I think, our social bonds and skills (among all the "strengths" we possess), we can make up for our "weaknesses". It would have been difficult for a single human to kill a mammoth alone, so he or she worked together to take it down. We couldn't swim like fish, so we came up with ships, scuba-diving apparatus, and the like. We couldn't fly as birds do, so we invented the airplane and similar things intended for navigating through the air. We even remain the only group of living beings capable of exploring the space. Humans, in a sense, are definitely a barrier-breaking species.

To add another argument against our "perfectness", it is useful to think that a number of members of our own species are born with diseases or abnormalities. Think of those cancer-suffering or limbless newborns, for example. Clearly, pathologies can occur at any point in our lives and this is, in fact, natural, as we ourselves are part of the natural world. Additionally, needless to say, we all eventually will come to a point called death.

So are we a perfect being? Well, as they say, nobody's perfect. ;)

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Quote #29

"As members of Homo sapiens – the most intelligent species on the planet – we are endowed with a highly advanced brain. Yet, we need to keep on nurturing it by ceaselessly learning with high doses of curiosity, willingness, and, last but not least, humility." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Why Dinosaurs Matter – Book Review

Why Dinosaurs Matter

by Kenneth Lacovara

This is it. This is just the book the world needs. This is more or less what was in my mind before I purchased this book. Now that I finished it, all I can say is it really is.

Gazing at the intriguing title – and after reading the previous paragraph – you might be frowning with several shadows of a doubt: Do they really matter? Aren't they just long-gone creatures intended merely for children's entertainment? Grab this book and let Kenneth Lacovara obliterate any reservations of yours and convert you into an ardent dinosaur defender.

Why Dinosaurs Matter is definitely "a dinosaur book with a difference," as Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE puts it in her review. You won't find numerous dinosaur illustrations accompanied with a great deal of information on the diet, behavior, and other aspects of hosts of dinosaur genera. No, you won't. Instead, this book will take you into deep contemplation of your very existence on this planet. It will take you into a clearer understanding of the world through the medium of dinosaurology. It will take you into a period of reflection that will eventually lead you to genuine humility. The small size of this book shouldn't delude you into thinking that it is nothing. Why Dinosaurs Matter is made up of 12 chapters, each of which is filled with Ken's sublime scientific writing, which shows that he is a remarkable science communicator. I found that Ken's poetical prose, which was composed with his linguistic prowess, is a supreme point of this book, and with its content of scientific nature, Why Dinosaur Matters is a treasure of (dinosaurian) paleontology. You might be asking: Are there any particular dinosaurs covered in this book? The answer is yes! These include the world's most famous dinosaur: Tyrannosaurus rex, and the mighty Late Cretaceous sauropod Dreadnoughtus schrani, which was discovered by Kenneth Lacovara himself in southern Patagonia over a decade ago. In a nutshell, Why Dinosaurs Matter is a brilliantly & beauteously enlightening book.

As you may have noticed, Why Dinosaurs Matter is a TED Book, which means that it expands on a related TED Talk. Be amazed at Kenneth Lacovara's 2016 marvelous speech: Hunting for dinosaurs showed me our place in the universe (to access it on YouTube, click here). You might also want to have a glimpse into the book by navigating through these useful links:

• Here's Why Dinosaurs Matter (TED)
• In Defense Of Dinosaurs (Science Friday)
• Q&A with Paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara (Natural History Museum of Utah)
• Why T. Rex's Puny Arms Are a Sign of Strength (National Geographic)
• Why Dinosaurs Matter... (Live Science)
• How a Boy Who Was Obsessed with Dinosaurs Discovered Dreadnoughtus (Live Science)
• Kenneth Lacovara Tells Us ‘Why Dinosaurs Matter’ (GeekDad)
• We are all walking natural history museums (INKtalks) (to watch it on YouTube, click here)
• Why Dinosaurs Matter - Kenneth Lacovara, at USI (Unexpected Sources of Inspiration)

Beware! Reading Why Dinosaurs Matter has a side effect: it will astronomically enlarge your vocabulary, owing to the innumerable expressions Ken poured into it. You might want to get a reliable English dictionary ready before you start reading this eye-opening book.

Have you read Why Dinosaurs Matter? What do you think of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

P.S. I love how Ken addresses young Earth creationism in this book. ;)

Related article by me: Why Dinosaurs?

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Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved – Book Review

Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved

by Darren Naish and Paul Barrett

I am writingless because this dinosaur book is too good to exist. But I will do it anyway because you need to know about (and read) this before you die.

Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved is simply a must-have for anyone who would like to learn about these amazing creatures which include the world-famous, ferocious-looking Tyrannosaurus and the rhino-like, ornament-headed Triceratops. I repeat: it is a MUST-HAVE. This book teaches dinosaurology in a fun and engaging manner: the writing is really absorbing and keeps you hooked throughout the book. The co-authors, I'd say, are teaching masters and they do great work in using language that is varied, but easy to understand. They also do not use a lot of technical terms in such a way that I believe this book will suit those who even have a very limited knowledge of dinosaurs.The fact that there are 'only' six chapters in this book, which discuss topics ranging from dinosaur physiology to the origin of birds, shouldn't mislead you: the amount of information stored in it is tremendous. This book is also equipped with a great many fantastic illustrations which definitely will help you gain a better understanding of the subject.

In my opinion, the cover, which shows a Giganotosaurus gaping its mouth in a menacing posture, looks cool, although the co-author Darren Naish seems to be not quite satisfied with it (watch Darren talk about the book here).

For your information, aside from the NHM version (which is shown in the picture above), Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved was also published by Smithsonian Books with no difference in contents.

Have you read Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved? What do you think of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

The second edition, published by the Natural History Museum on September 6, 2018, can be purchased here. Check Darren's article to get an idea of how it differs from its predecessor.

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Raptor Red – Book Review

Raptor Red

by Robert T. Bakker

I should have written this review a long time ago as I finished this little dino novel before Velociraptor came into scene – you know I'm kidding. But they say "better late then never", so here I am, slouching in front of my Lenovo, typing my opinion on this not-authored-by-Robert-T.-Kiyosaki book.

Raptor Red is a novel about the life of an adult female dinosaur belonging to the genus Utahraptor – that is a kind of medium-sized predatory dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Period that was discovered, as is easy to guess, in Utah, the  U.S., and is a close cousin of the more famous Velociraptor. This story is based on the discovery of the animal and was written by world-famous American paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker, casually called Bob Bakker – does it ring a bell? Yeah, in the movie Jurassic Park Tim Murphy, who is the grandson of John Hammond, mentions this dinosaur expert when conversing with paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant. So there are two points that make this novel stand out from others: there are NO humans involved (as it takes place hundreds of millions of years ago before the first humans appeared) and it was written by a REAL paleontologist! Before enjoying the story, you are welcomed by the preface, which revolves around the discovery of Utahraptor and discusses its relation to the blockbuster movie. And then the show begins. Bob Bakker exquisitely tells the tale of this bird-like creature in a gripping as well as emotional way. With his background as a dinosaurian scientist, the author successfully mixes science with extremely vivid and imaginative descriptions. In addition, the plot is riveting and will definitely keep the reader enthralled during the ride. Bob Bakker knows how to satisfy readers with his highly descriptive writing and engaging story-telling skills – honestly, I didn't expect to be as wowed as I am when reading it. In short, this novel deserves standing applause. If you are an adventure novel addict and/or dinophile, I am sure you will fall in love with this book in a brief second.

Unfortunately I think this novel is one of a kind (any other novels of this sort? tell me!). To be brutally honest, I need MORE of this. I do hope Bakker (or other paleontologists) will come out with this type of novel in the (near) future.

Have you read Raptor Red? What do you think of this novel? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Quote #22

"What's the best way to learn past tenses? Read dinosaur books." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Flying Dinosaurs – Book Review

Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds

by John Pickrell

Birds are dinosaurs. Yeah, you read it correctly. Birds are dinosaurs! Nearly 10,000 species of birds living in the world today are dinosaurs – these include the minuscule bee hummingbird, the huge ostrich, and the modest chicken! (To know some of the implications, click here.) To quench my thirst for knowledge of this, I embarked on a journey to finding a great resource book. And... I found this book! Honestly, it was quite costly (around 420,000 IDR or 31.50 USD) for a book this 'thin'; however, it was absolutely well worth it. I would definitely recommend anyone who wants to dig deeper into the dinosaur-bird notion to grab this book as soon as possible. (Please be aware that there is a lot of paleontological and dinosaurian terminology in this book. Although it contains a glossary that can help you with it, I still think you should already be familiar with the jargon and it might not be suitable for newbies.)

First of all, I would really like to commend the author, John Pickrell, for his eloquence and magnificence in writing the book. Personally I fell head over heels in love with his writing style! Your attention will be completely drawn to this book and you will feel the indescribable beauty of it as John tells the dino-bird tale. The award-winning journalist and the editor of Australian Geographic magazine is a master at engaging readers in his Pickrellish world. I can assure you that Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds is a real page-turner, thanks to the brilliant author. (actually John has recently published another book titled Weird Dinosaurs: The Strange New Fossils Challenging Everything We Thought We Knew, which I, without a doubt, will buy once I have the money) Regarding the content, Feathered Dinosaurs presents a huge body of information and covers many areas, including the coloration of dinosaur feathers and Jack Horner's 'chickenosaurus' project. Another point that I like about this book is that it incorporates commentaries from many experts such as Canadian paleontologist Phil Currie and Chinese paleontologist Xu Xing. Although not many, there are a number of illustrations concentrated in the middle of this book which you can feast your eyes on. Finally, there is a mini-dictionary at the back which boasts rich information about species of feathered dinosaurs including how to pronounce their (genus) names!

However, like dinosaurs themselves, dinosaurology is constantly evolving as more and more discoveries are being made all over the world, and Flying Dinosaurs, which was published about 3.5 years ago, certainly needs updating. What are your thoughts on this book? Write your comment below!

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Why Dinosaurs?

Other than Jay Chou, another thing that might arise in my friends' minds when they think of me is surely dinosaurs. The fascinating beasts that come in all kinds of shapes and sizes have never ceased to intrigue me to date.

A Tyrannosaurus skeleton

As with most dinosaur fans all around the world, my liking for dinosaurs started early in life. In my childhood, I got a bunch of dinosaur books which were laden with numerous visuals designed to attract young readers. At one of his TED Talks, world-renowned paleontologist Jack Horner says, when asked what is behind children's love for dinosaurs, he usually replies that "dinosaurs were big, different, and gone" – although actually they are not gone, as Jack clarifies subsequently. I think it partly explains why these bizarre creatures captivated me as a little kid, because, as American paleontologist Steve Brusatte says in an Earth Unplugged video, "there's just something about dinosaurs, there's some magic to them, there's some indescribable essence to them."

Aside from the above mentioned reason, why dinosaurs? Why not Pokémon GO, which is arguably the most popular game nowadays? Why not anime and manga, of which a huge number of fan bases are scattered on the globe? Why not superheroes, like those created by Marvel and DC?

I would start with the most 'important' one: learning about dinosaurs means learning about the world as a whole, including ourselves. It takes us on a deep journey into prehistory, the time before we, humans, appeared on the scene, so that we can actually understand how our world works. We must take dinosaurs into account to really understand evolution, including how we came to be who we are. It is a pity that many people are ignorant of or even deny the theory of evolution; dinosaurs are a great tool to teach this (and science, in general – Steve says dinosaurs are "just an automatic gateway into science" in a science festival video) to the public and eradicate the misleading thought.

Knowing dinosaurs has also turned me into a more humble person. It has made me realize that we are just 'tiny' things – with a lifespan of around 70 years – existing in this vast, super old (around 4.6 billion years old), changing world and our species, Homo sapiens, is just a newcomer. Terrorism that is invading our planet – and seems to be getting more and more cruel and violent day by day – claiming an enormous number of lives, I believe, is a product of false understanding or a wrong view of the world. Together, as the human race, we need to strive for a better world for our continuous existence. I firmly believe and am very confident that dinosaurs can play an exceptionally important role in attaining world peace.

Dinosaurology is also extremely important as it significantly contributes to our knowledge of "how the earth has changed over time" (a phrase by Steve from his Earth Unplugged video The Dinosaur Expert that keeps reverberating in my head) and this relates to climate change, which is a global issue we are currently facing. Understanding this in should help us solve this urgent problem. Studying dinosaurs means studying the past in the present for the future.

Last but not least, seriously, what is more engaging than dinosaurs? Gigantic behemoths possessing extremely long necks and tails, big-headed vicious-looking predators equipped with lines of big serrated teeth, rhino-like animals boasting eye-catching head ornamentation, club-tailed creatures with body coverings reminiscent of tanks, and many more – not to mention 10,000 or so species of our feathered relatives: birds, the only surviving lineage of dinosaurs. Nothing, right?

Recommended articles:
Why dinosaurs are important by Dr Dave Hone
Dinosaurs Offer a Rich Field for Study of the Human Era by Mary H. Schweitzer
Beyond the Childhood Dinosaur Phase: Why Dinosaurs Should Matter to Everyone by Brian Switek
Dead dinosaurs and reasons for hope by Dr. Matt Bonnan
Why Dinosaurs Are An Important Part Of A Global Education (with Book Reviews & Resources)
Why study dinosaurs by Mike Taylor

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May All Beings Be Happy

Is it possible?

This saying kind of "tingled" my brain perhaps several years ago. Let's dissect this idea.

According to Macmillan Dictionary – one of my favorite dictionaries – "being" means "a living thing". Therefore, "all beings" are all living things, which include all humans, animals, plants, as well as microorganisms, such as bacteria.

Now let's take a look at the second most important word in the phrase: "happy". The same dictionary defines "happy" as "feeling pleasure and enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc." (I don't think anybody would disagree with this definition)

Now that we, hopefully, understand what the sentence means, let's move on to the question that has made me ponder: Is it likely that all beings will be happy?

Lions and zebras. I believe everyone knows the relationship between these two types of animals. To put it simply, lions try to hunt zebras and zebras try not to be hunted by the "kings of the jungle". Do zebras want to be feasted on by lions? Of course not; that's why they run as fast as they can when lions are chasing them. Do lions want to let zebras eat grass peacefully? Definitely not since lions have to fill their rumbling stomachs or otherwise they will die. So I guess it is pretty clear that either lions are happy or zebras are happy. It is utterly impossible that both kinds of beings are happy (please let me know if there is a zebra approaching a lion in order to be devoured by the predator, or if somewhere on Earth a lion, while being surrounded by a dozen zebras, fasted until it died).

It is just one out of, I believe, a huge number of predator-prey relationships on this planet – birds and worms, grizzly bears and salmon, Tyrannosaurus rex and hadrosaurs, you name it. Parasitism (such as, the relationship between fleas and your neighbor's beloved dog) is another happiness-is-just-for-one-of-them association.

It appears that we live in an unfair and nasty world. But that's how nature works. Species strive to continue their existence with a broad spectrum of behavior, even if it requires members of other species to suffer or even die.

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Animal Abuse

On June 21, 2016, the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, perhaps familiarly known as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, began in China, despite a cornucopia of opposition from inside and outside of the country. The dog-slaughtering event has aroused my desire to express my view on this fairly controversial topic: animal abuse.

Modern humans have existed for a relatively long time, around 200,000 years. Our ancestors must have fed on a wide variety of diets, including a great number of members of the animal kingdom. It makes a lot of sense to think so since the present time sees human consumption of numerous kinds of creatures – some of which you would probably gape at — as a means of surviving in the modern world. The Manadonese, a tribe native to Manado, one of the largest cities in Indonesia located in Celebes island, take it to an extreme. It is a common practice for the locals to eat bat, cat, and rat meat, as well as dog and monkey. Perhaps this ethnic group is comparable to the Chinese, who are also known to indulge themselves in enjoying a vast range of foods made out of animal flesh.

Is it morally wrong to kill a dog and devour it? Does it deserve to be abhorred to take out a clowder of cats and cook "steaks" out of them? As with a bunch of other things, humans can't be separated from culture. Different cultures may have differing attitudes toward this issue. Those who are accustomed to it would say it is perfectly all right – it might be weird for them not to eat a certain kind of animal. On the other hand, others might see this sort of act as being cruel and evil.

Actually it is not really difficult to work out why this can happen. People grow in different environments and are shaped by them. It is worth mentioning that humans naturally have feelings, such as compassion. Dog and cat lovers would say a BIG yes in reply to the two questions posed at the beginning of the previous paragraph. Being in contact with these types of animal for a long time – perhaps in most cases, since the creatures were born – have certainly generated affection and pity in them, hence the disfavor.

There was a controversy relating to this matter in Indonesia a few months ago: dog lovers protested to the owner of a pet shop in South Tangerang against a puppy/puppies being fed to the snake pet(s). When I first noticed this, I thought, What would snake lovers do if they knew this? Would they protest to the dog lovers?

It seems silly to actually grumble about this situation. If the human race has maintained their existence in varied ways, why should we, the current generation, feel agitated? In my opinion, as long as it doesn't have a negative effect on our species' survival, it really is no problem. (Some people might have a thought that it is simply wrong to kill an animal. However, do they care about the massacre of countless chickens that will end up at KFC's and McDonald's tables every day? I believe not – consistency is the key here.)

I am suddenly reminded of the killing of Harambe, a gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo, the U.S., which took place recently. He was shot dead with the intention to prevent a young boy who had fallen into the gorilla's territory from experiencing imminent death. While I agree that we need to conserve biodiversity, saving living things from extinction, our species has always to take priority over others.

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