As we become entrenched ever more deeply in the Sixth Extinction it seems that never a day goes by without news of temperature records being shattered in various parts of the world, with wildfires consuming half the planet, so an examination of past climate events, their consequences and subsequent extinctions is timely. Where better to examine such phenomena than with the dinosaurs? Catastrophes that happened in the distant past, due to entirely different reasons of course, may well be set to collide with us again. There are stark examples of increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the historical record, and its effect on life on Earth.
In this book David Hone takes us on a comprehensive journey through all that we know about dinosaurs and what remains to be discovered. In many instances new information is tantalizingly close at hand, and aided by the phenomenal increase in technology, is now within the grasp of paleontologists and biologists. The ability to construct 3D printer models based on computer reconstruction, for example, is an incredibly useful tool in the researcher's arsenal, and all branches of science are co-operating in ways hitherto undreamed of. The internet has enabled scientists throughout the world to interact with each other and collaborate on research without ever meeting face to face.
David Hone has made it somewhat of a mission in life to share science with the layman, paying particular heed to that class of individuals now commonly known as citizen scientists. He has that rare ability to communicate difficult topics and concepts in a fashion readily understandable by interested citizens, without lack of clarity or ever the hint of a patronizing tone. He accomplished that goal admirably in this book. No one should feel intimidated to read it and each reader will turn the final page with a highly expanded understanding of dinosaurs, and the desire to know more.
There are many You Tube videos on line where you may see Dr. Hone in action, delivering lectures and speaking to audiences of every kind. This kind of engagement is exactly what is required in the 21st Century, and there can be no greater satisfaction for a scientist than to have an enlightened and supportive public engaged with his work.
Hone has pursued fossils on different continents, always enhanced by the sheer joy of working with other paleontologists united by the love of science and the pursuit of knowledge, quite independent of the ideologies of their national governments.
At the end of the book Hone gives you a way to submit your views on his work, using these surveys to develop new ways to educate all of us about the fauna of distant eons in the life of Planet Earth.
If you have a prior interest in dinosaurs this book will enhance your knowledge; if you are just beginning your quest you are bound to be both amazed and educated.
It doesn't get much better than that!
How Fast did T. rex Run? - Unsolved Questions from the Frontiers of Dinosaur Science - Princeton University Press
David Hone
Hard Cover - US$33.00 - ISBN 9780691242514
280 pages - 6 x 9.25 inches (15 x 23.125 cm) - 8 page colour inserts - 25 black-and-white illustrations
Publication date: 2 August, 2022
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Very much wondering why you read my last blog post, and even commented on it.......
ReplyDeleteOur blogs could not be less similar. So it is very interesting...
Please and thank you, for your answer.
The name of your blog intrigued me, and if I recall you had left a comment on another blog I follow. I am not sure that blogs have to be similar to be of mutual interest.
DeleteI have always found dinosaurs interesting. When I was a child we had a old book full of drawings about them, and I liked them very much. Here in Norway in Oslo it have been opened a new museum full of dinosaurus, and I must visit it one day. I guess this book is very interesting. Thank you for your review, David.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
...I have never had a fascination for dinosaurs.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were contemporaries, Tom!
DeleteLOL.
DeleteI would find that fascinating.
ReplyDeleteYour review is well written, as always. The book sounds interesting. Would it appeal to young readers?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Probably not suitable for young readers, but high school students taking science could handle it.
DeleteThank you for yet again fueling my bookie lust.
ReplyDeleteI am quite certain that t.rex could run faster than me...
OK, but I have a book on swifts to read first.
ReplyDeleteWhat an unusual book, should have more authors like Dr Hone so citizen scientists can understand Science clearer and fuel interests in difficult topics. More than often, scientists stay in ivory towers and speak a language many find confusing. Hooray for Dr Hone.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fascinating book! Thanks for the wonderful review, David.
ReplyDeleteOne of my grandchildren was into dinosaurs and he always remembered everything he heard abought them in documentaries.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing this ot. I just watched his piece on "Social Behaviour in Dinosaurs" - very interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteDidn´t expect some to feed on fish! But, yes, close to crocodiles after all.
It´s been years since we visited our dinosaur inside the museum, time to do again. (We have three sculptures outside the museum)
On se demande bien où on va avec tout ces dérèglements climatiques :(
ReplyDeleteOn a toujours à apprendre sur les dinosaures et c'est vrai que la 3D aide pas mal. Bonne journée
Seems like an interesting book to me.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Irma
Another interesting book and subject of dinosaurs. Thanks for sharing. Take care, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThis extinction will be all on us, Homo sapiens (sorry I can't italicize in comments). Scary that some people still don't believe how we are causing it. This book is right up my alley David, and I am off to check it out. I think I should have gone on to study paleontology. And I am curious how fast a T. rex could run, just in case something like it re-evolves once the world heats up even more. Not that I will be around for it, but maybe I can leave some kind of cryptic message for my future relatives. Smile. Hope your staying cool and having a great week. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteIf you have time, check him out on line too, Erika. There is some good stuff there.
DeleteHi David - I see he's British ... and has various youtube videos from The Royal Institution ... he sounds very interesting. I saw a geoscientist (Iain Stewart) exploring the Sahara recently - where the very ancient sea has exposed very early dinosaurs. The book I imagine would be fascinating to look at ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteMaybe it will be available in your local library, Hilary. I could see it being banned in some jurisdictions in the US since it goes against the fanciful myth of creationism.
DeleteI never really thought or cared that much about dinosaurs, but our four year old is wild about them! Maybe I should learn a little to share before he moves on to "the next big thing."
ReplyDeleteThere are probably decent children's books, Jeanie, but at four years of age the obsession with something else may come along quickly, I agree.
DeleteI used to have some dinosaur figurines as a kid, I found them interesting .The book sounds interesting too.
ReplyDeleteIn the last century, the temperature has increased by + or - one degree, according to the calculation of a meteorologist.
ReplyDelete"A' meteorologist? Who?
DeleteTiene que ser muy interesante la lectura de ese libro.
ReplyDeleteI never had a thing for dinosaurs, they just didn't interest me that much. However, this book sounds very interesting - you had me at "share science with the layman", the citizen scientists. It's always fascinating for me if someone can explain complex context in a way that I actually understand it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds a very good book.
ReplyDeleteOne of our Grandsons loves dinosaurs, he is ten, I am wondering if this is a book he may like ... I may investigate further.
All the best Jan
Probably beyond the scope of a ten-year old, Jan.
DeleteThanks David, I will look for something more suited to his age.
DeleteAll the best Jan
The problem of having an eventual natural disaster is that one is unable to change its trajectory. Beautiful blog!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful book! One of the best trips we did in Canada was to Drumheller and the Dinosaur Provincial Park....full of treasures!.....Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteWhile my interest in the subject matter may not be there, the topics Dr Hone addresses may be interesting to hear about. I plan to look for his videos on line at a future date.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks, David for noting an inaccuracy in a recent post. A correction has been made.
Un libro que gracias a tu extraordinaria reseña no puede dejar indiferente a nadie. Dices bien, cuando hablas del comportamiento actual con nuestra Madre tierra, quien sabe si no estamos cultivando poco a poco una nueva devastación en el planeta. Los datos aportados por muchos científicos son escalofriantes y no parece alarmar a los gobiernos más poderosos para entrar en razón de una vez por todas e intentar mejorar los niveles de relación entre seres humanos-planeta. Esto cada vez querido amigo pinta peor y nada se hace para remediar.
ReplyDeleteUn fuerte abrazo amigo y compadre David.
I used to imagine life in the dinosaur age. Scary with all the giants roaming around. As a book it would be interesting to read about them.
ReplyDeleteSounds so interesting
ReplyDeleteThis book by David Hone seems interesting to me. I saw a dinosaur skeleton only once in the Natural History Museum in London. He was big!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you say "he", Nadezda. One of the great problems involved with reconstruction from fossils is the difficulty of knowing male from female. This is discussed in the book.
DeleteI'm another one here who never had much interest in dinosaurs but lately after watching some good documentaries about finds and research regarding these creatures I find it all quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteDavid!
ReplyDeleteAs always, your review is perfectly written. Incentives to read a book. I was lucky to see a dinosaur skeleton.
Greetings.
Nice book David, my grandsons like dinosaur. Have a nice weekend ! Thank you for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteWonderful and very interesting book review. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteQuerido David como siempre nos dejas una gran reseña, tengo que confesarte que no se demasiado sobre ellos, en Asturias tenemos un museo dedicado a ellos y que visite en varias ocasiones, así como algunos lugares donde se encuentran varias huellas. Pero eso es todo. Un enorme abrazo para ti y para Miriam y tendré en cuenta este libro.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. When I was 10 and 11, I devoured books about dinosaurs and the paleontologists who went out and dug up their bones.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteAnother great review! I am sure the T-Rex can out run me. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
You did a great job on your review of this book and it makes me want to read it! I haven't read a book about dinosaurs in ages!
ReplyDeleteFrom dinosaurs to seahorses … big or small ... any magical creation of nature is not invincible. Hopefully, we learn to act more wisely to preserve the present when investigating such fabulous creatures of the past.
ReplyDeleteDear David,
ReplyDeleteAt first I had to smile about the title, but then - in view of your introductory words - it's a book about a very serious topic...
I always find it good when scientists are able to convey serious and important topics in such a way that non-academics can also understand them. (For example, I like the books of Stephen Hawking, who, with his simple explanations and in his humorous way brought me closer to the creation of the universe.) Isn't it wonderful when educated people are not conceited people? (By the way, that's a play on words in German: educated = gebildet - conceited = eingebildet ;-))
All the best and happy weekend!
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/07/mallorca-reisebericht-teil-3-tag-7-bis.html
So how fast did T-Rex run? Rather sad to be living in the 6th extinction mostly driven by human activity.
ReplyDeleteIt was not the fast creature in the world, ambling along at around 5km per hour, although it was capable of short bursts of speed far in excess of that, up to around 45km/hr by some estimates.
DeleteOtro libro interesante querido amigo David. Abrazos.
ReplyDeleteAh, I thought we were going to get the answer to "how fast?" :)
ReplyDelete