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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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).

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