Fossiling in Florida: A Guide for Diggers and Divers

Rating:
Summary: A very informational guide for all fossil hunters!!!
Review: I am impressed with Mr. Renz' knowledge of Florida fossiling, from identification to the "common" hazards that we all face by fossil hunting in Florida. I highly recomend "Fossiling in Florida" for all fossil hunters, from the novice to the professional Paleontologist. It was NOT a "dry read" and cure for insomnia as most fossiling guides and identification books are and no Latin class required to read and understand it!! Not only is it fun to read and informative it is also a great carry along when you are in the field for identification, between the verbal descriptions and outstanding drawings and photographs you can identify the most common and even some of the rare finds in Florida.

Rating:
Summary: A very informational guide for all fossil hunters!!!
Review: I am impressed with Mr. Renz' knowledge of Florida fossiling, from identification to the "common" hazards that we all face by fossil hunting in Florida. I highly recomend "Fossiling in Florida" for all fossil hunters, from the novice to the professional Paleontologist. It was NOT a "dry read" and cure for insomnia as most fossiling guides and identification books are and no Latin class required to read and understand it!! Not only is it fun to read and informative it is also a great carry along when you are in the field for identification, between the verbal descriptions and outstanding drawings and photographs you can identify the most common and even some of the rare finds in Florida.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for someone interested in Florida fossiling
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Not only was it interesting it was humorus with great insights. Florida has a unique fossil record and Mark tells you why.The photos were excellent and the illustrations well done. If you are a fossil hunter, it is easy to relate to Mark's fascination with bones.He also stresses the importance of reporting an unusual find. The legal aspects of fossil hunting are well explained.If you are someone interested in Florida fossil hunting then I highly recommmend this book, Mark's enthuasism is contagious so be careful!

Rating:
Summary: Great, down-to-earth field guide
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mark Renz' fossil guide from the standpoint of one who is just approaching the subject of amateur paleontology. Being a diver and not an historian or scientist, I was curious about fossil hunting, but not enough to make a life's work of it. This book bridges the gap, and makes the study of fossil bones interesting but not intimidating to those of us who want a brief lesson in paleontology, with detailed information on what we are actually finding in Florida's creeks and rivers. Renz' humor makes the science user-friendly; and with foreword addresses by such highly-regarded individuals in the field as S. David Webb of our Florida Museum of Natural History and James S. Dunbar from the state's Bureau of Archeological Research, I was reassured that Renz' scientific knowledge is solid. Not the "coffee-table" book some may expect, this field "Guide for Diggers and Divers" is designed to go with you as a hands-on manual. I like that it leads you to the best spots to find fossils, describes likely spots to find the bones, and offers photos of some of the common (and even those more unusual) items you'll find. Most of all, having read the book a number of times, I have proof the author's knowledge is legitimate. Being a Floridian, I had the opportunity to join Mark Renz on one of his fossil expeditions. I not only found bones and artifacts, but I also received a lesson in the identification and history of each fossil, along with information on reporting my finds. This book is definitely not for those that already know it all. But for those of us just starting out, or developing an interest in fossil bones, it's a great reference and a wonderful beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, Humorous & Anecdotal!!!!!!!
Review: I've read many fossil guides and most are usually boring and scientific. Mark's book is full of stories that shed a realistic light on the art and science of fossiling. Not only does he describe his techniques for fossil hunting, he also does this with a sense of wry humor and wit. I have used his fossil guide to identify some fossils that I have located myself in Florida. I would highly recommend this book for the neophyte as well as the seasoned fossiler.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, Humorous & Anecdotal!!!!!!!
Review: I've read many fossil guides and most are usually boring and scientific. Mark's book is full of stories that shed a realistic light on the art and science of fossiling. Not only does he describe his techniques for fossil hunting, he also does this with a sense of wry humor and wit. I have used his fossil guide to identify some fossils that I have located myself in Florida. I would highly recommend this book for the neophyte as well as the seasoned fossiler.

Rating:
Summary: not worth the time or money
Review: Save your money and buy a diffent book!
I felt Robin Browns book Fossiling in florida was much better and has lots of location information.

Although it has quite a few photos to help id bones and teeth, rest of the text is pretty much fluff and filler.
If I had seen this book before purchase, I would not have spent the time or money on it.

Rating:
Summary: Seldom is science so breezy as it is here.
Review: Seldom is science so breezy and entertaining as it is in Mark Renz's Fossiling In Florida. Renz became fascinated with digging up bones and artifacts quite by accident; but once the interest arose, he was unstoppable. This is a light-hearted account of how Renz educated himself in this arcane and sometimes speculative subject matter. It is also a wonderful handbook for the beginning paleontologist. Competing with Renz' sparkling and self-deprecating prose is an enormous number of photos and drawings (the latter by his wife, Marisa) that illustrate Florida's rich reservoir of strange creatures long dead. Among the many things Renz gently teaches us is that passion is the widest doorway to knowing.

Rating:
Summary: Not very good, could be much better.
Review: What can I say. I did not find the book that great. It was helpful to i.d. some of the fossils I've found over the years. Some of the same types of fossils pictured in the book can be found in southern Alabama as well. Its also useful as for locations to fossil hunt as well as addressing the over done regulations and laws regarding fossil hunting in Florida. The little cartoon sketches here and there were good as well.
The book major drawback is that the dating of the fossils is based on evolution and extreme ages. The author, apparently trying to be quite sincere, went to but was was greatly misled, decieved and lied to, (weather they were aware of what they were doing or not), by "all knowing" University professors, and various other so called experts in the advice he sought. He should have got second third or even fourth opinions from other sources. Underneath all the hype, and manipulation for and of evolution is, has been and always will be and unproven THEORY. Sadly, the author stated in the book it did not matter to him what one subscribed to as to what one believes about orgins yet within the text he set forth only evolutionary ages and ideas. It would have been better had the author downplayed the theory of evolution and old ages while writing the book. I urge anyone considering reading this book to read it with caution regarding extreme ages and evolutionary ideas within the text. I too suggest one also seek out alternative sources and information on evolution, fossils as well as orgins and to check it out for themselves the falsehoods associated with such.