Description: The ideal textbook for non-science majors, this lively and engaging introduction encourages students to ask questions, assess data critically and think like a scientist. Building on the success of previous editions, Dinosaurs has been thoroughly updated to include new discoveries in the field, such as the toothed bird specimens found in China and recent discoveries of dinosaur soft anatomy. Illustrations by leading paleontological illustrator John Sibbick and new, carefully-chosen photographs, clearly show how dinosaurs looked, lived and their role in Earth history. Making science accessible and relevant through clear explanations and extensive illustrations, the text guides students through the dinosaur groups, emphasizing scientific concepts rather than presenting endless facts. Grounded in the common language of modern evolutionary biology - phylogenetic systematics - students learn to think about dinosaurs the way that professional paleontologists do.
Brief description: David B. Weishampel is professor in the Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution at The Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on dinosaur evolution and how dinosaurs function and he is particularly interested in herbivorous dinosaurs and the dinosaur record of Europe. Among his many publications he is senior editor of The Dinosauria, and has contributed to a number of popular publications including acting as consultant to Michael Crichton in the writing of The Lost World, the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's film Jurassic Park.
Review Quotes: 'Professors Fastovsky and Weishampel have done it again. They have performed a great service for the paleontological community by keeping their splendid textbook up-to-date. Their text is easily the best available for undergraduate dinosaur courses. The authors write with clarity but also with a fine sense of whimsy. You wish you could sit in their classroom. The book is profusely and expertly illustrated, highlighting key points in dinosaurian anatomy and the phylogenetic framework in which these characters are relevant. With the deft touch of skilled paleontologists, they communicate not only what we know about dinosaurs but how we know it. They also recognize that science is a human endeavor done by real people whose stories they tell. This book is highly recommended for students, teachers and interested lay readers as well.' Peter Dodson, University of Pennsylvania, USA