The Dinosauria

Rating:
Summary: The Dinosauria
Review: "The Dinosauria" edited by David B. Weihampel, Peter Dodson, and Halszka Osmolska is for the serious dinophile and for those with some science and paleontology backgrounds. This book should NOT be tackled by the casual reader as it can be very serious when reading this volume on comparitive anatomy of dinosaur bones.

I found "The Dinosauria" to be very well-written and very informative and it gives the reader a clue to the nature of dinosaurs through their bone structure. The first section covers a broad area of interest, mainly the evolutionary relationships of dinosaurs within the wider context of archosaurian descent. The behaviorial attributes are next and what did they possess. Also, how does one analyze them from the paleontological and modern biological perspectives? In this first section, the question is posed, as to how the dinosaurs became extinct as a group.

In the second section each group of animals receives a detailed treatment, beginning with its anatomy. This is a comprehesive review of the taxonomy and systematic relationships at the level of genus and species. Here the dicussion focuses on the aspects of the fossil record, preservation, paleogeography, paleoecology, and life habits of that particular group.

I found "The Dinosauria" to be a solid five star book that is as close to being current as can be expected. Written by experts in their respected fields this book is well-edited and progresses in a very logical manor. "The Dinosauria" is a benchmark reference book. For those interested in vertebrate paleontology, students, serious amateurs, and those in need of serious authoritive information this is the book for you. "The Dinosauria" is NOT a childrens book nor is it intended to be.

"The Dinosauria" belongs on the bookshelves of all serious dinophiles and of those wanting a near complete reference book. The bibiography, alone, contains more than 2,500 enteries and is well appointed with references making your search for authoritive information an easier task.

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding reference book on dinosaurs.
Review: Since this book represents a first synthesis ever of dinosaur biology and evolution, it is inveluable reference source for any professional vertebrate paleontologist, geologist, student and interested amateur.
The recent explosion of knowledge based on the more and more spectacular finds of dinosaurs throughout the world has been channelled into this book and revized in full scale. Dinosaur taxonomy has been trimmed by elimination of more than 250 genera and almost 500 species making the data usable for further research purposes.
Each of the world's experts on dinosaurs, write on its on speciality and a group of dinosaurs.
The book is very detailed, comprehensive, with a lot of illustrations (there might have been more) and a massive bibliography containing more than 2,500 entries.
This book is a "must" for every expert and dinophile as well

Rating:
Summary: A professional reference book
Review: This work was a bit tedious, as any book of this magnitude can be, especially to someone without a PHD, like me. If, however you are aspiring for that PHD, or are a very serious amateur paleontologist, this book is great. It is the most in-depth book I have ever found on the subject. Most books are significantly watered down, as their intended audience is often teenage or younger. This book supplies enormous quantities of information in a fairly usable format. I just wished that there had been more illustrations, perhaps some pictures of different excavation sites and more actual fossil examples, instead of mere drawings. Perhaps this was done for cost effectiveness, as this book is very expensive for someone on a budget. The bone anatomy is very well shown though, and can be studied with the help of this book. I would recommend it for anyone who is serious about paleontology, but please, if you are not, check out another book, as this one may be a dissapointment with a! big price tag.

Rating:
Summary: All It Is Cracked Up To Be And More!
Review: What more can I say for this book than has already been said? The first book of it's kind (that I know of), The Dinosauria is the perfect introduction into SERIOUS paleontology. If you want to know more about dinosaurs than you learn from Jurassic Park, this is the place to start. Be warned though, a basic knowledge of the science of paleontology is needed as the book does go deeper into the realm of true science than in other popular books. The Dinosauria layed the foundation for works that would follow, and again this is the perfect introduction for someone who wants to get more serious about the real science of the Dinosauria.

Rating:
Summary: All It Is Cracked Up To Be And More!
Review: What more can I say for this book than has already been said? The first book of it's kind (that I know of), The Dinosauria is the perfect introduction into SERIOUS paleontology. If you want to know more about dinosaurs than you learn from Jurassic Park, this is the place to start. Be warned though, a basic knowledge of the science of paleontology is needed as the book does go deeper into the realm of true science than in other popular books. The Dinosauria layed the foundation for works that would follow, and again this is the perfect introduction for someone who wants to get more serious about the real science of the Dinosauria.