Dinosaurs Rediscovered: The Scientific Revolution in Paleontology [L0135]

2020. PB in nice clean condition. In this fascinating and accessible overview, renowned paleontologist Michael J. Benton reveals how our understanding of dinosaurs is being transformed by recent fossil finds and new technology. Over the past twenty years, the study of dinosaurs has transformed into a true scientific discipline. New technologies have revealed secrets locked in prehistoric bones that no one could have previously predicted. We can now work out the color of dinosaurs, the force of their bite, their top speeds, and even how they cared for their young. Remarkable new fossil discoveries-giant sauropod dinosaur skeletons in Patagonia, dinosaurs with feathers in China, and a tiny dinosaur tail in Burmese amber-remain the lifeblood of modern paleobiology. Thanks to advances in technologies and methods, however, there has been a recent revolution in the scope of new information gleaned from such fossil finds. In Dinosaurs Rediscovered, leading paleontologist Michael J. Benton gathers together all the latest paleontological evidence, tracing the transformation of dinosaur study from its roots in antiquated natural history to an indisputably scientific field. Among other things, the book explores how dinosaur remains are found and excavated, and especially how paleontologists read the details of dinosaurs' lives from their fossils-their colors, their growth, and even whether we will ever be able to bring them back to life. Benton's account shows that, though extinct, dinosaurs are still very much a part of our world.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This book is written in a layperson-friendly style. The author's love for dinosaurs is palpable, and makes this book a page-turning, riveting read from one subject to the next. The author is a distinguished professor of Paleontology himself, and I appreciated the fact he was intimately involved with the many of the discoveries enthusiastically related in this tome."; "Absolutely amazing. Rich with details, narrations, and images showcasing the development of dinosaur paleontology from speculation to rigorous science. A must read for even casual dinosaur fans curious about some of the most recent scientific developments and discoveries."; "This was such a breath of fresh air. Like most everyone, I had an early obsession with dinosaurs that lasted into my adult life. However, I hadn't kept up with the latest work in this field and wanted a volume that would bring me up to date, this is definitely the book to do that. We frequently only see scattered headlines where a new largest dinosaur is thought be found or we hear that a supposed apex predator is now a scavenger, and then a year later hear that is wrong. Michael Benton has written a thorough, beautifully presented, modern analysis of just how far the field of paleontology has come in recent decades."