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The Story of Life in 25 Fossils

Tales of Intrepid Fossil Hunters and the Wonders of Evolution
Jan 18, 2018readercap rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent book. The author tells the story of life on Earth focusing on several key fossils. Do not just read fast through this book, it has many interesting tales to tell and is worth several re-reads. Wonder why the trilobites died out? Got a thing for sharks? Who (what) was the first land plant, the first bird, the first mammal? Explore the Burgess Shale, travel through time to the Permian to understand some of the factors that contributed to the most significant mass extinction and set the stage for the ultimate charismatic megafauna Earth ever hosted. This book is not for the casual dino-lover but rather is written for the audience that wants to get a better understanding of the a few of the wonderful beings that have been part of the life on this not-always benign planet. Not a textbook but the scientific literature is easily accessed through the excellent references at the end of each chapter so it's easy to keep exploring.