Re: looking for books

["Steve Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>]

On Sat, 22 Dec 2001 05:18:45  
 Ken Kinman wrote:
>
>      I would suggest starting with a good vertebrate paleontology textbook 
>to get a good overview.  Either "Vertebrate Palaeontology" (Michael J. 
>Benton, 1997) or the older 1988 book by Robert L. Carroll ("Vertebrate 
>Paleontology and Evolution").
>        ---Cheers, Ken

Yeah, Vertebrate Palaeontology, as David often says, is a must-have.  However, 
it may be a bit too technical for people trying to build up knowledge (it 
certainly was for me a few years ago).  A good starting point would probably be 
something like the Scientific American Book of Dinosaurs. It's easy to skip 
around in, and has some nice, general chapters on many topics related to 
dinosaurian paleontology.  A textbook like the History of Life, by Richard 
Cowen, would also probably be very helpful.  I believe it is designed for 
undergraduates that are non-earth science majors.  It has some very nice 
chapters on the early evolution of life, invertebrates, mass extinctions, the 
evolution of vertebrates, fish, the colonization of the land, early tetrapods, 
dinosaurs, mammals, humans, etc.  The newest version also has an appendix of 
invertebrate paleontology, which includes one-page descriptions of major 
invertebrate phyla (crinoids, brachiopods, etc.).  

Of course, Vertebrate Palaeontology, Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution, the 
Complete Dinosaur, and the Dinosauria are great books for those whom have 
developed a firm basis in the science.  It is certainly not fun trying to pick 
through the Dinosauria without a decent grasp of the information.  It is still 
very difficult for me at times.  

Those are my suggestions,

Steve

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