The Evolution and Extinction of the Dinosaurs

Reviewed by: Henry E. Neufeld

David E. Fastovsky and David B. Weishampel; Cambridge University Press; (April 1996), ISBN: 0521444969

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In reviewing this book at all, I'm stepping well outside of the limits of my own knowledge, so let me emphasize that this is not a review of the scientific value and/or accuracy of this work, but simply a few notes on how useful I have found it in my own study.

For someone, like myself, with significant reading and hobbyist level studying of biology and related subjects, I believe this book can prove and excellent experience simply to read. The authors write very clearly, and regularly explain technical terminology. There are portions which were very difficult for me technically, but these didn't prevent continued reading or study. The authors state: "Our goal in writing this book is to attempt to present dinosaurs as professional paleontologists view the group." The jacket describes the book as designed for the nonspecialist and as usable for a 1^st or 2^nd year university course. To the extent that I can judge, I believe the book accomplishes its goals.

The book is divided into four parts, the first dealing with general and theoretical issues, including basic notions of geology and paleontology, classification, with a good section on cladistic analysis (from my fairly ignorant point of view!), and the origins of Dinosauria.

The next two sections go in detail from the major categories of Dinosauria, examining the discovery of major specimens and the characters* (a word I learned in this very book!) which distinguish them. Part II covers the Ornithischia, and Part III the Saurischia. Part IV discusses how Dinosaurs lived and the possible reasons for their extinction. I was particularly impressed with the number of different viewpoints examined at each step, and the detailed level at which each was presented. I often found presentations of alternate viewpoints (not those espoused by the authors) as so convincing that I thought I was reading the authors' own viewpoint until they presented the difficulties for that view. Some of the detailed discussion of phylogeny** was beyond anything I can remember at this stage in my studies, but the information is there for anyone who wishes to pursue the matter in more detail.

I think that reading this book would be a good option for anyone who has a varied knowledge of biology, paleontology, evolutionary theory, or related disciplines, but has not had a chance to systematize what he knows. The attention to how the knowledge is gained and to the process of science will be very helpful in fitting the various pieces of your knowledge together.

The following two definitions of words in this review are given from the glossary for illustration:

*Character. An isolated or abstracted feature or characteristic of an organism.

**Phylogeny. The study of fundamental genealogical connections among organisms.