Dinosaurs - A Very Short Introduction

The popularity of dinosaurs seems never ending, fuelled by films such as Jurassic Park and documentaries like Walking with Dinosaurs. Yet most books fail to explain the story behind the exciting scientific discoveries that have given us a picture of how dinosaurs looked, what they ate, and how they moved and interacted with one another. This is the first book to tell the general reader about what's really happening in modern dinosaur research. New approaches involve the combination of many areas of science, such as anatomy, cosmology, physics, mechanics, and engineering design to piece together the evidence of how animal and plant life evolved on earth, and why it did so in the way that it did. The author also highlights the part that informed speculation and luck have played in major discoveries regarding dinosaurs. Starting with ancient myths of dinosaur-like monsters, such as dragons, and the history of the discovery of dinosaurs, Norman goes on to discuss the evolution of these fascinating beasts. He also describes the many different techniques used to understand them, including the latest virtual reality animation sequences and engineering design analysis.
About the Author

David Norman is Director, Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge University and the author of several books, including The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dinosaurs and The Big Book of Dinosaurs.

Review
`The Very Short Introduction series are fantastically informative books.' Simon Keegan, Big Issue in the North