Dinosaurs and Fossils

[Dan Salter]

Hi Folks....couldnt think what forum to place this in?

Anyway...my love of natural history and recently a real interest in evolution and darwins theory etc has predictably led me to a rekindled childhood interest in fossils and dinosaurs. This interest fuelled by the recent 'fossil detectives series' and by watching the old but classic attenborough series 'lost worlds vanished lives' dvd...and the recent 'Mummy Dinosaur' tv documentary.

My knowledge of fossils and dinosaurs was good and strong as a child but other than pulling off a few names off the top of my head for the odd fossil or well known dinosaur im now a bit sketchy.

So i have been looking for books on prehistoric natural history (fossils and dinosaurs) however everything seems to be aimed at children...or early teens?

Are there any recent or 'classic' books on either, that people can recommend? i dont want seriously heavy reference laden science as this is just a rekindled interest....but i dont want a book aimed at children either?


Cheers.

Danosaurus Rex.

[mbaldw]

Hi Danosaurus,

dinosaur-wise I can recommend: Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-To-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages by Thomas Holtz Jr. & Luis Rey. I got it out the library a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it was aimed at kids (8 years and above) it was beautifully illustrated and contained loads of -- as far as I know, scientifically accurate! -- information in an easy to read format. I went and had a look on a well-known online book retailer and it gets good reviews there too.

Fossil-wise, the only book I have on the subject is: Dorling Kindersley Handbook: Fossils by David Ward. I love DK books because they have a smart, easy-to-use layout. While I sometimes find it lacking in some areas (e.g. a scale for the photos would be nice), but as a photo ID guide I think it's very good.

Cheers,
Marc.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by mbaldw

Hi Danosaurus,

dinosaur-wise I can recommend: Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-To-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages by Thomas Holtz Jr. & Luis Rey. I got it out the library a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it was aimed at kids (8 years and above) it was beautifully illustrated and contained loads of -- as far as I know, scientifically accurate! -- information in an easy to read format. I went and had a look on a well-known online book retailer and it gets good reviews there too.

Fossil-wise, the only book I have on the subject is: Dorling Kindersley Handbook: Fossils by David Ward. I love DK books because they have a smart, easy-to-use layout. While I sometimes find it lacking in some areas (e.g. a scale for the photos would be nice), but as a photo ID guide I think it's very good.

Cheers,
Marc.

Thanks Marc i shall have a look for those!

any other recommendations folks?

[naturegirl]

That's because you are an old Dinosaur Dan, he he!!!!

Naturegirl

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Hi Folks....couldnt think what forum to place this in?

Anyway...my love of natural history and recently a real interest in evolution and darwins theory etc has predictably led me to a rekindled childhood interest in fossils and dinosaurs. This interest fuelled by the recent 'fossil detectives series' and by watching the old but classic attenborough series 'lost worlds vanished lives' dvd...and the recent 'Mummy Dinosaur' tv documentary.

My knowledge of fossils and dinosaurs was good and strong as a child but other than pulling off a few names off the top of my head for the odd fossil or well known dinosaur im now a bit sketchy.

So i have been looking for books on prehistoric natural history (fossils and dinosaurs) however everything seems to be aimed at children...or early teens?

Are there any recent or 'classic' books on either, that people can recommend? i dont want seriously heavy reference laden science as this is just a rekindled interest....but i dont want a book aimed at children either?


Cheers.

Danosaurus Rex.

Ive always stuck these in geography - there isn't really a proper place for fossil threads.

As for books "the Illustrated encyclopedia of dinosaurs" by D. Norman and P. Weinhofer was the one always recommended to us on the Palaeobiology course - its good as its the dinosaur and pterosaur book combined, but might be starting to get a bit dated now.

I'd also recommend on DVD the walking with... series (the 3 being: Dinosaurs, beasts and Monsters) as these are mostly accurate

Theres alot of books around but you just have to be careful as there are some outdated and frankly inaccurate ones, but I reckon most will be good for basic names and facts. This is the same for good sites on the web on dinosaurs. Once I started reading a site while trying to do some research, started to spot a few errors and then it started to talk about an expedition to find a living pterosaur in the Congo and "raptors" guarding the ark of the covanant (as in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the lost ark) I kid you not! The moral of the story: steer well clear of creationist 'science' sites!

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Ive always stuck these in geography - there isn't really a proper place for fossil threads.

As for books "the Illustrated encyclopedia of dinosaurs" by D. Norman and P. Weinhofer was the one always recommended to us on the Palaeobiology course - its good as its the dinosaur and pterosaur book combined, but might be starting to get a bit dated now.

I'd also recommend on DVD the walking with... series (the 3 being: Dinosaurs, beasts and Monsters) as these are mostly accurate

Theres alot of books around but you just have to be careful as there are some outdated and frankly inaccurate ones, but I reckon most will be good for basic names and facts. This is the same for good sites on the web on dinosaurs. Once I started reading a site while trying to do some research, started to spot a few errors and then it started to talk about an expedition to find a living pterosaur in the Congo and "raptors" guarding the ark of the covanant (as in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the lost ark) I kid you not! The moral of the story: steer well clear of creationist 'science' sites!

I tend to steer well clear of 'creationists' full stop!