I am not a paleontologist and I am not au courant with all the literature on Tyrannosaurus rex, so I am unable to judge whether this is the most complete volume on the subject, but surely at a bare minimum it comes close. In a highly readable account, Mark Witton delves into history, pop culture, taxonomy, scientific controversy, fierce and oftentimes bitter rivalry between collectors, the commercialization of dinosaur fossils, anatomy, food, lifestyle, and just about anything else you might think of. T. rex has without question become THE dinosaur to capture the imagination of the public, and even those with barely a shred of knowledge, or interest, are aware of King Tyrant.
The illustrations (in many instances Witton’s own work) are fabulous, from technical diagrams to photographs of museum specimens, and wonderful, fanciful recreations of life as it might have been in the age of the dinosaur.
Little whiffs of subliminal humour may be detected from time to time, and Witton acknowledges the impact of the now classic Spielberg film Jurassic Park in popularizing the word of dinosaurs, representational inaccuracies notwithstanding. Even scientists, ever dedicated to fidelity and precision, were charmed by and attracted to the film.
Fossil hunting has exploded in recent years and the unearthing of large numbers of T. rex bones has enabled researchers to assemble skeletons and interpret behaviours with ever increasing sophistication.
The bones of other dinosaurs, some bearing evidence of wounds inflicted by T. rex provide important clues about the prey species of King Tyrant, and permit insights into their hunting strategies and means of achieving a kill.
The end for the species, in fact for all dinosaurs save the feathered dinosaurs extant today, came with the impact of the Chicxulub asteroid. Mighty as T. rex might have been, perhaps the most terrifying predator the world has even seen, it could not withstand the asteroid impact and its aftermath. Its fate was sealed the moment the projectile from outer space struck the Earth.
But take heart. There is indeed life after death. The King Tyrant lives on in museums around the world and in the hearts and minds of young and old.
Even in death T. rex thrills us all.
Thank you, Mark Witton, for a magnus opus that is both educational and entertaining. A job very well done!
King Tyrant: A Natural History of the Tyrannosaurus rex - Princeton University Press
Hardcover - US$39.95 - ISBN: 9780691245584
310 pages - 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm) - 150+ colour illustrations
Publication date: 13 May, 2025
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It sounds like a good book. Dinosaurs are amazing things and because of the fossils we know so much about them. The T-Rex's fame is world wide! :-D
ReplyDeleteTime to take your daughter to a museum, Ananka.
DeleteOoh. This sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteAI generated accurate images.
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ReplyDelete...I outgrew my fascination years ago.
ReplyDeleteDinosaurs have been and will be the most fascinating animals to have ever inhabited our planet.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will be a very interesting book.
Gracias David
That looks like a fantastic book, David. Tyrannosaurus rex is the king of all dinosaurs. Jurassic Park is a great and scary movie. I saw it in the cinema with my kids and I was the one who was the most scared :)
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
Dinosaurs were quite amazing animals. The woolly mammoth is being brought back to life.
ReplyDeleteTime to focus on preserving extant life and not spending enormous sums on resurrecting the past.
DeleteSounds interesting and looks scary.
ReplyDeleteYou do fined the MOST interesting books. And review them well. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, this is a great book. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great read. Dinosaurs are really fascinating. I wasn't a kid who loved them but the more I read and the older I get, they are definitely one of the more interesting fossilized organisms. T Rex especially. Thanks for the review. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteQue tal, David! uh, yes, T. rex continues to excite us all; he lives on somehow in our imaginations. It's amazing how such an ancient dinosaur remains an icon.
ReplyDeleteThe Tyrant King will never go away, long live the King Tyrant!
🦖🦖🦖
Big hug, dear friend!
This sounds like a fascinating read. Thank you for the great review, David.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that those creatures evolved into birds fascinates me.
ReplyDeleteDinosaurs will always fascinate us and yes,
ReplyDeletebecause of Spielberg we loved them!!
Good choice of book topic and review,
thank you very much David.
That movie, due to its realism, hah a huge influence.
DeleteThat would be a good book to read and look at...nice review.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a great book, David.
ReplyDeleteDinosaurs are fascinating animals that once lived on our planet.
Greetings Irma
Dinosaurs fascinate people from all ages...
ReplyDeleteWish you, and your family, a Happy and Sweet Easter !
Anna
Looks like a great book. I always enjoy your bookish enthusiasm. :-)
ReplyDeleteAh, shucks!
DeleteNice review, David..I have always had an interest in Dinosaurs probably due to grandchildren!! The illustrations in this book look fantastic..Fascinating topic...Missy
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Thank you for letting me know in advance that you were going to write this review. I've known about King Tyrant for a few months now, and I can't wait to read it myself. As a paleogeek, I'm in awe of Mark Witton's paleoart. He's brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThis article is basically my first look into the upcoming book and I enjoyed it very much. It looks great.
I liked and admire your presentation of the book and your enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Easter weekend...
All the best...
~~~
Dinosaurs seem to fascinate all ages.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your review.
All the best Jan
Mahtavaa! Kiitos kirjaesittelystä, dinosaurukset kiinnostavat isoja ja pieniä ihmisiä, kutakin omalla tavallaan. Sirpa
ReplyDeleteHi David - I gather that the extinction of the dinosaurs gave the human species a chance to live. They are an incredible diverse group of reptiles ... another book I'd love to be able to look at - thanks for the review - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi David - of course the next post I looked at was from a Big Think article by Govert Schilling - where the tag line introduction is "If an asteroid hadn’t killed off the dinosaurs, humans would almost certainly have never walked the Earth" ... should you be interested - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI will follow this up, Hilary. Thanks!
DeleteInteresting book. It's amazing that they are still finding dinosaur bones on fossil hunts. Growing up we had a local museum with a HUGE dinosaur in the lobby. It always had me in awe.
ReplyDeleteThere are still many fossils in known locations. Sometimes getting funding is the major obstacle to further exploration.
DeleteI love the illustrations in this book! Funny and true. One day I picked up my youngest son years and years ago from kindergarten. He announced that he was going to be a Paleontologist when he grew up. I laughed and when he graduated from college with two degrees: Paleontology and Geology, I was like ... wow, he knew what he wanted!
ReplyDeleteGreat degrees. I am sure he is an interesting fellow.
DeleteA fantastic book to read and admire the photos. Your review is excellent as always.
ReplyDeleteGreetings.
That's a good book topic, as Tyrannosaurus always fascinate us. They already lives in museums, as you mentioned. Naples' paleontological museum is the only museum to possess a dinosaur skeleton mounted in suspension.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.museiscienzenaturaliefisiche.it/en/museums/museum-of-paleontology.html
Your review is really interesting.
Interesante libro David. Viendo las ilustraciones, ya dan ganas de leerlo. Gracias.
ReplyDeleteBuen fin de semana y Pascua si la celebráis.
Un abrazo.
Cool! And the stuff of nightmares.
ReplyDeleteToo bad it’s not in Washington to eat a few politicians.
DeleteGreat review on this fascinating book.
ReplyDeleteEl libro parece interesante, pero los dinosaurios no me gustan, cualquier araña me gustaría más. Un abrazo.
ReplyDelete