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The Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World
Dinosaurs are not what you thought they were—or at least, they didn’t look like you thought they did. Here, world-leading paleontologist Michael J. Benton brings us a new visual guide to the world of the dinosaurs, showing how rapid advances in technology and amazing new fossil finds have changed the way we see these extinct beasts forever. Stunning, brand-new illustrations by paleoartist Bob Nicholls display the latest and most exciting scientific discoveries in vibrant color. From Sinosauropteryx, the first dinosaur to have its color patterns identified—a ginger-and-white striped tail and a “bandit mask”—by Benton’s team at the University of Bristol to recent research on the surprising mixed feathers and scales of Kulindadromeus, this is one of the first books to include cutting-edge scientific research in paleontology.
Each chapter focuses on a particular extinct species, featuring a specially commissioned illustration by Bob Nicholls that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs, with accompanying text exploring how paleontologists have determined new details, such as the patterns on skin and the colors of feathers of animals that lived millions of years ago. This visual compendium surprises and challenges everything you thought you knew about what dinosaurs looked like and how they lived.
Each chapter focuses on a particular extinct species, featuring a specially commissioned illustration by Bob Nicholls that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs, with accompanying text exploring how paleontologists have determined new details, such as the patterns on skin and the colors of feathers of animals that lived millions of years ago. This visual compendium surprises and challenges everything you thought you knew about what dinosaurs looked like and how they lived.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 23, 2021
About the author
Michael J. Benton
91 books91 followersMichael J. Benton FRS is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol. He is particularly interested in early reptiles, Triassic dinosaurs, and macroevolution, and has published over 50 books and 300 scientific articles. He leads one of the most successful palaeontology research groups at the University of Bristol, and has supervised over 60 PhD students.
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February 4, 2022One word - anurognathus.
This.
These eyes can't lie.
This.
These eyes can't lie.
December 12, 2022
Simply put, this is a splendid book. The cover-critter, Tupandactylus, instantly triggered my sense-of-wonder. Holy crap, how could this guy ever FLY? https://www.flickr.com/photos/2905046... Then there's the Texas pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus, which was as tall as a giraffe! Literally! Presumably considerably lighter, since the dinologists (or should we say pterologists) think it could fly, somehow..... I think I recall a SciAm article on just this critter AWB, theorizing that they must have launched from cliff-edges and then caught thermals to stay aloft, since any reasonable guess at these guys' air-worthiness makes them look marginal at best. Nevertheless, they persisted, and left their bones in the fossil record.
Looks pretty much like essential reading for us dino fans. Lovely paleoart by the talented artist Bob Nicholls, and lots more from other sources. Dinologist Benton turns out to be a genial scientist-writer, with a dry English wit. Lovely-looking book too: his publisher did him proud. At a minimum, see if your library has a copy.
When you read it, if you are a fellow dino-nerd, you can safely skim the introductory material, and get right to the meat: Sinosauropteryx! If the name sounds familiar, it should: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinosau... This was the first (non-avian!) dino found with definite FEATHERS! And the author + students were even able to figure out what COLOR the feathers were! This critter is thought to have been pretty similar to some modern lemurs, with a striped tail and a 'bandit' mask. One was even found with his lunch (a lizard) still in his gut. Poor guy. Lemur-like critter + lunch: https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/n... A good professional review by the BBC. In fact, you should take a break right now & read the BBC review, which has a generous selection of the wonderful artwork from the book. Ooh! Ooh! I L❤️VE this painting of a Psittacosaurus Mom & babies!
So. I have more notes, but really, if you are a fellow dino-nerd, you NEED to read this one. And then buy a copy, or put it on your gift-for-me list. Folks, I don't give out many 5 star reviews. This one was an easy pick. Just a lovely, lovely book. Don't miss!
Looks pretty much like essential reading for us dino fans. Lovely paleoart by the talented artist Bob Nicholls, and lots more from other sources. Dinologist Benton turns out to be a genial scientist-writer, with a dry English wit. Lovely-looking book too: his publisher did him proud. At a minimum, see if your library has a copy.
When you read it, if you are a fellow dino-nerd, you can safely skim the introductory material, and get right to the meat: Sinosauropteryx! If the name sounds familiar, it should: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinosau... This was the first (non-avian!) dino found with definite FEATHERS! And the author + students were even able to figure out what COLOR the feathers were! This critter is thought to have been pretty similar to some modern lemurs, with a striped tail and a 'bandit' mask. One was even found with his lunch (a lizard) still in his gut. Poor guy. Lemur-like critter + lunch: https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/n... A good professional review by the BBC. In fact, you should take a break right now & read the BBC review, which has a generous selection of the wonderful artwork from the book. Ooh! Ooh! I L❤️VE this painting of a Psittacosaurus Mom & babies!
So. I have more notes, but really, if you are a fellow dino-nerd, you NEED to read this one. And then buy a copy, or put it on your gift-for-me list. Folks, I don't give out many 5 star reviews. This one was an easy pick. Just a lovely, lovely book. Don't miss!
February 27, 2024
Įspūdinga knyga. Tikrai įspūdinga. Čia yra viskas ką norit žinoti apie tai, kaip mes sužinojome patvirtintus faktus apie dinozaurus, jų gyvenimą, elgseną, mitybą, išvaizdą ir visą kitą. Gali atrodyt, kad ką čia žinot - rado kaulą, padarė tyrimą ir viskas aišku. Aha. Ši knyga detaliai parodo, kad su tuo vienu kaulu dirba krūvos žmonių, kelia krūvas hipotezių, spėlioja, išsamiai nagrinėja kiekvieną jo griovelį, dokumentuoja, lygina, rašo darbus ir tik tada, kad ir po daug laiko, kai kažkam pavyksta rasti nenuginčijamą, logišką paaiškinimą, pagrįstą kalnais darbų, lentelių, grafikų - mes galim sakyti, kad buvo taip ir ne kitaip.
Aš pati negalvojau, kad TIEEEEK daug visko reikėjo padaryti, tiek suklysti, tiek nusivilti, tiek kapstyti, tiek atsidurti aklavietėje, diskutuoti ir aiškintis, kad tiesiog sužinotum kokios spalvos buvo dinozaurai. Autorius labai išsamiai pasakoja visą mokslininkų virtuvę ir užkulisius, kurie tikrai nustebina. Knyga labai gausiai iliustruota - tiek piešiniais, tiek grafikais, lentelėmis ir nuotraukomis. Aš net nežinojau, kad tiek skirtingų tų dinozaurų buvo ir nuolat googlinau visus pavadinimus. O kiek įdomių faktų čia apie juos! Labai įdomu buvo skaityti apie mokslininkų diskusiją ar galima šiais laikais klonuoti dinozaurą ir kaip jie priėjo prie atsakymo. Dar įdomiau buvo skaityti kodėl ir kaip jie išnyko. O kiek dėl šito reikalo tarp tų mokslininkų dramos buvo: visi laikėsi savo teorijų, pykosi ir aiškinosi, kol vienas dėdulė atėjo su nenuginčijamai teisinga versija.
Yra daug ir apie tą patį kasinėjimą, kaulų suradimą ir tolimesnį darbą su jais. Na, labai labai įdomu. Fainas autoriaus rašymo stilius, lengvas, smagus, nors be akademinių ir "moksliškų" terminų apsieiti nebuvo įmanoma. Iš esmės - tai knyga apie tai, kaip mes sužinojome tai, ką žinome dabar. Apie tai, kaip ir ką dirba paleontologai. Nors sausesnių vietų buvo, bet susiskaitė tikrai įdomiai ir labai praturtino mano žinias apie šiuos didelius gyvius.
Aš pati negalvojau, kad TIEEEEK daug visko reikėjo padaryti, tiek suklysti, tiek nusivilti, tiek kapstyti, tiek atsidurti aklavietėje, diskutuoti ir aiškintis, kad tiesiog sužinotum kokios spalvos buvo dinozaurai. Autorius labai išsamiai pasakoja visą mokslininkų virtuvę ir užkulisius, kurie tikrai nustebina. Knyga labai gausiai iliustruota - tiek piešiniais, tiek grafikais, lentelėmis ir nuotraukomis. Aš net nežinojau, kad tiek skirtingų tų dinozaurų buvo ir nuolat googlinau visus pavadinimus. O kiek įdomių faktų čia apie juos! Labai įdomu buvo skaityti apie mokslininkų diskusiją ar galima šiais laikais klonuoti dinozaurą ir kaip jie priėjo prie atsakymo. Dar įdomiau buvo skaityti kodėl ir kaip jie išnyko. O kiek dėl šito reikalo tarp tų mokslininkų dramos buvo: visi laikėsi savo teorijų, pykosi ir aiškinosi, kol vienas dėdulė atėjo su nenuginčijamai teisinga versija.
Yra daug ir apie tą patį kasinėjimą, kaulų suradimą ir tolimesnį darbą su jais. Na, labai labai įdomu. Fainas autoriaus rašymo stilius, lengvas, smagus, nors be akademinių ir "moksliškų" terminų apsieiti nebuvo įmanoma. Iš esmės - tai knyga apie tai, kaip mes sužinojome tai, ką žinome dabar. Apie tai, kaip ir ką dirba paleontologai. Nors sausesnių vietų buvo, bet susiskaitė tikrai įdomiai ir labai praturtino mano žinias apie šiuos didelius gyvius.
November 10, 2021
Books on dinosaurs are sure sellers for the children's market, but it's a tougher prospect for adults. The danger is that a dino book becomes something between a trainspotting exercise and top trumps, listing different dinosaurs' capabilities and characteristics without really telling us anything of interest. It's an exercise in the philatelic end of Rutherford's infamous takedown of science as being either physics or stamp collecting.
Having said that, it's not impossible to make an adult book on dinosaurs that is engaging. For example, Donald Prothero's The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries overcame the problem by driving the book from the stories of the discoverers of the relevant fossils, while Benton's previous book Dinosaurs Rediscovered, while not quite at the same level, managed to do better than the average by focussing on new discoveries like skin pigmentation and feathers while dipping into some topics in detail and taking a charming, if occasionally over-whimsical, approach.
In some ways, this new title (fully 'Dinosaurs - new visions of a lost world') is very much more of the same to Dinosaurs Rediscovered, down to the book being rather heavier than is comfortable for the reader's wrists. Once again, it focuses on the newer discoveries - those pigments and feathers again, for example - and presenting the best picture we can of how we now think dinosaurs looked and behaved. In part you could see it as an updated versions of the already dated TV show 'Walking with Dinosaurs' in book form. It shares the strengths and weaknesses of that series. It does help bring some aspects of dinosaurs to life, but it sometimes sounds as if it's describing fact, rather than best current conjecture given the limited data we have.
In total, the book covers 15 species, most of which are relatively unfamiliar with the exception of archaeopteryx, the well-known proto-bird. There's no t-rex or velociraptor, which is distinctly refreshing. There are plenty of illustrations, both photographic and in coloured artworks, produced by 'palaeoartist' Bob Nicholls, which includes the remarkable looking tupandactylus (technically a pterosaur rather than a dinosaur) featured on the cover. This one is surely just waiting to star in its own animated movie.
The book is certainly quite interesting in a QI sense, but I struggled to keep engaged enough to bother too much after getting through three or four species. In the end, I'm more physicist than stamp collector in my attitude to science. This no doubt makes it my fault that I didn't get more out of this book - but other dinosaur titles have captured my attention more effectively. It is, however, a good addition to the collection of adults who delight in dinosaurs.
Having said that, it's not impossible to make an adult book on dinosaurs that is engaging. For example, Donald Prothero's The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries overcame the problem by driving the book from the stories of the discoverers of the relevant fossils, while Benton's previous book Dinosaurs Rediscovered, while not quite at the same level, managed to do better than the average by focussing on new discoveries like skin pigmentation and feathers while dipping into some topics in detail and taking a charming, if occasionally over-whimsical, approach.
In some ways, this new title (fully 'Dinosaurs - new visions of a lost world') is very much more of the same to Dinosaurs Rediscovered, down to the book being rather heavier than is comfortable for the reader's wrists. Once again, it focuses on the newer discoveries - those pigments and feathers again, for example - and presenting the best picture we can of how we now think dinosaurs looked and behaved. In part you could see it as an updated versions of the already dated TV show 'Walking with Dinosaurs' in book form. It shares the strengths and weaknesses of that series. It does help bring some aspects of dinosaurs to life, but it sometimes sounds as if it's describing fact, rather than best current conjecture given the limited data we have.
In total, the book covers 15 species, most of which are relatively unfamiliar with the exception of archaeopteryx, the well-known proto-bird. There's no t-rex or velociraptor, which is distinctly refreshing. There are plenty of illustrations, both photographic and in coloured artworks, produced by 'palaeoartist' Bob Nicholls, which includes the remarkable looking tupandactylus (technically a pterosaur rather than a dinosaur) featured on the cover. This one is surely just waiting to star in its own animated movie.
The book is certainly quite interesting in a QI sense, but I struggled to keep engaged enough to bother too much after getting through three or four species. In the end, I'm more physicist than stamp collector in my attitude to science. This no doubt makes it my fault that I didn't get more out of this book - but other dinosaur titles have captured my attention more effectively. It is, however, a good addition to the collection of adults who delight in dinosaurs.
October 21, 2023
Now this is what books on prehistoric life is supposed to look like! Lots of illustrations (on average one colour illustration/photograph every two pages and many double spreads) of all the odd looking creatures and fossils. Bob Nicholls does lovely paleoart that beautifully illustrates and enhances Michael Benton's examination of how scientists' views of dinosaurs surface appearances have changed over the decades. Now, some dinosaurs have feathers (as well as scales, keratin covered horns, and osteoderms) and scientists can determine (more or less) what colours they were and how those colours were distributed - all depending on finding a decently preserved fossil, of course. Just over half the book deals with discoveries involving feathers, but representatives of the other non-feathered dinosaur groups, ichthyosaurs, pterosaurs, and early mammals all get a chapter. Each of the 15 chapters selects a specific fossil that advanced the study of figuring out what dinosaurs looked like.
I have two issues with this book. I wanted more information, and more in-depth information. The other issue, is the odd style of abruptly ending each chapter, and the abrupt ending to the whole book. A concluding chapter summarising findings and speculating on future research would have been nice.
I have two issues with this book. I wanted more information, and more in-depth information. The other issue, is the odd style of abruptly ending each chapter, and the abrupt ending to the whole book. A concluding chapter summarising findings and speculating on future research would have been nice.
December 5, 2022
Have you ever wondered how paleontologists discovered that many dinosaurs have feathers? Was the Jurassic Park T. rex depiction fully accurate? Adding to his impressive collection of over fifty published books, Michael J. Benton’s Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World delves into many of these hot topics in the field. The professor of Vertebrate Paleontology and head of the world-leading Paleobiology Research group at the University of Bristol begins the dinosaur story by detailing the changes over time in how society pictured dinosaurs. Starting with a rudimentary understanding of dinosaurs as giant reptiles, Benton writes how our view progresses, becoming more complex. Fossil discoveries allowed paleontologists to make inferences about features like feathers and bright colors, and we gained a deeper understanding of their evolution and behavior. All the while, he makes this quick history lesson very approachable, including references to pop culture and the movie franchise Jurassic Park.
Bringing in our contemporary view of dinosaurs seamlessly leads the reader into Benton’s main thesis: the novel discoveries that have changed the way we see dinosaurs. The first breakthrough he notes hails from 1996, the Sinosauropteryx. You may be wondering: “What was the purpose of this Early Cretaceous theropod’s ginger and white striped tail and bandit mask?” His rigorous account of this fossil and those that follow in consecutive chapters explain every nook and cranny of the findings through a thorough investigation of the latest literature. Each chapter begins in a similar fashion with a beautiful drawing of the dinosaur whose fossil finding will be the main concentration of the chapter. Next, Benton sets the scene by describing the environment/time period from a third-person point of view of the dinosaur. Not only does this improve readability, but also allows the reader to step into the dinosaur world many millions of years ago. Additionally, creative subtitles sprinkled throughout the chapter like “Could the first bird fly?” and “The first mother” develop this book into an exciting page-turner from cover to cover. Recently published in 2021, Benton does not hesitate to delve into all sides of controversial, heavily debated topics like the purpose of feathers and bright coloring in dinosaurs or the origin of wings for flight or display. He also is committed to including connections between dinosaurs and modern animals like Anurognathus (a Pterosaur) and bats. Benton does not skimp on details and meticulously analyzes the history of the paleontologists behind the fossil unearthing. However, he does not acknowledge the lack of diversity in paleontology, as most of the discoveries only give credit to cis, white males. Yet, as a paleontologist himself, it is honorable that Benton pays homage to those who spent many tedious hours in the field to produce the results changing our view of dinosaurs. For the reader more interested in the science rather than the scientists behind the findings, this section of the chapter can feel slightly wordy. Another drawback is that the chapters are not in chronological order based on the time period of the dinosaur or the date of the discovery.
Nevertheless, the photography and graphic depictions steal the show. Not only does he include new scientific discoveries in his engagement of these concepts, but he included over 150 ornate drawings of the brilliant beasts as depicted by the very talented paleoartist Bob Nicholls. The curation of photos is inspiring to young scientists and avid adult readers alike. Though the vibrant illustrations may draw in young readers, the concepts detailed in the book are more suitable for the intended audience of adult science enthusiasts. A detailed analysis of how paleontologists reveal prehistoric feathers requires an explanation of complicated concepts like melanosomes and new scientific technology like SEM or ToF-SIMS, which might be confusing for a young audience. Benton also includes an extensive list of books and papers at the end for curious adult readers that allow further investigation into the themes discussed.
Michael J. Benton’s Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World is an irreplaceable addition to paleontology literature. This unique approach to time traveling through the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods provides readers with a modernized outlook on dinosaurs, as Benton dispels misconceptions about the creatures along the way. I would give the book 4.7/5 stars.
Bringing in our contemporary view of dinosaurs seamlessly leads the reader into Benton’s main thesis: the novel discoveries that have changed the way we see dinosaurs. The first breakthrough he notes hails from 1996, the Sinosauropteryx. You may be wondering: “What was the purpose of this Early Cretaceous theropod’s ginger and white striped tail and bandit mask?” His rigorous account of this fossil and those that follow in consecutive chapters explain every nook and cranny of the findings through a thorough investigation of the latest literature. Each chapter begins in a similar fashion with a beautiful drawing of the dinosaur whose fossil finding will be the main concentration of the chapter. Next, Benton sets the scene by describing the environment/time period from a third-person point of view of the dinosaur. Not only does this improve readability, but also allows the reader to step into the dinosaur world many millions of years ago. Additionally, creative subtitles sprinkled throughout the chapter like “Could the first bird fly?” and “The first mother” develop this book into an exciting page-turner from cover to cover. Recently published in 2021, Benton does not hesitate to delve into all sides of controversial, heavily debated topics like the purpose of feathers and bright coloring in dinosaurs or the origin of wings for flight or display. He also is committed to including connections between dinosaurs and modern animals like Anurognathus (a Pterosaur) and bats. Benton does not skimp on details and meticulously analyzes the history of the paleontologists behind the fossil unearthing. However, he does not acknowledge the lack of diversity in paleontology, as most of the discoveries only give credit to cis, white males. Yet, as a paleontologist himself, it is honorable that Benton pays homage to those who spent many tedious hours in the field to produce the results changing our view of dinosaurs. For the reader more interested in the science rather than the scientists behind the findings, this section of the chapter can feel slightly wordy. Another drawback is that the chapters are not in chronological order based on the time period of the dinosaur or the date of the discovery.
Nevertheless, the photography and graphic depictions steal the show. Not only does he include new scientific discoveries in his engagement of these concepts, but he included over 150 ornate drawings of the brilliant beasts as depicted by the very talented paleoartist Bob Nicholls. The curation of photos is inspiring to young scientists and avid adult readers alike. Though the vibrant illustrations may draw in young readers, the concepts detailed in the book are more suitable for the intended audience of adult science enthusiasts. A detailed analysis of how paleontologists reveal prehistoric feathers requires an explanation of complicated concepts like melanosomes and new scientific technology like SEM or ToF-SIMS, which might be confusing for a young audience. Benton also includes an extensive list of books and papers at the end for curious adult readers that allow further investigation into the themes discussed.
Michael J. Benton’s Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World is an irreplaceable addition to paleontology literature. This unique approach to time traveling through the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods provides readers with a modernized outlook on dinosaurs, as Benton dispels misconceptions about the creatures along the way. I would give the book 4.7/5 stars.
December 25, 2022
A book that is at the surface about dinosaurs but much more fundamentally about cultivating our imagination for deep time and Earth's history.
The author focuses on fifteen rare prehistoric specimens with remarkable soft tissue preservation, enabling a study of melanosomes and hair. Blending science with art, the palaeontologist uses the latest technologies to update our imaginaries of prehistoric creatures in terms of their colours, hairs and feathers. Since the art draws on features of present-day creatures like ring-tailed lemurs and finches, the featured creatures feel that much more real.
Of all the animals, paleoartist Bob Nicholl's rendering of Anchiornis was particularly special and spectacular to me. I could almost see it fly off the page!
As a lover of natural history, I've followed many of the news stories of these fossil finds but the stories behind the discoveries are truly wonderful. One detail that stays with me is how a single museum technician (Mark Mitchell) spent 6 years (!?) removing rock from the widely publicised and astonishingly preserved ankylosaur specimen Borealopelta. It is probably all that tending and love and unwavering attention to detail that enables us to know that this being that lived 120 million years ago was a choosy eater who only ate a particular fern species. How incredible that we can tap into deep time like that with the little that remains of it. The kind of thing that makes me proud to be both human and an inhabitant of this wondrous planet.
---
What a gift of a book to savour, inviting us to take a step back and just love this world for its wonders from our ancestral past and present - and reflect about what we want to protect for the future.
The author focuses on fifteen rare prehistoric specimens with remarkable soft tissue preservation, enabling a study of melanosomes and hair. Blending science with art, the palaeontologist uses the latest technologies to update our imaginaries of prehistoric creatures in terms of their colours, hairs and feathers. Since the art draws on features of present-day creatures like ring-tailed lemurs and finches, the featured creatures feel that much more real.
Of all the animals, paleoartist Bob Nicholl's rendering of Anchiornis was particularly special and spectacular to me. I could almost see it fly off the page!
As a lover of natural history, I've followed many of the news stories of these fossil finds but the stories behind the discoveries are truly wonderful. One detail that stays with me is how a single museum technician (Mark Mitchell) spent 6 years (!?) removing rock from the widely publicised and astonishingly preserved ankylosaur specimen Borealopelta. It is probably all that tending and love and unwavering attention to detail that enables us to know that this being that lived 120 million years ago was a choosy eater who only ate a particular fern species. How incredible that we can tap into deep time like that with the little that remains of it. The kind of thing that makes me proud to be both human and an inhabitant of this wondrous planet.
---
What a gift of a book to savour, inviting us to take a step back and just love this world for its wonders from our ancestral past and present - and reflect about what we want to protect for the future.
January 7, 2022
As someone who didn't do very well in science, there were parts of this book that took me a lot to wrap my head around. However, the things I learned about not only dinosaurs but the way they were studied was truly amazing.
The illustrations and photos of real life fossils blew me away and I found out about species I didn't know existed and really out of the blue facts, like how dinosaurs used to get dandruff?? Wild.
All in all a great book.
The illustrations and photos of real life fossils blew me away and I found out about species I didn't know existed and really out of the blue facts, like how dinosaurs used to get dandruff?? Wild.
All in all a great book.
January 4, 2023
Really great book on Mesozoic life. Benton focuses on a few different exceptionally preserved fossils including species of birds, marine reptiles, mammals, pterosaurs and dinosaurs to paint a picture of the animals in colour and how they lived. The science of melanosomes is introduced well and used throughout to explain the colour. How we can get such exceptional fossils is discussed. Finally the coverings of the animals be it scales, feathers or pycnofibers are discussed and what this means for the evolutionary tree of dinosaurs as a whole.
I learnt alot from this book and the photos and illustrations really help bring these animals to life. It can be a bit heavy on the scientific terminology but being familiar with Benton's other works this wasn't an issue for me. This book should have had a different title as dinosaurs are not the sole focus here. My recommendation is "Mesozoic Life Colourised".
I learnt alot from this book and the photos and illustrations really help bring these animals to life. It can be a bit heavy on the scientific terminology but being familiar with Benton's other works this wasn't an issue for me. This book should have had a different title as dinosaurs are not the sole focus here. My recommendation is "Mesozoic Life Colourised".
January 10, 2022
Misleading title aside--the book is not limited to dinosaurs and doesn't even feature a dinosaur on the cover--this book is the clearest account I've seen for general audiences of how scientists reconstruct the appearance of prehistoric animals. It focuses on 12 of the best-preserved fossils, devoting a short chapter to each. The chapters provide scaffolding so that observations about feather color for Sinosauropteryx, for example, also apply to other feathered dinosaurs described later.
As part of that general audience, I do feel like the book focuses on newer discoveries about skin, color, feathers, and filaments at the expense of a discussion of musculature. As far as I am aware, the science supporting muscular reconstruction hasn't changed nearly as much in a generation, but readers would still benefit from understanding what scientists know about it, and how it influences a creature's look and capabilities. I was also surprised that some very well-preserved prehistoric animals did not make the cut.
As part of that general audience, I do feel like the book focuses on newer discoveries about skin, color, feathers, and filaments at the expense of a discussion of musculature. As far as I am aware, the science supporting muscular reconstruction hasn't changed nearly as much in a generation, but readers would still benefit from understanding what scientists know about it, and how it influences a creature's look and capabilities. I was also surprised that some very well-preserved prehistoric animals did not make the cut.
February 1, 2024
Fascinating, well written in an approachable way, without losing the technical details! Great read, really enjoyed it! Also fabulous illustrations and photos!
January 10, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. It focuses on one aspect of dinosaurs: their outer surfaces. What colour were they and did they have feathers and why? I liked the level of scientific detail given and the photos and illustrations add to the quality of the book. One to read in print and not on a kindle device.
June 2, 2023
Anyone who knows me knows I love learning more about dinosaurs, so a book promising the most up-to-date and close-to-reality recreations of dinosaurs appealed immensely.
Last year, I read Benton's "Dinosaurs Rediscovered"; this book revisited many of the facts covered by that book, but through a lense of specific genuses from the Mesozoic, which was very entertaining. I had a great time learning about Sinosauropteryx and how we know its exact colouration, and I liked how this book explored a handful of non-dinosaur animals, too (although I do question why a book titled "Dinosaurs" chose to put a pterosaur on the cover).
Benton writes in a very accessible way, aware that readers likely won't share his in-depth knowledge but never falling into patronisation. He plants the seeds of curiosity for things you may want to research further yourself, whilst providing enough information for you to understand how results were reached.
Which means that, as well as the amazing artwork and fascinating photographs, Benton's writing forms a full picture itself. I particularly enjoyed how each chapter opened with a vignette of the prehistoric world. To paraphrase, "We are in the Late Cretaceous, under towering conifers, surrounded by buzzing insects and stifling heat. Between the leaves, an Anchiornis watches us..."
So to sum up those positives: informative, accessible, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated.
My main complaint is that the book suffers from a pattern of abrupt endings. Each animal's chapter does not end with a proper conclusion, in my opinion, so you feel like you're in the midst of learning when suddenly you're being told about a different animal. This wasn't so bad at first, as the subject of feathers and melanosomes was covered across multiple chapters, but it became clearer later on.
I also felt that later chapters were shorter, almost like they existed to pad out the book.
The book, as a whole, also ended quite suddenly. I feel it could have benefitted from a conclusion chapter, summing up everything that's been covered and asking the question of what more is there to learn.
And that feeling of dissatisfaction when a chapter ended - and craving another chapter to wrap things up like a fossil in plaster - is why I've dropped a star.
But I would certainly recommend this book if you are interested in realistic dinosaur depictions and the science behind the discoveries.
Last year, I read Benton's "Dinosaurs Rediscovered"; this book revisited many of the facts covered by that book, but through a lense of specific genuses from the Mesozoic, which was very entertaining. I had a great time learning about Sinosauropteryx and how we know its exact colouration, and I liked how this book explored a handful of non-dinosaur animals, too (although I do question why a book titled "Dinosaurs" chose to put a pterosaur on the cover).
Benton writes in a very accessible way, aware that readers likely won't share his in-depth knowledge but never falling into patronisation. He plants the seeds of curiosity for things you may want to research further yourself, whilst providing enough information for you to understand how results were reached.
Which means that, as well as the amazing artwork and fascinating photographs, Benton's writing forms a full picture itself. I particularly enjoyed how each chapter opened with a vignette of the prehistoric world. To paraphrase, "We are in the Late Cretaceous, under towering conifers, surrounded by buzzing insects and stifling heat. Between the leaves, an Anchiornis watches us..."
So to sum up those positives: informative, accessible, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated.
My main complaint is that the book suffers from a pattern of abrupt endings. Each animal's chapter does not end with a proper conclusion, in my opinion, so you feel like you're in the midst of learning when suddenly you're being told about a different animal. This wasn't so bad at first, as the subject of feathers and melanosomes was covered across multiple chapters, but it became clearer later on.
I also felt that later chapters were shorter, almost like they existed to pad out the book.
The book, as a whole, also ended quite suddenly. I feel it could have benefitted from a conclusion chapter, summing up everything that's been covered and asking the question of what more is there to learn.
And that feeling of dissatisfaction when a chapter ended - and craving another chapter to wrap things up like a fossil in plaster - is why I've dropped a star.
But I would certainly recommend this book if you are interested in realistic dinosaur depictions and the science behind the discoveries.
May 13, 2023
Learned about some of the more recently discovered dinosaurs. Informative about the 15 dinosaurs detailed in the book. He weaves an intriguing narrative packed with details in a way any teenager and above would understand. To figure out what dinosaurs are discussed, read further, if not STOP here.
Sinosauropteryx: dinosaur referenced in his last book where he first noted feathers thus changing the world of paleontology.
Anachiornis: beautiful black and white bird with a red crest on its head.
Caudipteryx: chicken-looking bird dinosaur with (what I would call) a mermaid tail fin of feathers
Microraptor: four-winged dinosaurs touched upon in his last book (feather coloring was fascinating to learn about)
Archaeopteryx: possibly the first bird?
Confuciusornis: two long tail feathered birds, touched upon in his last book where he showed a fossil with two of them. One was grabbing onto the back leg of the specimen with the two long feathers coming out of the end.
Edmontosaurus: part of the duck-billed dinosaurs with around 500 teeth in each jaw (about 2000 overall)
Eomaia: rodent-like dinosaur
Saltasaurus: first giant dinosaur with armor
Psittacosaurus: dinosaur on the back with all the babies. Horned on either side of its face with a beak before its teeth in the rear of its mouth.
Kulindadromeus: reptile bird hybrid
Stenopterygius: only aquatic dinosaur discussed. Believed to live in the depths of the ocean at the time and interestingly enough has an ink sac.
Borealopelta: Best preserved spiky dinosaur (and possibly has fluorescent spine tips)
Anurognathus: furry bat with whiskers
Tupandactylus: the dinosaur on the front with the big head
Sinosauropteryx: dinosaur referenced in his last book where he first noted feathers thus changing the world of paleontology.
Anachiornis: beautiful black and white bird with a red crest on its head.
Caudipteryx: chicken-looking bird dinosaur with (what I would call) a mermaid tail fin of feathers
Microraptor: four-winged dinosaurs touched upon in his last book (feather coloring was fascinating to learn about)
Archaeopteryx: possibly the first bird?
Confuciusornis: two long tail feathered birds, touched upon in his last book where he showed a fossil with two of them. One was grabbing onto the back leg of the specimen with the two long feathers coming out of the end.
Edmontosaurus: part of the duck-billed dinosaurs with around 500 teeth in each jaw (about 2000 overall)
Eomaia: rodent-like dinosaur
Saltasaurus: first giant dinosaur with armor
Psittacosaurus: dinosaur on the back with all the babies. Horned on either side of its face with a beak before its teeth in the rear of its mouth.
Kulindadromeus: reptile bird hybrid
Stenopterygius: only aquatic dinosaur discussed. Believed to live in the depths of the ocean at the time and interestingly enough has an ink sac.
Borealopelta: Best preserved spiky dinosaur (and possibly has fluorescent spine tips)
Anurognathus: furry bat with whiskers
Tupandactylus: the dinosaur on the front with the big head
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
For anyone with an interest in Dinosaurs and the growing techniques of modern paleontology, this book is a must-read, and thankfully is also written in a way that makes it perfectly palatable for non-experts too!
Combining cutting edge paleoart with modern scientific knowledge, this book takes the reader through 15 prehistoric creatures (not 15 dinosaurs, as there's a couple of birds, a couple of pterosaurs, a mammal and an icthyosaur in there), and explains in pretty easily parsed terms why the paleoart has been drawn the way it has. In other words, this book is delving into the growing science of how we actually do know what colours some prehistoric creatures were, its not just guesswork... and what's more, it gives a bit of insight into the paleoecology of why they might have looked like that. For instance, where feathers are found, can the colours and patterns give us insight into whether they were used for flight, for warmth, or for display? And can the countershading of certain species tell us if they lived in shady woodlands, or bright open plains?
Overall, this is an easy read, and because its separated into fifteen different sections, it obviously doesn't go into a huge amount of depth. But its very informative, and the paleoart makes it an undeniably pretty book... and overall, speaking as someone who's never really known the science behind us knowing the colours of certain dinosaurs, it made for an interesting read!
Combining cutting edge paleoart with modern scientific knowledge, this book takes the reader through 15 prehistoric creatures (not 15 dinosaurs, as there's a couple of birds, a couple of pterosaurs, a mammal and an icthyosaur in there), and explains in pretty easily parsed terms why the paleoart has been drawn the way it has. In other words, this book is delving into the growing science of how we actually do know what colours some prehistoric creatures were, its not just guesswork... and what's more, it gives a bit of insight into the paleoecology of why they might have looked like that. For instance, where feathers are found, can the colours and patterns give us insight into whether they were used for flight, for warmth, or for display? And can the countershading of certain species tell us if they lived in shady woodlands, or bright open plains?
Overall, this is an easy read, and because its separated into fifteen different sections, it obviously doesn't go into a huge amount of depth. But its very informative, and the paleoart makes it an undeniably pretty book... and overall, speaking as someone who's never really known the science behind us knowing the colours of certain dinosaurs, it made for an interesting read!
July 14, 2023
A beautiful picture book, illustrated with supposedly scientifically accurate paintings of numerous dinosaurs and pterosaurs, all fuzzy and colorful. Colorful you say? The paleontologist Michael Benton (his classic textbook is reviewed earlier on this Goodreads list) explains in an accessible way why he and the illustrator think each animal might be colored the way they depict it. It's remarkable how the tools of paleontology allow reasonable inference of 100 million year-old pigment! Fuzzy you say? Benton and friends are now totally converted to the once heterodox idea that feathers were invented long before the first bona fide bird, that feathers evolved to insulate warm-blooded amniotes, and (a new one) that feathers evolved once, at the base of what Benton calls the Avemetatarsalia clade. The clade name is a mouthful, and Benton sort of apologizes for it, but the dinosaur-loving public better get used to saying it, as it is defined by the common ancestor of Dinosauria (including birds) and Pterosauria. Between dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and birds, there are lots of charismatic megafauna there, and actively warm-blooded and fuzzy and colorful megafauna at that. Too bad that asteroid hit.
November 21, 2022
A Whole New World!
This work is amazing! I adored dinosaurs as a child and read everything about them that I could get my hands on. Now everything I thought I knew is going to have to be re-evaluated. Bright colors, stripes and spots, feathers on everything and even UV luminescence are all attributes of dinosaurs. Who knew?!? There was a six foot tall predator that looks like a giant chicken wearing Russian Cossack pants made of feathers. Coming nose to nose with that fellow would have scared the poop out of me! I loved learning all this new stuff! The pictures were mind-blowing!
I read the whole thing in one sitting and had a total blast! It will take a couple more readings before I get the difficult to pronounce names of the new species I just learned, but seeing these amazing creatures again and again will definitely make it worth my time! This was so cool!
This work is amazing! I adored dinosaurs as a child and read everything about them that I could get my hands on. Now everything I thought I knew is going to have to be re-evaluated. Bright colors, stripes and spots, feathers on everything and even UV luminescence are all attributes of dinosaurs. Who knew?!? There was a six foot tall predator that looks like a giant chicken wearing Russian Cossack pants made of feathers. Coming nose to nose with that fellow would have scared the poop out of me! I loved learning all this new stuff! The pictures were mind-blowing!
I read the whole thing in one sitting and had a total blast! It will take a couple more readings before I get the difficult to pronounce names of the new species I just learned, but seeing these amazing creatures again and again will definitely make it worth my time! This was so cool!
August 28, 2022
I managed to go through my whole childhood without being particularly interested in dinosaurs, and this book changed that. It was a great boot to catch up on the field since Jurassic Park times.
That being said, there is obviously a bias in the content; not only are these a few select species, but the focus of the book is on the recent discovery of both feathers and color.
In general, I found it quite accessible for a lay-reader although not ideal for a child. There was some academic-speak, like the careful listing of authors “and others” like we do in papers. Sometimes, even in these short paragraphs, the author could get a little lost on a tangent.
But overall, this is a fantastic collection of some key species that have recently been discovered that have provided fundamental insight into evolution and the world of the past.
That being said, there is obviously a bias in the content; not only are these a few select species, but the focus of the book is on the recent discovery of both feathers and color.
In general, I found it quite accessible for a lay-reader although not ideal for a child. There was some academic-speak, like the careful listing of authors “and others” like we do in papers. Sometimes, even in these short paragraphs, the author could get a little lost on a tangent.
But overall, this is a fantastic collection of some key species that have recently been discovered that have provided fundamental insight into evolution and the world of the past.
July 23, 2023
If you were the kid who knew every dinosaur and could name them, write the names and draw them (but struggle over spelling tests) this is for you. All the old ideas of dinosaurs as dull, lumbering and usually grey coloured monsters is out to rest in this kaleidoscopic book covering a wide range of dinosaurs, birds and mammals of all sizes and most of all colour. Raquel Welch would still be carried off by a pteradactyl only it's as likely to be in all fours, beautifully coloured and feathered.
Divided into chapters for each animal, by the end of each you can look at the picture again and understand and probably explain it someone. Michael doesn't talk down to his readers and there is a joy to the text so unlike the dreary sludge of my childhood. Bob's pictures are accurate but have an added spark of humour that brings the bizarre animals alive.
Not for academics but child in us all.
Divided into chapters for each animal, by the end of each you can look at the picture again and understand and probably explain it someone. Michael doesn't talk down to his readers and there is a joy to the text so unlike the dreary sludge of my childhood. Bob's pictures are accurate but have an added spark of humour that brings the bizarre animals alive.
Not for academics but child in us all.
March 13, 2023
An informative and insightful book full of illustrations, as is appropriate because the book was about discoveries on the colour and appearance of dinosaurs. The introduction paragraphs for each chapter made for perfect intros to the dinosaur the chapter would discuss as the words encouraged us to imagine the dinosaur in cadid action amidst a prehistoric scene.
My only criticism would be to have the chapters flow better. Personally it makes more sense to discuss the dinosaurs in chronological order from when they were alive (Triassic --> Jurassic --> Cretaceous). But this is only because it suits the way I like to read things. The book was still great nevertheless. Perfect for paleontology enthusiasts who are sure to take something way from this.
My only criticism would be to have the chapters flow better. Personally it makes more sense to discuss the dinosaurs in chronological order from when they were alive (Triassic --> Jurassic --> Cretaceous). But this is only because it suits the way I like to read things. The book was still great nevertheless. Perfect for paleontology enthusiasts who are sure to take something way from this.
March 21, 2022
A truly fascinating read on what dinosaurs and other Mesozoic animals looked like in life.
This book goes right down to what each individual body part of several prehistoric creatures was used for and, more specifically, how we know this.
I learnt heaps and heaps of information I previously had no idea about from this book - certain dinosaurs were capable of a kind of proto-flight. The head crests of some pterosaurs and the spikes of some armoured dinosaurs were possibly photoluminescent.
An essential read for anybody wanting to update their interest in palaeontology or to take it to the next level.
This book goes right down to what each individual body part of several prehistoric creatures was used for and, more specifically, how we know this.
I learnt heaps and heaps of information I previously had no idea about from this book - certain dinosaurs were capable of a kind of proto-flight. The head crests of some pterosaurs and the spikes of some armoured dinosaurs were possibly photoluminescent.
An essential read for anybody wanting to update their interest in palaeontology or to take it to the next level.
April 3, 2022
This is an astounding book with so many new discoveries about dinosaurs. New cutting edge scientific technologies are allowing paleobiologists/ paleontologists to make important new discoveries about dinosaurs, their habitat and ecology. Particularly interesting are the information on coloring and behavior. MJ Beaton, the author, makes the information easily accessible to the layperson. Its a shame that the Jurassic Park franchise refuses to show dinosaurs as they really were as opposed what we thought was true.
December 27, 2022
4, 499999999 sterren, het boek met prachtige tekeningen van onder andere quetzalcoatlus, borealopelta, eomaia , die klinken zoals ze eruit zien (sommige met veel klinkers) ,
Waarbij het boek wat duidelijkheid brengt over hoe verschillende organismen er vroeger (konden) hebben uitgezien , het boek heeft me enorm curieus gemaakt naar de werking van melanine in vacht, veren , huid , .... ook in planten (?) en de wisselwerking daarmee in de ogen en daarmee in de hersenen enz .
Dan toch 5 sterren , de kleuren van ( de tijd van ) de dinosauriërs ,
Waarbij het boek wat duidelijkheid brengt over hoe verschillende organismen er vroeger (konden) hebben uitgezien , het boek heeft me enorm curieus gemaakt naar de werking van melanine in vacht, veren , huid , .... ook in planten (?) en de wisselwerking daarmee in de ogen en daarmee in de hersenen enz .
Dan toch 5 sterren , de kleuren van ( de tijd van ) de dinosauriërs ,
May 28, 2022
So my little-boy dinosaur phase ended like 30 years ago, and since then a lot has been learned about what dinosaurs looked like—Feathers! Colors! How is a lay-person to catch up? 200 full-color pages including illustrations of our best understanding of what these dinosaurs looked like, photos of fossilized feathers and skin, and more, and short but not dumbed-down explanations of how they figured this stuff out. (Written by a paleontologist.) Everything I wanted in a book like this.
September 19, 2022
This is a brilliant book that summarises some of the more recent research on dinosaurs as well mammals, pterosaurs and marine reptiles that lived amongst them. There is enough detail about the research methods to keep it interesting for the scientifically minded but no so complicated that a layman wouldn't understand. Now if only we can get remakes of all the Jurassic park movies with all this research in mind!
August 12, 2023
A simply superb book.
Through the examples of 15 prehistoric animals (mostly dinosaurs), and in very comprehensible language, this book explains how dinosaurs looked. And more importantly, how we know what they looked like. Each animal in this book illuminates one aspect specifically of their appearance; why they had it, how it worked and how we know all this.
Combine this with amazing drawings, and you have a book to lick your fingers over and show everyone who visits!
Through the examples of 15 prehistoric animals (mostly dinosaurs), and in very comprehensible language, this book explains how dinosaurs looked. And more importantly, how we know what they looked like. Each animal in this book illuminates one aspect specifically of their appearance; why they had it, how it worked and how we know all this.
Combine this with amazing drawings, and you have a book to lick your fingers over and show everyone who visits!
March 11, 2023
Fine, but automatically loses a star for the incongruous cover illustration. Despite the title, the book focuses almost entirely on the colors, skins, and feathers of prehistoric animals, about a third of which are not actually dinosaurs. The illustrations are gorgeous and the text is approachable for the non-scientist.
September 12, 2023
A novel look at some of history’s strangest dinosaurs. The deep dives into dinosaur feathers are fabulous and have really inspired me to dig a little deeper into this topic. Only critique is that it needs to be twice, maybe three times as long - I want more weird and wonderful dinosaurs! Oh and Nichols’ artwork is incredible…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
This book excellently rides the line between a scientific dive into some of the most interesting advancements in paleontology and pleasing visuals you might find in children's books. It is a rare gem to be experienced, a casual ride into what is known that you would be hard-pressed to find in another, more easily digestible form. It's a beautiful book.
June 4, 2022
Interesting modern insights in dinosaur feathers and colouration, but marred by the tiny print making it difficult to read, and the sudden abrupt end. I wish there had been more on the pterosaurs, especially since there's one on the cover. Still, a must for dinosaur fans.
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