Book Description
In 1974 in a remote region of Ethiopia, Donald Johanson, then one of America's most promising young paleoanthropologists, discovered "Lucy", the oldest, best preserved skeleton of any erect-walking human ever found. This discovery prompted a complete reevaluation of previous evidence for human origins.
In the years since this dramatic discovery Johanson has continued to scour East Africa's Great rift Valley for the earliest evidence of human origins. In 1975 this team unearthed the "First Family", an unparalleled fossil assemblage of 13 individuals dating back to 3.2 million years ago; and in 1986 at the Rift's most famous location, Olduvai Gorge, this same team discovered a 1.8 million-year-old partial adult skeleton that necessitated a reassessment of the earliest members of our own genus Homo.
Johanson's fieldwork continues unabated and recently more fossil members of Lucy's family have been found, including the 1992 discovery of the oldest, most complete skull of her species, with future research now planned for 1996 in the virtually unexplored regions of the most northern extension of the Rift Valley in Eritrea.
From Lucy to Language is a summing up of this remarkable career and a stunning documentary of human life through time on Earth. It is a combination of the vital experience of field work and the intellectual rigor of primary research. It is the fusion of two great writing talents: Johanson and Blake Edgar, an accomplished science writer, editor of the California Academy of Sciences' Pacific Discovery, and co-author of Johanson's last book, Ancestors.
From Lucy to Language is one of the greatest stories ever told, bracketing the timeline between bipedalism and human language. Part I addresses the central issues facing anyone seeking to decipher the mystery of human origins. In this section the authors provide answers to the basics -- "What are our closest living relatives?" -- tackle the controversial -- "What is race?" -- and contemplate the imponderables -- "Why did consciousness evolve?"
From Lucy to Language is an encounter with the evidence. Early human fossils are hunted, discovered, identified, excavated, collected, preserved, labeled, cleaned, reconstructed, drawn, fondled, photographed, cast, compared, measured, revered, pondered, published, and argued over endlessly. Fossils like Lucy have become a talisman of sorts, promising to reveal the deepest secrets of our existence. In Part II the authors profile over fifty of the most significant early human fossils ever found. Each specimen is displayed in color and at actual size, most of them in multiple views. With them the authors present the cultural accoutrements associated with the fossils: stone tools which evidence increasing sophistication over time, the earliest stone, clay, and ivory art objects, and the culminating achievement of the dawn of human consciousness -- the magnificent rock and cave paintings of Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
In the end From Lucy to Language is a reminder and a challenge. Like no species before us, we now seem poised to control vast parts of the planet and its life. We possess the power to influence, if not govern, evolution. For that reason, we must not forget our link to the natural world and our debt to natural selection. We need to "think deep", to add a dose of geologic time and evolutionary history to our perspective of who we are, where we came from, and where we are headed. This is the most poignant lesson this book has to offer.
Customer Reviews:
From Lucy to Langauge.......2007-03-19
This is an excellent text for those interested in paleoanthropology and human evolution in general. It is superbly illustrated and the activities of the paleontologist explained in terms that are understandable to the informed layman and provide a fascinating insight into this field.
Beautiful Book on How We Came to Be.......2007-02-08
The title of this book is at the same time both informative and misleading.
It's misleading because it actually goes back millions of years before Lucy walked the earth. And its discussion on language is quite minimal. So if you are looking for a book on language or Lucy, you might want to look elsewhere.
On the other hand, if you're not being quite this picky, this is an excellent overview of the development of humankind. Dr. Johanson was on the team that discovered Lucy, and since this is the second edition of the book which now goes back further than Lucy changing the name might not have made sense.
The book goes back further because new findings in the fossil record now go back to some 7 million years (Lucy is 3.5 millian years old).
The problems with printing any book like this are clearly illustrated by the 'Kennewick Man.' The previous edition of this book was published in 1996. A very short while later, the 'Kennewick Man' was discovered in Washington State that may completely alter the way we think the Americas were populated. This individual died about 9,400 years ago and reconstruction of his appearance from the skull remains has him looking a lot like Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart. Perhaps this lends credulence to European travellers also reaching the Americas as well as Asians coming over the Siberian Land Bridge.
This is a fascinating book, profusely illustrated with excellent photographs of fossils and commentary explaining what these fossils show.
Great.......2007-01-26
I am very pleased with my results. My package came quickly and was exactly what I was expecting.
Excellent overview.......2007-01-16
I just bought the revised edition and also had the earlier edition so the updates were well needed since there's been a lot more discoveries since the first edition. The photographs are the best I have come across in a long time it's like being at the site and looking at them in there actual size. Great book overall and very informative.
Fascinating & Illuminating.......2007-01-12
The explanation of the evolution of humankind in East Africa is a great message and here the photographs of the fossils are fascinating and illuminating.
Customer Reviews:
Fuel to fight the English Only people.......2007-02-14
I worked for Dr. Tse years ago, as a graduate assistant, so I'm a little biased.
The first three chapters of this book are the best. Tse presents data to prove that immigrants, in fact, are learning English. Bilingual education doesn't mean that English has to be lost. Nor does it mean that the home language must be abandoned.
It is a quick read, but still packed with information. We use it as a reference tool for arguments regarding bilingual education.
Meaningful!.......2006-12-21
This book is very good at addressing the concerns of people who are afraid of the apparent lack of English fluency in immigrant populations. It is also an important resource for those of us trying to explain why those people are wrong.
This is a great book........2006-10-21
A must-read for anyone who works with immigrants or language learners; for bi- or multi-linguals and those considering such for their children; and for anyone who has contributed to the spread of ignorance regarding immigrants, language learning, and bilingualism. (My grandmother will be receiving a copy.) It's an easy and interesting read, touching on a variety of topics and providing an extensive bibliography for those wishing to learn more. Enjoy!
great resource and information.......2005-09-19
amazing book, great for anyone working with bilingual children or adults!! provides lots of details and studies to support her claims!
Amazon.com
In recent decades new fossil discoveries have redefined perceptions of human evolution at a remarkable pace, making it nearly impossible for the general reader to find an up-to-date account of the subject. This large-format book by science writer Edgar and paleoanthropologist Johanson--discoverer of the famous partial skeleton of "Lucy," a female hominid who lived 3.2 million years ago--gives as complete a picture as is presently known. Much mystery remains, but the earlier view of human evolution as a linear progression from apes through the hominids to the various homo species has been replaced by a more treelike analogue, one with many branches of upright-walking hominids. Truly a photo album of hominid history, the volume includes more than 200 color pictures of the major fossil discoveries, each with explanatory text.
Book Description
In 1974 in a remote region of Ethiopia, Donald Johanson, then one of America's most promising young paleoanthropologists, discovered "Lucy", the oldest, best preserved skeleton of any erect-walking human ever found. This discovery prompted a complete reevaluation of previous evidence for human origins.
In the years since this dramatic discovery Johanson has continued to scour East Africa's Great rift Valley for the earliest evidence of human origins. In 1975 this team unearthed the "First Family", an unparalleled fossil assemblage of 13 individuals dating back to 3.2 million years ago; and in 1986 at the Rift's most famous location, Olduvai Gorge, this same team discovered a 1.8 million-year-old partial adult skeleton that necessitated a reassessment of the earliest members of our own genus Homo.
Johanson's fieldwork continues unabated and recently more fossil members of Lucy's family have been found, including the 1992 discovery of the oldest, most complete skull of her species, with future research now planned for 1996 in the virtually unexplored regions of the most northern extension of the Rift Valley in Eritrea.
From Lucy to Language is a summing up of this remarkable career and a stunning documentary of human life through time on Earth. It is a combination of the vital experience of field work and the intellectual rigor of primary research. It is the fusion of two great writing talents: Johanson and Blake Edgar, an accomplished science writer, editor of the California Academy of Sciences' Pacific Discovery, and co-author of Johanson's last book, Ancestors.
From Lucy to Language is one of the greatest stories ever told, bracketing the timeline between bipedalism and human language. Part I addresses the central issues facing anyone seeking to decipher the mystery of human origins. In this section the authors provide answers to the basics -- "What are our closest living relatives?" -- tackle the controversial -- "What is race?" -- and contemplate the imponderables -- "Why did consciousness evolve?"
From Lucy to Language is an encounter with the evidence. Early human fossils are hunted, discovered, identified, excavated, collected, preserved, labeled, cleaned, reconstructed, drawn, fondled, photographed, cast, compared, measured, revered, pondered, published, and argued over endlessly. Fossils like Lucy have become a talisman of sorts, promising to reveal the deepest secrets of our existence. In Part II the authors profile over fifty of the most significant early human fossils ever found. Each specimen is displayed in color and at actual size, most of them in multiple views. With them the authors present the cultural accoutrements associated with the fossils: stone tools which evidence increasing sophistication over time, the earliest stone, clay, and ivory art objects, and the culminating achievement of the dawn of human consciousness -- the magnificent rock and cave paintings of Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
In the end From Lucy to Language is a reminder and a challenge. Like no species before us, we now seem poised to control vast parts of the planet and its life. We possess the power to influence, if not govern, evolution. For that reason, we must not forget our link to the natural world and our debt to natural selection. We need to "think deep", to add a dose of geologic time and evolutionary history to our perspective of who we are, where we came from, and where we are headed. This is the most poignant lesson this book has to offer.
Customer Reviews:
An.McCracken is a fake. REPORT THIS.......2006-08-12
The reviewer below - An.McCracken - is a fake. He reviews countless books each day but he does not read the books, just paraphrases other people's reviews. REPORT THIS TO AMAZON. Click on (Report this) link under the review, next to the voting buttons.
Paleoanthropology For Your Coffee Table.......2005-12-19
It is nearly beyond belief that this book exists. Imagine walking into Simon and Schuster and telling them that you want to make a large format, glossy color coffee table book on paleoanthropology, and that you want to spare no expense in its production! Imagine trying to convince them that the demand exists for a large scale printing, thus reducing the unit price to a mere $60! Imagine telling them that every second or third page was to be a full page studio portrait of a skull, or perhaps a mandible! And every single photo in color! Even as I hold the book in my hands, and examine Bill Kimble's life size photo of Australopithecus afarensis, I shake my head in wonder.
Yet the genuinely marvelous feature of this book is its integration of the academic side of paleoanthropology with the eye-catching photography. Whether you are a novice or an old hand, Donald Johanson's comprehensive step by step discussion will inform and entertain you. I'm a serious student of paleoanthropology, yet found new material in the many sections: sexual dimorphism, gestation, maturation, language, and emerging consciousness. I'd never seen photos of cranial endocasts, and there are four from Australopithecus on one page. And there is a great deal for everyone in the reconstruction of the appearance of early humans. The photo of a lifelike Australopithecus afarensis is positively haunting.
The book presents the paleoanthropological coursework in the first half of the book, and presents bio summaries of specific hominids in the second half, along with their cranial portraits. By the time Johanson refers to Homo ergaster's temporomandibular joint, we hardly need the parenthical definition (connects the lower jaw with the cranium).
Blake Edgar's prose and David Brill's photos enhance Donald Johanson's scholarship, resulting in a book that is stunning in appearance and easy to read. It is the state of the art by any definition. Hats off to everyone involved in this masterpiece.
The many "actual size" photos are amazing!.......2005-08-06
Don Johanson typically gives great respect to the data and unfolding evidence of his most fascinating field of paleoanthropology. Lots of good up to date detail. But this book is different from all others in that David Brill's photos are truly mind-blowing...as close as one can come to viewing the fossils in real life. A must-have for any hominid-junkie.
Great for just about anybody..........2004-05-23
If you want a solid, detailed book about the search for mankind's origins this is it. The first part of the book deals with the science of paleoanthropology, the nuts and bolts of how it works, from dating fossils, firepits and artifacts to studying past climates. The book also reveals to us the debates within society about where humans came from and what it means to be human. Will the answers change the way we think about ourselves and how what we will do in the future?
The second part shows us the evidence - bones. Skulls, teeth, fingers. In clear photos, many of them actual size so we can see for ourselves what the text is telling us. It ends with a couple of pages on stone tools and their development.
The two authors did their best to make the book complete BUT they also did not talk down to the reader. They don't assume you know everything, but they don't assume you're a fossil hunter either. For pros or beginners alike.
A definate must have.......2002-07-02
I borrowed this book for my Anthropology exams and I loved it. I had just the kind of information I needed and not just the badly drawn illustrations that my text book provided. I especially loved the fact that all plates are full size, and all the descriptions are generous. A good combination of Laymans terms and Anthropology.
Book Description
A story of one child's growth in writing, Lessons from a Child explains how teachers can work with children, helping them to teach themselves and each other. Matters of classroom management, methods for helping children to use the peer conference, and ways mini-lessons can extend children's understanding of good writing are all covered here. Most important, the sequences of writing development and growth are thoroughly discussed.
Customer Reviews:
Through children, we learn how to teach and succed........1999-04-28
Lucy McCormick Calkins, learns that her previous teachng experience is no help, when doing reaearch on children learning to write. Her true life experience as a researcher also becomes a learning experience that we all could use as teachers. She focuses specifically on a third grade classroom and ends up following one student by the name of Susie. Susie is a perfectionist and as we all have seen some giffted and talented students are perfectionist in their own way. She prides herself through out the beginning of this study on her spelling and neatness, of her writing. Susie also finds no problem on finding a subject to write about. This enjoyable and learning process takes place in Atkinson Elementary School, located in New Hampshire. Mrs. Howard's third grade class was selected for this study lasting approximately two years. Through the third and fourth grade, students learned to feel safe and begin to express themselves through writing. This process is not always successful. Being a future teacher, I have already seen the mistakes in a classroom and I am also proud to have been asked to read this book as part of my class. Through out Susie experience we see the transformation of a student learn to enjoy her reading and writing and the steps needed do accomplish this successfully. With the help of Mrs. Howard, Lucy Calkins learns to understand and write an account that we can learn from. Patience is a big issue here and we need this as teachers in order to help the students in our classes feel safe enough to write the experiences and stories in such a way that they are successful writers. Exploration and the freedom to explore it are needed to be successful in teaching writing and from here, our story proceeds futher. Mrs. Howard also learned during this research that children need to have ownership of thier learning or they will not be successful students. This research teaches not owning the students but the teachers', that learning is a give and take process. At the end of this book, I was kind of sad and happy. It was over and a success for future teachers. This type of research has never been documented in such a way, that we could understand the process and steps of children learning and how to succeed at it. I hope that everyone that reads my review, can receive the enjoyment of such an excellent research and reading material as this.
Great research into children's needs for effective writing........1999-03-18
Lessons from a Child, provides phenomonal research into the development and achievement of a student's writing. Lucy McCormick Calkins, the author of this book and former elementary education teacher, conducts a research project at Atkinson Elemtary School in Atkinson, New Hamphire. She begins her study in a third grade classroom with her focus on one particular student. The student's name is Susie. Mrs. Calkins finishes her research after following her through the fourth grade. Mrs. Calkins finds that there can be many barriers blocking students creativity when learning to write. Susie was not born with a special talent to write. However, when she was given room to express herself in her writing by using her own ideas and topics and was also, given the freedom from "correctness" when working on her drafts, she became a "craftsman" in her own right. As Mrs Calkins continued to oberve Susie into the fourth grade, she noticed a huge difference from third to fourth grade. Writing had become second nature for Susie. She was practicing new operations of writing and her writing was fluent. Susie had become comfortable with the revolution of her writing. She didn't worry anymore if it looked good or sounded perfect. Susie, also began to think, not only in the here and now, but in the future and past. This was a result of her third and fourth grade teachers allowing their classsroom to become a student-centered classroom. The children were allowed to explore their own ideas to become more confident in their writing, as Susie did. The students became motivated, because of this and the meaning of writing changed forever in Mrs. Howard's third grade classroom and Mrs. Currier's fourth grade classroom. The book, also gives a few support devices for students to become more confident with their writing skill. The first one was student-peer conferences, The students were allowed to help each other. Susie did this, with her best friend, Diane when Diane didn't know what to write about. Susie problem solved with her and as a result, Diane came up with a topic that she was excited to write about. Also, this can be helpful when the student needs some feedback and peer support. The student can read what he or she wrote to one of his peers and then ask what the he or she thinks about it. In addition, the book suggests to giving students guideline questions to ask each other so that this process can be constructive. Questions like, "What is the most important thing you are trying to say?" and "Why did you choose that topic?" and "Do you think you have two stories or one?" The second one is a conference with self. Children are encouraged to read out loud to themselves to hear for themselves, what they wrote. Thirdly, conferences between the student and teacher are conducted in intervals. The book encourages teachers to not let the students become "welfare writers" by becoming dependent on the teachers ideas. An example of allowing the student to become dependant would be saying something like, "The beginning needs work, doesn't it?" The book encourages teachers not to tell students what to do, but to guide the students and allow them to think for themselves. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great insight into student's special needs to becoming great writers. I know this information will benefit me in my future teaching of writing classes.
Teaching and Learning to Write........1999-03-17
The book "Lessons From A Child" by Lucy McCormick Calkins is a book about research done on the process children go through when they write.
The book follows one particular student in Mrs. Howard's classroom, Susie, through her writing. As you read, you can see the changes that take place in Susie's writing. It is simply amazing to see the changes that children go through when they write.
When the author started her research at Susie's elementary school in Atkinson, New Hampshire, Susie was a third grader and did not like to write. Content did not matter to Susie, but the format did. Susie also did not understand the process of revision. Her revisions consisted of just simply rewriting her first draft. As the research continued, Susie started to enjoy writing. By the end of fourth grade, Susie became more confident in her writing and learned that revisions were a good thing and that it was o.k. to have a messy, marked-up first draft.
Through her research, Calkin came to realize that Susie and the other children in the classroom were teaching her and she was learning from them.
This book gives a lot of good ideas for teachers to teach writing, in creative ways, to their students. One thing that I found to be very interesting was the fact that children should be able to pick their own topics they write about. By allowing this, children will become more interested in writing. I believe that students begin to feel like what they have to say and their interests are unimportant if the chance is not there for them to be able to choose what they want to write about.
An important thing to remember for educators is that to encourage writing, you need to have a classroom that encourages writing. Not only that, but you, the educator, needs to model the behavior.
One thing that I have learned from this book is that the writing process is very complex. There are many components to the writing process. It is not as cut and dry as it may seem to some. By reading this book, I have gained new insights on how to approach and teach the writing process to my future classes. Things such as ways to arrange the classroom, lessons to give to the children on the writing process, also working with students in small groups, and peer and teacher conferences. All of these things can help children in their writing.
This book shows you how children think through the process of writing. It shows you things to look for in their writing and ways to support a writer as they begin the journey of their writing process.
Come and learn from the child........1999-03-17
"LESSONS FROM A CHILD"
Lucy McCormick Calkins personal teaching techniques and her background experience as a teacher, took on a whole different role when she was asked to become a full-time researcher for the National Institute of Education. The main objective of the study was to depict, "how to bridge theory and practice" (p.6), while studying how children gain growth in their writing. Ironically, this research study proved to be a valuable lesson for teachers to learn how to teach writing. Lucy states, "the title of the book was chosen because after many drafts, I discovered that it is not the story of the child learning to write, it is the story of a researcher learning to teach" (p.8). Lucy was to observe students for two years beginning of third grade until the end of fourth. At the beginning of her research, she felt, "foolish holding the clipboard" (p.9) and being the spectator. The new school year had begun and she wasn't sure she liked having the clipboard instead of the classroom! The main focus of this book is centered around a young girl named Susie. As the study began, Lucy saw how conventional Susie's writing was and how neatness was more important than content. As the days turned to weeks and weeks to months, and months to years, the change was phenomenal. Mrs. Howard (the teacher) was also learning how to be a better teacher of writing. For example, she began to understand the importance of ownership by having the students write about personal topics of interest, not predetermined ones. The line in the book put it best, "when teachers dole out topics, children become dependent on them" (p.25). Students need to be interested in a topic to be motivated to write about it and take pride and ownership of their work. Having students develop socially in a cooperative manner is extremely helpful in the progression of their own writing skills. This study showed that a lot of time was spent establishing routine steps (writing min-lessons) to create a well-done finished product. Susie learns how to revise, use writing strategies, develop leads, these are just a few examples that lead Susie to become an exceptional writer. I would like to thank Lucy for participating in such a unique study of the wring process of children. I have gained valuable insight into a area that I may only have learned through actual experience.
"Writing is the Act of Giving".......1999-03-17
Lesson From a Child: On the Teaching and Learning of Writing Lucy McCormick Calkins in her book, Lessons From a Child, interprets her findings in a 2 year long research study, which centered on the development of elementary school aged students' writing skills. This research study involved 16 students and 7 classrooms at Atkinson Academy in Atkinson, New Hampshire. Calkins' passionate involvement in this project is reflected in her choice of title for her books. She writes, "I have named this book Lesson From a Child because after many drafts I discovered that it is not the story of a child learning to write. It is the story of a researcher learning to teach" (p. 8). Armed with a clipboard and a vision, Calkins step into the third grade classroom of Pat Howard prepared to document the changes that occurred in the students writing process. Lesson From a Child is a journal account, which highlights the writing progress of Susie and her interaction with classmates, teachers and her learning environment. Susie, the focal point of Calkins journal, is introduced to the reader as a soft-spoken third grader with simple tastes who, in the words of her classmates "thinks up good adventures" (p. 17). As readers, we listen as Calkins recounts how Susie's writing transforms from wanting to please her teacher with perfect form and perfect penmanship, to conveying her thoughts to her audience, keeping her adventurous style of writing. Each developmental step is well illustrated and compared to the progress of other students. As readers, we "watch" as Susie grows in confidence and becomes a "master" at her craft. The support of this research project by the involved classroom teachers Pat Howard and Carolyn Currier, and their eagerness to learn how to help their students, also contributes to the success of the students writing experience. Pat Howard willingly abandons her structured 15-minute writing period and created a writer learning environment filled with mini-lessons, discussions groups, and celebrations. Carolyn Currier, the fourth grade teacher, wanting to continue the success of the students, became involved in the research project even before the students finished third grade. Her nurturing style of teaching brings a new dimension to students' writing style as they learn to articulate with a "softer voice". The ability to effectively communicate ideas and emotions in written form is a difficult task. Calkins explanation on the development of the writing process offers insight in creating an environment where students can blossom as writers. When students write about subjects that are personal, teachers model expectations and all writing is celebrated, written communication becomes and art form. Each artist has his or her own style and technique that needs to be recognized and celebrated. Calkins uses a quote Writing with Power (Elbow, P. 1981) on page 111 that I believe summarize the essences of Lessons from a Child, "The essential human act at the heart of writing is the act of giving". It is through her 2-year research study Calkins shares with her readers how the students of Atkinson Academy learned to share their gift of writing.
Average customer rating:
- An extraordinary personal document
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From That Place and Time: A Memoir, 1938-1947
Lucy S. Dawidowicz
Manufacturer: W W Norton & Co Inc
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Customer Reviews:
An extraordinary personal document.......2004-04-29
As a counterpoint to her more comprehensive scholarly work on the holocaust, this book provides several personal vignettes of that period in history. Beginning in New York City the account covers making arrangements for the trip, the author's stay in Vilna, a center of Jewish culture in Poland including elements of daily life, cultural, and political events, her narrow escape from Poland as the Nazi invasion progresses, and the finally agonizing wait in New York as news of the insuing catastrophy arrives in bits and pieces. This book provides insight into what it was like to live through that period in history, and may help those close to them to understand people who actually lived through it.
Book Description
As he did in the now classic edition "The Day It Snowed Tortillas", Joe Hayes brings to life ten more charming cuentos. He explores his own unique interpretations of classic stories while continuing to preserve and honor the rich traditions of Northern New Mexico. These tales are filled with wisdom and warm humor aplenty. Sit back and enjoy this beautifully illustrated collection.
Customer Reviews:
Joe Hayes brings to life ten charming cuentos (folktales).......2002-01-03
Here you will find wonder, wisdom and warm humor aplenty in these tales: "If I Were an Eagle," "What Am I Thinking," "How to Grow Boiled Beans," "The Coyote Under the Table," "The Golden Slippers," "Caught on a Nail," "The Man Who Couldn't Stop Dancing," "Gato Pinto (The Spotted Cat)", "The Little Snake," and "The Magic Ring." These stories are from the story traditions of northern New Mexico. Those who enjoyed THE DAY IT SNOWED TORTILLAS will also like this.
Cool Tape.......1999-12-19
I think this tape is funny, and neat to listen to. I listen to it alot when I am at home sick.
Book Description
Adventure, fantasy, mystery/suspense--teens love genre fiction--and genre nonfiction! By focusing on the genres teens love, you'll find a great way to connect them with books and an effective means through which to promote some of today's best and most popular YA books. Whether you are a public or school librarian, teacher, or teen group leader, you'll love this book. It offers background information, ready-to-use booktalks, and related activities for more than 100 young adult titles, focusing on those published in the past 3 years. For each book, the author notes the reading level and alternative formats, such as nonfiction, graphic novels, and journal/diary. The book summary lists name and age of the main character, setting, any special features of the book, and gives a brief plot line. This is followed by a booktalk to use or adapt, approximately five extension activities (at least one of which requires research), and an annotated list of read-alikes and related works. Grades 6-12.
Amazon.com
How much is that T. Rex in the window? Journalist Steve Fiffer looks at the most contentious paleontological find ever in Tyrannosaurus Sue. This scientific, sociological, and legal study is entertaining and insightful, highlighting the personalities of the researchers, attorneys, and tribal and federal authorities who struggled for years over the ownership rights to the best-preserved Rex specimen yet found. From its discovery in South Dakota in 1990 by Susan Hendrickson and Peter Larson through the tortuous court cases to decide its fate to the final auction at Sotheby's, Fiffer finds just the right words to describe the action, a difficult task given the conflicting reports of contesting witnesses. Professional jealousy and academic elitism (or concern for valuable scientific material and Indian property rights) led to accusations of illegal collecting and the seizure of the skeleton by federal agents shortly after its move to Larson's Black Hills Institute. Suits, countersuits, and indictments escalated the struggle into an all-out war with vast sums of money and professional reputations at stake. In the end, Larson was imprisoned as an example to illegal collectors despite his sincere belief that he had worked within the law, and Sue was awarded to property owner Maurice Williams and purchased for $8 million by Chicago's Field Museum with the assistance of the McDonald's and Disney corporations. Tyrannosaurus Sue is a riveting tale, well-written and just unsettling enough to provoke thought and discussion. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
Over 65 million years ago in what is now South Dakota, a battle-scarred Tyrannosaurus rex matriarch-perhaps mortally wounded in a ferocious fight-fell into the riverbed and died. In 1990 her skeleton was found, virtually complete, in what many have called the most spectacular dinosaur fossil discovery to date.And then another battle began - a "survival of the fittest" free-for-all involving commercial dinosaur hunters, gun-toting law officers, an ambitious federal prosecutor, a Native American tribe, jealous academics, an enterprising auction house, major museums, and corporate giants, all making their claim for the dinosaur named Sue. Before it was over, there would be claims and counterclaims; charges of checkbook-polluted science, criminal larceny, and vengeful prosecutions; and devastating prison terms. And the gavel would come down on the largest-ever ($8.36 million) auction price tag for a fossil, paid by Chicago's Field Museum, with help from Disney and McDonald's.Capturing the whole range of characters and issues embroiled in the fight for Sue, author Steve Fiffer communicates both the excitement over Sue's discovery and the motivations, maneuverings, and absurdities of the various forces attempting to control her destiny.
Customer Reviews:
Contentious discoveries.......2007-05-07
Although "Tyrannosaurus Sue" takes a while to get rolling, eventually author Steve Fiffer does get into the trial over the bones, and, as a lawyer, he does an excellent job of clarifying that mess.
In a foreward, dinosaur researcher Robert Bakker says, "There's a lot of Roshomon in Sue's story." By that I take it he means that there is a shortage of certainty about who the villains are, although Bakker and Fiffer are sympathetic to Peter Larson and his friends, who dug up Sue.
The fossil equivalents of Yankee tinkerers, the Larsons were self-taught and entrepreneurial. As such, predictably, they raised the hackles of academic researchers.
One complaint by the academics against the Larsons can be disposed of: that commercial bone collecting interferes with proper study of fossils. Surely the information to be gleaned from the bones is more valuable than the money people (or the Field Museum) will pay for the bones -- millions -- so interference with proper study is a serious matter.
However, although Fiffer does not go into it, the record of academic bone hunters in the western states has frequently been scandalous, with illegal collecting, faked documentation, slovenly curation and failure to publish.
As a good businessman, Larson was, at least, not inclined to the last two of those.
While some of the academic critics may have been sincere and even have had legitimate concerns, the leading lights come off very poorly in "Tyrannosaurus Sue."
Part of the reason Fiffer's book starts slowly is his evident intent to build up suspense -- generally, as here, an irritating approach -- but he also has the more reasonable goal and task of setting the finding of Sue in context. This means going back to the Bone Wars of the 19th century. Much of this is already plowed ground, but Fiffer's explanation of a legitimate (as it seems to have been) commercial pale ontological enterprise was new and interesting to me.
Once all that is finally taken care of, "Tyrannosaurus Sue" races to an exciting conclusion, with a lively courtroom drama, a tense auction, some corporate struggles and a not entirely satisfactory (to me) outcome.
It's a complex story, made even more so by a factor I have not mentioned so far: the fact that Sue was found on Indian land that was under lease to an Indian rancher. That added extra layers of legal uncertainty to an already uncertain story.
Fiffer also explores, without suggesting much in the way of remedy, the national government's confused, confusing and probably self-defeating legislation concerning fossils on public lands.
Good overview of discovery, Government intervention.......2005-07-18
Steve Fiffer's "Tyrannosaurus Sue" is an interesting tale of the discovery of the most complete T-Rex skeleton found up to that point, and the bizarre battle that ensued over the ownership of the find. The book provides some insight into the world of paleontology (especially the pitfalls of searching on property where boundary lines aren't clear), and details a rather maddening tale of government intervention. I would have enjoyed more discussion of paleontology, but I understand that that wasn't the purpose of this particular work. Fiffer's writing style is straightforward to the point of being a bit dry at points, but it's well suited to describing the legal and political manipulations of the story. An interesting book that will spur interest in reading more about its subject matter.
The State rivals T-Rex in amorality.......2004-01-14
One of the greatest dinosaur finds in history - perhaps THE greatest - was caught up in politics, money and jealousy. It is just pathetic what the government did to this scientist and makes one wonder question the rationality of "officials" who would commit such deeds.
All the ins and outs of scientific rivalry, government bumbling and misplaced priorities are thoroughly described. The story is fascinating and will hold your attention for days. Our view of T-rex and dinosaurs in general changed following this discovery. Good book, guaranteed to make you furious.
This Book Tell's You How Pathetic Our Government Really Is.......2003-02-11
I have really enjoyed reading this book. I'm a Dinosaur nut and this book is about my favorite Dino the T-Rex so it was an obvious attraction to me to read. What I read only proved to me that our Government is pathetic to say the least. To do what they did to Peter Larson was a crime. Not only do they steal the find of the century but they lay bogus charges on him that ultimatly sent him to jail and nearly ruined his life! How can the US Government do what they did? They have been doing it to people for years and Mr Larson was only one more person who has suffered at the hands of our government. It's terrible when Dinosaur hunters cant even dig up bones for fear that they might be prosecuted for stealing so called Government property. When I first read this book I was thinking I was going to be reading about the find of the century but what I found out was that the US Government is nothing but a bunch of theif's who took the low road to try and ruin a good man who was doing his job. The story of Sue and the events that surrounded her is very very good and a must read for Dino lovers of all ages and it will show just how ruthless our Government can be.
Perfect Balance between Science and Law.......2002-10-16
A great book that not only helps you understand paleontology and the fossil money game, but also the twists and turns of legal prosecution. The story unfolds like a novel, a tragic tale of greed whose only flaw may be that it is too sympathetic toward the fossil hunters, who, it seems to me tried to pay way too little for Sue.
Books:
- From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals)
- From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals)
- From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals)
- Fundamentals of Molecular Virology
- Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes
- Genetics: From Genes to Genomes
- Genetics of Populations (Biological Science (Jones and Bartlett))
- Handbook of Statistics 18: Bioenvironmental and Public Health Statistics (Techniques and Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
- Historical Geology: Evolution of Earth and Life Through Time (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)
Books Index
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The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors
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