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Kyle J. Durrant's Reviews > The Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World
The Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World
by
by
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.
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