First published 2018
Dinosaurs dominated Earth for 200 million years before vanishing 66 million years ago. Paleontologist Steve Brusatte reconstructs their complete story from new scientific discoveries. He traces their humble origins as small creatures during the Triassic period through their rise to become the massive species we know today: T. rex, Triceratops, and Brontosaurus. Brusatte explains how thousands of species flourished during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, including the feathered dinosaurs that evolved into modern birds. He details the asteroid impact that triggered the most catastrophic extinction in Earth's history. The author draws from his own fieldwork expeditions, describing discoveries of human-sized tyrannosaurs, carnivores larger than T. rex, and feathered raptors from China. This book offers readers a complete account of dinosaur evolution based on current paleontological research, enhanced with over 70 illustrations and photographs.
Genres: science, natural-history, popular-science, non-fiction
Vibes: accessible, educational, engaging, immersive, thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-perspective, field-research-accounts, scientific-narrative
Setting: China, Earth
Period: Triassic period, Jurassic period, Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago, 200 million years ago
416 pages · Paperback · Mariner Books