Little People And a Lost World: An Anthropological Mystery (Discovery!)

Customer Reviews:

Summary of an important find.......2007-08-02

A short account of a truly important historic event.
Leaves the reader with more questions than answers, more specifically the lack of original photographs which you would expect from the format and size of this book is disappointing.

Discoveries: Fossils (Discoveries (Abrams))

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Discoveries: Fossils (Discoveries (Abrams))
Yvette Gayrard-Valy
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0810928248

A New Human: The Startling Discovery and Strange Story of the "Hobbits" of Flores, Indonesia

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Groundbreaking information
Worth the read
Hobbits!
This is an excellent story of scientific discovery.

A New Human: The Startling Discovery and Strange Story of the "Hobbits" of Flores, Indonesia
Mike Morwood , and Penny Van Oosterzee
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060899085
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Book Description

In October 2004, a team of Australian and Indonesian anthropologists led by Mike Morwood and Raden Pandji Soejono stunned the world with their announcement of the discovery of the first example of a new species of human, Homo floresiensis, which they nicknamed the "Hobbit." This was no creation of Tolkien's fantasy, however, but a tool-using, fire-making, cooperatively hunting person. The more Morwood and his colleagues revealed about the find, the more astonishing it became: standing only three feet tall with brains a little larger than a can of cola, the Hobbits forced anthropologists and everyone to reconsider what it means to be human.

Morwood's work was no ordinary academic exercise. Along the way he had to tread warily through the cultural landscape of Indonesia—he has an embarrassing mishap with some hard-to-chew pork—and he demonstrated that sometimes the life of a real archaeologist can be a bit like Indiana Jones's when he risked his neck in an ocean-going raft to experience how ancient Indonesians might have navigated the archipelago.

Even more, Morwood had to navigate the rock shoals of an archaeological bureaucracy that could be obtuse and even spiteful, and when the Hobbits became embroiled in scientific controversy—as no find of such magnitude could avoid—it proved easy for Morwood to get nearly swamped with trouble. Finds were stolen and damaged, and the backbiting was fierce. But the light of science, once brightened, is difficult to dim, and the story of the indefatigable Morwood's fight to defend his find discovery is an inspiration.

Customer Reviews:

Groundbreaking information.......2007-09-24

The story of Homo floresiensis, in and of itself, is incredible, but to read about it from a member of the original team makes for a compelling book. In developing histories on discoveries, it is always good to get a book like this early in the drama, before all the political debates ensue. This is a volume those intrigued by this new find must have. (Possible shortcomings: In the review proof copy I was sent, there is no index nor photographs. Perhaps the final printing contains both. I was not sent a final review copy.) - Loren Coleman

Worth the read.......2007-08-02

A detailed account of this historical find with enough background information to put the subject in true perspective. The account of the ensuing controversy is certainly biased and the importance that it takes in the book is regrettable. The consequences of this find question so much of our past understanding of the chronology of evolution that greater in depth discussion would have been welcomed.

Hobbits!.......2007-07-24

A New Human is just not a book on the discovery of Homo floresiensis and all the reactions to this amazing find of a new species of man but also a warning towards those who wish to enter the field of archaeology (or any field of science) that nothing is easy. Mike Morwood has to deal with a harsh landscape, a different culture, the scientific controversy his find would bring about and the bureaucracy that seemed to fight him every step of the way. If you have read Java Man, which tell us about the adventures and mishaps Geochronologists Carl Swisher and Garniss Curtis, then you should think of this book as the next book to read. It truly helped to make much of the events easier to understand.

This is an excellent story of scientific discovery. .......2007-06-01

The authors, Mike Morwood and Penny Van Oosterzee, present a first-hand account of the discovery of parts of 13 hominin (ie `human lineage') skeletons (including a well-preserved skull), in a cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia in 2003. These bones have been interpreted to belong to a new species of `human': indeed a dwarfed descendant of a pre-Homo sapien species. Mike Morwood and co., who were responsible for the project, interpret the bones as belonging to dwarfed descendants of Homo habilis, only previously known from ~1.9 million year old specimens from Africa. The bones were found within sediments dating between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago, and reveal individuals only about 1.06m high, with a brain capacity of only 380cc, or around 1/3 of modern humans. Primitive tools, and evidence of hunting and fire were also found.

Massive ramifications ensue from such a discovery. Is this really a case of insular dwarfism, well-documented in the non-human world (where animals bigger than a rabbit on isolated islands tend to get considerably smaller over time), but never before in the `human' lineage? Or is it just a few medically-afflicted Homo sapien individuals? Is it really a different species? How long ago did they live? How did they die out? Did they have language? Did they have religion? Most of the current data and interpretations are presented in this book, although there has been some recent studies not presented in any detail, and of course there will be more to come. Tragically, some of the material has been damaged during research, due to bungling and politics.

The authors do an admirable job putting the find in its proper context. You will have to wade through about 100 pages of context and story before the discovery is actually made, but this is both necessary and interesting in its own right. Discussions include previous excavations on the island, the geological history of the region (Flores is only a few million years old), the significance of the Wallace and Lydekker Lines, migration routes, examples of island dwarfism (including elephants, goats, and deer), two-way traffic in and out of Africa within various animal lineages, and the development of recent agriculture in China and New Guinea, which promoted dispersal throughout Indonesia, Madagascar, and ultimately the Pacific. Other discussions include project planning, rationale and methodology; initial choices of excavation sites; the daily work of field staff; and the stratigraphic context and dating of the cave site.

The authors contend that it is likely that various homo species spread throughout Asia from Africa from around 3.7 and 2.6 million years ago. Their interpretation places this species, as mentioned, as descended from Homo habilis, with characteristics more closely resembling that species than the later Homo erectus, also found on nearby Java. They back this up with various diagrams, anatomical comparisons, dating, and other discussions. They also contend that Asia in general has played a larger role in human prehistory than previously acknowledged, and I must say their reasoning and arguments are very convincing. There is no shortage of surprising finds and scientific tradition within the area of south east Asia, including Indonesia. This includes the discovery of `Java man', and the significance of the Wallace Line in the discovery and formulation of evolutionary theory.

It is also mentioned that horses originally evolved in North America- evolving into the Zebra later in Africa, the `big cats' originated in Asia and later entered Africa evolving into the lion etc, but both elephants and the hominin lineage (that's our relatives) initially evolved in Africa and then spread outward, from several million years ago. The point is, is that Africa has had two-way traffic of various species, in and out, for eons. There is no reason to suggest that some hominin species originating in Africa (or even elsewhere) can't have evolved into new species regionally, including in an evolutionary hotspot such as Indonesia. This has been documented to have occurred with the Neanderthals in Eurasia, and within elephants in numerous places, such as North America (eg mastodon), and on poor old Flores island-the dwarfed elephant Stegodon-on which the small inhabitants of Flores hunted.

In addition to very good scientific review and discussions, all the good, bad and ugly that can occur within scientific research is discussed, including bureaucratic bungling, difficult field conditions, ownership of material, academic bungling, and research ethics; and in the worst cases, poaching, destruction of material during research, secret and/or ideological agendas, `theft', and international politics.

The interpretation of a `new species' going extinct relatively recently on Flores is not without its controversy. Some claim the bones are only medically afflicted Homo sapien individuals-specifically microcephalia-a condition which diminishes stature and brain size. However the authors contend that both the stratigraphic context, and features of the bones themselves, thoroughly discounts this interpretation. This includes anatomical traits which are not found in either Homo sapien (including pygmies) or microcephalic individuals, but are found in other ancestral species-including australopithecines and Homo habilis. I'm no anatomical expert, but I read that these include the forward orientation and length of the arms, the shape and other aspects of the skull, the shape of the pelvis, and the primitive roots of the teeth. The stratigraphic context, which reveals habitation over an extended time period, and the number of individuals found, also discounts this theory. There have also been several independent studies done on the bones which discount the microcephalia interpretation, however this alternate interpretation is still held by some.

There is a wealth of scientific information and context in this book. It is first class research and science writing, and should go a long way in the proper communication of this fascinating discovery.

The book is moderately technical, but most readers will be able to wade through most of the jargon, and the associated interpretations and controversies.

Cradle of Life: The Discovery of Earth's Earliest Fossils

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A thorough grounding in the state of the field
Enthralling
Surpised about how much new information has been learned.
Resolving Darwin's Dilemma
Very Interesting

Cradle of Life: The Discovery of Earth's Earliest Fossils
J. William Schopf
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691088640

Amazon.com

What if U.S. history began in 1963, and everything that happened before that year was shrouded in mystery? There would be plenty of events to study, but we wouldn't have a complete picture of the country's past. This is the analogy that paleomicrobiologist J. William Schopf uses to describe the long-missing 85 percent of earth's early fossil record (the puzzle of the missing fossils was known as Darwin's Dilemma). Not until the 1960s did paleobiologists using pickaxes and microscopes find evidence that life began much earlier than previously theorized and that microorganisms were the planet's only inhabitants for most of its existence. And Schopf himself discovered the oldest Precambrian fossils known to science in 1993. Why did it take so long to find these critters?

Though the puzzle of the "missing" early fossil record lived on for more than a hundred years, its solution is now so obvious as to be mundane. The Precambrian world did indeed swarm with living creatures, but until near the close of this vast eon these were microbes and microalgal cells so tiny and fragile that they would never have been unearthed by conventional fossil hunting.

Cradle of Life is a great primer for those interested in the fossil record and its relation to evolutionary theory. Profusely illustrated, this chronicle of amazing discoveries and bizarre questions covers wide ground, including the basics of cell biology and microevolution as well as the careers of the big-name scientists who have set the fossil record straight. And the search continues for the origins of life on earth, as well as the hints of it elsewhere. In a terrifically enlightening epilogue, Schopf shows how even the best scientists have been fooled by geological artifacts that resemble true fossils (as happened with the infamous Martian meteorite "bacteria") and by their own desires to confirm their theories and beliefs about the origins of life. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

One of the greatest mysteries in reconstructing the history of life on Earth has been the apparent absence of fossils dating back more than 550 million years. We have long known that fossils of sophisticated marine life-forms existed at the dawn of the Cambrian Period, but until recently scientists had found no traces of Precambrian fossils. The quest to find such traces began in earnest in the mid-1960s and culminated in one dramatic moment in 1993 when William Schopf identified fossilized microorganisms three and a half billion years old. This startling find opened up a vast period of time--some eighty-five percent of Earth's history--to new research and new ideas about life's beginnings. In this book, William Schopf, a pioneer of modern paleobiology, tells for the first time the exciting and fascinating story of the origins and earliest evolution of life and how that story has been unearthed.

Gracefully blending his personal story of discovery with the basics needed to understand the astonishing science he describes, Schopf has produced an introduction to paleobiology for the interested reader as well as a primer for beginning students in the field. He considers such questions as how did primitive bacteria, pond scum, evolve into the complex life-forms found at the beginning of the Cambrian Period? How do scientists identify ancient microbes and what do these tiny creatures tell us about the environment of the early Earth? (And, in a related chapter, Schopf discusses his role in the controversy that swirls around recent claims of fossils in the famed meteorite from Mars.) Like all great teachers, Schopf teaches the non-specialist enough about his subject along the way that we can easily follow his descriptions of the geology, biology, and chemistry behind these discoveries. Anyone interested in the intriguing questions of the origins of life on Earth and how those origins have been discovered will find this story the best place to start.

Customer Reviews:

A thorough grounding in the state of the field.......2006-07-11

This is a great overview of the development and current state of the study of how life developed before the Cambrian period. The book is well-written and easy to read for a literate layperson. Schopf explains key scientific concepts well and blends this with narrative on the history of the field as well as some personal experiences. The pictures and illustrations are very helpful. The book communicates the excitement and challenge that is part of doing science.

Enthralling.......2005-10-08

Other reviewers have covered the facts about this book. I would like to ditto what they have said, and say that this is one of the best books I've read; fiction, non-fiction, Science, History, etc.
Highly recommended.

Surpised about how much new information has been learned........2004-01-28

Wow. I am surprised at how much has been learned about the early phases of life's development since I last formally studied paleontology. One of my favorite areas of study was invertebrate and early life forms. At the time only a modest amount was known about stromatalites and cyanobacteria. The trace fossils of the soft bodied, multicellular, Ediacaran fauna were known but were considered "late" in geologic and biologic terms. The Burgess Shale community, made famous by Gould's "Wonderful Life" in the late '80s, was known, but the organisms were confusing and many have since been restudied and reclassified. Having been a leading actor in the field of microfossils and early bacterial life forms, Schopf puts everything into perspective in his book, making it virtually a history of research into the topic of life's beginnings.

Cradle of Life begins, as such books so often do, with a brief synopsis of Darwin and his theory of evolution, including most critically, its early problems. Thereafter Schopf begins a veritable "who's who" of early paleontology, giving short professional biographies of those who worked in the field as early as the 19th century. He points out where promising leads were suppressed by virtue of the lesser standing of the individual proposing them, and misleading theories given credence because they were proposed by someone of powerful academic credentials. Some of the tales are impressive object lessons in how things can go wrong for human reasons and why science ultimately "gets it right in the end."

One of the more interesting topics the author confronts is how our recent advances in the field of paleontology might help determine whether life exists or has ever existed elsewhere. The author provides an interesting perspective on the Mars meteorite "life forms" that shows how easily it is to be lead astray by high hopes, and how space research scientists can benefit by a familiarity with modern precepts applicable to early life studies on this planet.

The book goes into great detail about the discovery of early life, what forms evidence takes, how it can be mistaken, what information is derived from study of the remains, and what indirect evidence tells us about the early earth. It also discusses how life might have evolved from non-life, how it managed to get started so early, how the atmosphere changed and how that change affected the diversity of earth's biomass. For those who are only casually interested in the topic of fossils, this book might be a little too much information. I love this kind of stuff, but I could certainly see how others might find it incredibly boring. I doubt that those in junior high would find it rewarding, but those in senior high might have enough science background to understand and enjoy it. Certainly for anyone fascinated with science and by how paleontology works, this book will be right up your alley.

FOR THOSE WRITING PAPERS: in paleontology, biochemistry, biology, evolution, and history of science, this book would make an excellent bibliographic entry as well as a good source of topics. One might discuss how science works, how "authority figures" can derail even the best ideas, how science like other human endeavors are affected by culture, expectations, what is "known" already, etc., how progress in technology has allowed us to learn more about the distant past, how the tendency to specialize can delay progress, how a recent trend toward consilience (for which see Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by E. O. Wilson) might lead to more rapid advances in science. One might compare the work by Nick Lane (see Oxygen: The Molecule that made the World) or by G. Cairns-Smith (Seven Clues to the Origin of Life) to this one to see how their perspectives are the same and how they differ. What do you believe is ultimately supported by the data?

Resolving Darwin's Dilemma.......2002-12-30

Schopf escorts us into the realm of deep time, introducing us to our earliest microbe ancestors found locked away in ancient rocks. The path is often vague and indistinct, but Schopf is a sure and eloquent guide. Not only has he traversed the route before, but he's helped select and clear the track. This fine book reflects Schop's lighthearted "trailside" manner. He fully enjoys scrutinising the rocks for early lifeforms, and the enjoyment is infectious. It's a pleasure to accompany him on this journey.

Of all the ideas of the origins of life, none proved more exciting than the experiments of Harold Urey and Stanley Miller. Their zapping of elemental chemicals to produce amino acids seemed the final answer to how it all began. Years of criticism of their work and assumptions led to the acclaim fading, but Schopf here attempts to resurrect its primacy. His argument relies on his findings of evidence of wide-ranging shallow seas - Darwin's famous "warm, shallow pond" as the place of life's origins. Schopf argues these seas were present at the same time simple life-forms emerged. In Darwin's time, the techniques for analysing the early rocks were limited. Today, as Schopf demonstrates, looking in the right place with the proper tools brings rich paleontological rewards.

After tracing the histories of several researchers in Pre-Cambrian fossils, Schopf goes on to illustrate the most recent finds and their significance. Some of the finds are beyond the realm of the rocks alone. His description of the process of polymer formation illustrates the beginning of complex chemistry leading from non-life to life. The distinction, as he notes, has become vague as research from many disciplines has been applied to evolutionary studies. As life progressed, it developed such talents as use of light energy, self-perpetuating activities, and the emergence of metabolism. He explains these processes in quite readable prose, but also depicts them with fine illustrations. It's a rare combination of multi-level presentation.

Schopf's tour takes us not only into deep time, but deep space. At the end of the book he examines the issues surrounding the "Martian meteorite" which was suspected to contain remnants of life on that planet. Schopf was the lone dissenter in NASA's presentation of the likely presence of micro-organism fossils. His disappointment in the presentation and the hype surrounding the proposal is keenly expressed. One of his proposals in this book is the universality of life's roots. Lifeforms of some level are almost inevitable on other worlds, given the necessary conditions. He argues the components are available throughout the cosmos, needing only the proper environment to start evolving. It would be exciting to detect evidence of past life on Mars, but meteorite ALH80001 didn't provide it.

Very Interesting.......2002-07-12

I don't really like biology. There is too much memorizing, and not enough math for my tastes. When I picked up this book, I figured I'd give it a try anyway. I had read Richard Fortey's book _Life_ (a good intro to the history of life) and wanted a little more depth. Boy did I get it.

This is a well written book. The first section is about the history of the quest to find these early fossils and the different theories. I found the stories interesting and fascinating, especially the encounter with Salvador Dali.

I don't want to give away any of the suprises. I found that he explained everything very well. I was able to follow the biological ideas and I have only had one class in college biology. I think if you have not had ANY biology knowledge you probably should get the basics down before reading this book.

Book Description

Here are the most recent theories about the history of dinosaurs, backed up with amazing facts about dinosaur discoveries. Gibbons discusses the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaccous periods and many of the non-bird dinosaurs that lived during each of those times.

Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries (Rare Treasure)

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When Mary was a Little Girl, She Discovered a Dinosaur
Terific illustrations, inspiring book
Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and her Remarkable Discoveries
My kids loved it.
Beautiful Book for kids and parents

Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries (Rare Treasure)
Don Brown
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618310819

Book Description

Before the word dinosaur was even invented, an English girl discovered a remarkable skeleton on the rocky beach at Lyme Regis. Thus began a lifelong passion for the woman who became one of the first commercial fossil collectors. Mary Anning (17991847) spent her lifetime teaching herself about fossils and combing the rugged shore for ancient treasures. Her collection thrilled the public, excited the scientific community, and proved that a woman could overcome danger and social limitations to accomplish great things.

Customer Reviews:

When Mary was a Little Girl, She Discovered a Dinosaur.......2005-05-05

Mary Anning was born to a poor family and grew up on Great Britain's southern shores. Her cabinetmaker father helped support his family by finding and selling fossils from the Jurassic period which were abundant in that area. He died when Mary was only eleven, but she'd learned his fossil finding skills. Mary is credited with finding the first ichthyosaur fossils when she was eleven year old. This book, by Don Brown, as wonderful as the others he's done about amazing women, shows young readers Mary's childhood and the hardships she had to rise above. It's a perfect book for any dinosaur loving child. After all, they should know how we know about the great beasts that roamed the earth so long ago.

Like Mr. Brown's other books, this is written for a child a bit older than my son's almost three years, but we, Devon and I, go over this book a lot and when he is reading, and the good Lord willing, that won't be too much longer. This is one of the books he's going to be reading. If you've got a young child and you want to open the world of reading to him or her, you cannot go wrong with a book written and illustrated by Don Brown.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

Terific illustrations, inspiring book.......2003-08-04

I have used this book (and others by Don Brown) to support a "Famous People" unit I teach in my 2nd grade classroom. I love the illustrations in this book and the inspiring and interesting text. This book would be especially (but certainly not exclusively) appealing for children interested in prehistoric times.

Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and her Remarkable Discoveries.......1999-12-18

Having loved all of Don Brown's previous work, I was happy to see that this work was highly praised by Pulitzer Prize-winner Natalie Angier in the New York Times Book Review. Rare Treasure was even better than the first books: historically accurate, engaging, and beautifully illustrated. Brown is able to write simply and humanistically about remarkable people, in a way that allows the young reader to relate. He spoke at my daughters' elementary school, and both kids and parents are still talking about his work. Bravo! Don Brown, write more!

My kids loved it........1999-12-16

My 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter just love the book. It's a great inspiration.

Beautiful Book for kids and parents.......1999-12-05

This is an inspirational story beautifully told. Kids will love the story brought to life with Don Brown's luminous illustrations. My 4-year old dinosaur-crazed nephew loves this story and the pictures as much as his older sisters. Another excellent book from Don Brown.

Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery Book and CD (Rad Along Fun With Curious George)

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George Goes on an Archeological Dig

Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery Book and CD (Rad Along Fun With Curious George)
H.A. and Margret Rey
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618689451

Book Description

Curious George hopes he can discover some real dinosaur bones at the dig. Read and listen along to find out what he uncovers. These recordings feature lively sound effects and original music. Each CD includes one reading with page-turn signals as well as an uninterrupted reading.

Customer Reviews:

George Goes on an Archeological Dig.......2007-06-06

This past weekend we visited a bookstore and my son wanted not one, but SEVEN Curious George books to add to his collection (he already had several at home). Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery was one of the books we bought.

This 24-page book was written in 2006 by Catherine Hapka with illustrations by Anna Grossnickle Hines (done in the style of H.A. Rey). In this story, the Man With the Yellow Hat takes George on an adventure to the museum. But much to George's surprise, they keep walking THROUGH the museum and out the back door.

Where were they going?, wondered George. Well, it turns out that George's friend had a surprise; they were going to drive to an archeological dig with scientists and volunteers!

As usual, George's curiousity gets the better of him and, while trying to imitate the digging, sifting and brushing of the scientist, he gets into some mischief!

George assumes that the scientists will be mad, so he starts climbing the hill--and keeps climbing very high. But when he looks down, he realizes that the scientists weren't made at all. In fact, they were pointing excitedly.

What were they pointing at?

This engaging tale is one of the most interesting of the Curious George books in my opinion and, of course, my son loves it! It's geared towards ages 4-8, so it's also good for beginning/intermediate readers.

While this book says "Bonus Activities Inside", there's only a word scramble game on the back inside cover (only 6 words). Also, there are three finger puppets on the back cover that you can photocopy then cut out, tape and use for acting out the story.

I was pleased to see that the main scientist was a woman--so here's to girl power!

A T. Rex Named Sue: Sue Hendrickson's Huge Discovery (Fossil Hunters)

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A T. Rex Named Sue: Sue Hendrickson's Huge Discovery (Fossil Hunters)
Natalie Lunis
Manufacturer: Bearport Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1597162590

Walking on Eggs: The Astonishing Discovery of Thousands of Dinosaur Eggs in the Badlands of Patagonia

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Dinosaurs
For Dinosaur Aficionados Only
An interesting walk through fossil discovery
For Dinosaur Lovers

Walking on Eggs: The Astonishing Discovery of Thousands of Dinosaur Eggs in the Badlands of Patagonia
Luis Chiappe , and Lowell Dingus
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743212118

Amazon.com

In November 1997, paleontologists Luis Chiappe and Lowell Dingus came across a remarkable find on the cold plains of southern Argentina: a dinosaur nesting ground, where some ancient but unknown species deposited tens of thousands of eggs that never hatched. Their work, as they recount in this memoir of discovery, thus had many components: among other matters, Chiappe and Dingus needed to determine the creatures that had left their offspring in the Patagonian sandstone, how many millions of years ago they had done so, and what had happened to prevent the eggs from hatching in the first place.

Finding the answer to the first occupies much of Chiappe and Dingus's account, as they compare their evidence against similar finds in Spain and the Gobi. Determining the second affords the authors a chance to discuss newly developed dating techniques, including DNA analysis--which caused overly enthusiastic reporters to announce that the authors were on the brink of cloning sauropods from long-dead embryos. ("We do not know nearly enough about how DNA works," the authors write, to pull off such a feat.) Finally, their reconstruction of the ancient environment of Patagonia offers clues for how the unlucky eggs had come to be buried in prehistoric mud.

A spirited book about how paleontologists make and test hypotheses and go about their fieldwork, this makes a fine addition to any dinosaur buff's collection. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Walking on Eggs is the riveting inside story behind one of the most significant paleontological discoveries in history. In November 1997, Luis M. Chiappe and Lowell Dingus led an elite team of paleontologists and geologists into the rugged and desolate badlands of Argentina. Unsure of what they would find, Chiappe and Dingus knew that this region had produced many spectacular specimens of dinosaurs and fossil birds over the last century. Nothing could have prepared them, however, for the headline-grabbing discovery they were about to make: a massive dinosaur nesting ground covering more than a square mile and littered with tens of thousands of large, unhatched dinosaur eggs. Containing the first fossils of embryonic dinosaur skin ever found, the eggs gave rise to a host of mysteries. What species laid the eggs, and when? How were they preserved? And most intriguingly, what ancient catastrophe -- deeply rooted more than 70 million years in the past -- prevented them from hatching?

In clear, comprehensible language, Chiappe and Dingus frame their scientific investigations within the context of a gripping detective story, illustrating how they used paleontological and geological evidence to establish the identity and age of the eggs, as well as how they established the cause of death. Chiappe and Dingus also recount a return trip to the badlands in 1999 in which they set out to learn more about dinosaur social and reproductive behavior. Their investigations once again unearthed a key piece of the historic puzzle: the bones of a twenty-foot predatory, carnivorous dinosaur.

As they decipher the evidence -- divining origins, discovering identities, and pinpointing possible causes of extinction -- Chiappe and Dingus interweave their field adventures with chapters illuminating the crucial precedents behind their groundbreaking work. Complementing the text are beautiful hand-drawn reproductions of what the dinosaurs and their landscape might have looked like, created by an artist who joined the expedition team in Patagonia. Infused with passion and an infectious sense of awe, Walking on Eggs illustrates the ups and downs of the scientific process and invites dinosaur lovers of all ages to experience the exhilarating sense of discovery.

Download Description

Walking on Eggs is the fascinating inside story behind one of the most significant paleontological discoveries in history. In November of 1997, Luis Chiappe and Lowell Dingus led an elite team of scientists into the rugged and desolate badlands of Argentina where they unearthed a massive dinosaur nesting ground. Containing the first fossils of embryonic dinosaur skin ever found, these tens of thousands of unhatched eggs gave rise to a host of mysteries. What species laid the eggs, and when? How were they preserved? And most intriguingly, what calamity prevented them from hatching? Returning to the badlands in 1999, the team's investigations yielded another key piece of the historic puzzle: the bones of a twenty-foot, predatory dinosaur. As they decipher the evidence -- divining origins, discovering identities, and pin-pointing possible causes of extinction -- Chiappe and Dingus interweave their field adventures with chapters illuminating the crucial precedents behind their ground-breaking work, infusing Walking on Eggs with scientific passion and an infectious sense of awe.

Customer Reviews:

Dinosaurs.......2007-02-14

A worthy book and well worth reading if the subject holds interest for you. Generally college level reading.

For Dinosaur Aficionados Only.......2006-09-17

Being a desolate and arid land, Patagonia is a treasure trove of paleontological sites. This book tells the story of several consecutive expeditions to one of these locations, an area near Nequén which they have christened Auca Mahuevo, where a huge discovery of thousands of dinosaur eggs and several nearly intact skeletons were discovered.

The authors -- Luis M. Chiappe and Lowell Dingus -- describe chronologically the process of discovery, preparation of the fossils for analysis, establishing the time and cause of death, and implied conclusions about the behavior of the species they represented.

Mind you, paleontology can be dreadfully dull. Following the classification systems requires rote memorization and careful attention to barely discernible features on sometimes badly worn bones and embryos. Interesting details are provided on the interactions between the paleontologists, geologists, and locals -- as well as the bad weather conditions they frequently endured. Fortunately, they managed to keep my interest up -- but just barely. Some of the chapters, such as the one on magnetic dating, were hard for a non-scientist such as myself to follow.

Probably the strangest image to emerge in my mind from reading this book is that of oviraptoids, large feathered parrot-headed dinosaurs. Can you imagine what one of those could to to the windshield of your car?

An interesting walk through fossil discovery.......2002-03-05

QUICK REVIEW
This is a fairly good book about the discovery of dinosaur eggs (and a few other fossils) in Argentina and what scientists learned from studying them. An interesting book.

FULL REVIEW
This book is written about a couple of things. Mainly it is the story of what a group of paleontologists discovered at a site in Argentina. They found a number of incredible fossils (some of which had never been seen before) and were able to piece together a picture of what Sauropod dinosaur embryos looked like and what happened to them. They mostly unearthed eggs but they also stumbled across two other skeletons. Overall it was amazing what they found. But the book is also about other things. Within the overall story we are given a history of other dinosaur fossil discoveries as well as lessons on different types of dinosaurs and their classification. We are given a timeline of when dinosaurs lived and some background on how paleontologists collect fossils. All of these things make up the book, so it is not just a simple telling of the story of the discovery. The book isn't fantastic but it is pretty good and generally keeps the attention of the reader. This is the kind of book where if you think you'll be interested in it, there's a good possibility you will but if you aren't interested in it and don't think you'll enjoy it you almost certainly will not. For readers who think they'll be interested, the authors do a good job of taking you through the story by the excitement of discovery. You follow along with them as they come across one great find after another. Sometimes they get a little too technical for the average reader but at other times they don't give as much technical information as the reader may want. And the authors rely a little too much on evolution to try to explain things that aren't full understood. Instead of just saying scientists don't know how something happened or that they can't figure out the whole story, they try to squeeze things into the box of general evolution just because they don't have any other answer at the moment. There are also some slow parts while they go off on a tangent now and then, but it basically flows pretty well and if the readers feel somewhat interested they probably will enjoy this book.

For Dinosaur Lovers.......2001-12-04

In a highly readable account, the authors describe a 1997 scientific expedition to Patagonia, in the desolate, remote region of central Argentina, which results in the discovery of tens of thousands of fossilized dinosaur eggs. Some of the eggs contain the first fossils of embryonic dinosaur skin ever found. In the full flush of discovery, the team of scientists dub their new find 'Auca Mahuevo,' as a pun on the volcano Auca Mahuida around which the field is located, combined with 'mas' 'huevos' or more eggs, in Spanish.

By means of a number of questions, which the authors then proceed to answer in successive chapters, the reader is lucidly lead on the path of scientific discovery. For example, in one chapter, the authors ask and answer: "What Were We Searching For and How Did We Decide Where to Look?" There is one exception to this lucidity, however. In one chapter the authors feel it necessary to provide a primer on dinosaurs, in order to establish all the possible species whose eggs these could be. In my opinion this chapter was a total flop. If you are a dinosaur maven, it was probably unnecessary, and if you are not, as is my case, it was far too technical and dragged on and on. At the end of the 1997 expedition we are treated to the spectacle of an overflow press conference, with all types of media imaginable in attendance.

Next, a 1999 expedition to Auca Mahuevo is described. In this expedition more evidence about egg laying patterns is gathered and another startling fossil discovery is made. a completely new species of dinosaur is found, and the fossil is collected and named: Aucasaurus garridoi. Finally, a 2000, Y2k expedition is described.

Book Description

When Charles Darwin, then age 22, first saw the HMS Beagle, he thought it looked "more like a wreck than a vessel commissioned to go round the world." But travel around the world it did, taking Darwin to South America, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and of course the Galapagos Islands, in a journey of discovery that lasted almost five years. Now, in Fossils, Finches and Fuegians, Richard Keynes, Darwin's great grandson, offers the first modern full-length account of Darwin's epoch-making expedition. This was the great adventure of Charles Darwin's life. Indeed, it would have been a great adventure for anyone--tracking condor in Chile, surviving the great earthquake of 1835, riding across country on horseback in the company of gauchos, watching whales leaping skyward off Tierra del Fuego, hunting ostriches with a bolo, discovering prehistoric fossils and previously unknown species, and meeting primitive peoples such as the Fuegians. Keynes captures many of the natural wonders that Darwin witnessed, including an incredible swarm of butterflies a mile wide and ten miles long. Keynes also illuminates Darwin's scientific work--his important findings in geology and biology--and traces the slow revolution in Darwin's thought about species and how they might evolve. Numerous illustrations--mostly by artists who traveled with Darwin on the Beagle--grace the pages, including finely rendered drawings of many points of interest discussed in the book. There has probably been no greater or more important scientific expedition than Darwin's voyage on the Beagle. Packed with colorful details of life aboard ship and in the wild, here is a fascinating portrait of Charles Darwin and of 19th century science.

Customer Reviews:

A perfect compliment to Voyage of the Beagle.......2007-04-23

This book was an incredibly fast and easy read for its 400 pages. For those who have read Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle, this may seem a bit redundant at times, but I actually found it to be a great compliment. Richard Darwin Keynes (Charles Darwin's great grand-son) does a beautiful job weaving together a narrative of Darwin's long journey aboard the HMS Beagle between 1832 and 1836. Bits and pieces of Darwin's commonplace journal, his field notes, and letters home are very well incorporated into the overall narrative, adding authenticity to Keynes' interpretation of his great-grandfather's time aboard the Beagle. There are also several very nice watercolor plates and many gorgeous maps and engravings that really add to the reader's experience.

The chapters are very short (8-12 pages) and each one deals with a specific region visited along the journey (except maybe the first and last two). This style is very effective, and keeps the reader interested and on track. Keynes' also adds important and relevant historical background that is not present in Voyage of the Beagle and provides the reader with a great deal of insight into Darwin's life and his relationships with other people, such as Captain Robert FitzRoy. I would recommend this book highly to anyone interested in Darwin, evolution, the history of science, or Latin America.

DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I FIRST MADE.......2006-08-07

I never gave this book a good chance when I started reading it the first time and so I put it back on my shelf for a few months.

I started out reading it very slowly, each word, trying to savor the images of a bygone time and of the words and adventures of an incredible man. After a while I noticed I was trying to skip through as fast as possible just to finish it. Then when I left it on the shelf a few months it dawned on me... this book should be treated respectfully, and read for enjoyment, not just to be finished but to feel and be enveloped by, and so I picked it up a second time and my impression of it is what lead me to give it 5 stars.

The incredible abundance of drawings by those very artists that were there with Darwin, seeing what he saw, eating with him, journeying with him, and Darwin himself, his words, what his thoughts were, what he saw and touched... the descriptions coupled with the drawings of the places visited made me want to step back in time and visit each place the way it used to be... sadly those jewels are now replaced with superhighways as Keynes points out... man has a natural inclination and penchant to change usually irreversibly by destroying beauty... and what has been lost is truly sad...

What has been left is this wonderful, moving account of Charles Darwin as so wonderfully presented by Keynes. So don't do as I first did, try to plough your way through this book just to finish it, but even worse, don't just put it down to never read it because you will have truly lost out on reading a fascinating journey, an adventure of people, places, names, faces and life you just don't find these days in todays reading...

The pictures of the Feugians, unbelievable! These were the actual people that Darwin met along the journey and to see these pictures and see what these people looked like, what they wore, their face painting, everything is truly remarkable. A book like this, with this much value, pictures, detailed descriptions and accounts should be worth much much more than it sells for compared to some of the garbage churned out by lesser authors.

And you know what... I plan on reading it all over again, slowly, deliberately, and with wonder and amazement filling my mind and heart.

Map making and evolution.......2004-05-07

An enjoyable recount of Darwin's voyage around the world in the early 1830s. Rather than argue for or against any version of Darwins theories, Keynes describes the adventure of 2 English gentlemen setting out to create a better map of the world. Aside from providing an enjoyable and picturesque travel guide, we get to know the way each inspired the other.

The reader will be surprised to read about the daring young Darwin's adventures. He ends up dodging warriors prowling the Argentinian praries, trusting his life to murderous Fuegian cowboys, getting drunk with Chilean gold miners, intervening in a Brazilian civil war and tasting potentially halucenogenic South American plants.

Keynes seems particularly interested in showing Darwin as Captain FitzRoy's agent and artist. In some ways, Keynes makes a case that Darwin was hired to write the story FitzRoy dictated. Like the artists brought along by Captain FitzRoy, Darwin was invited to embellishFitzRoy's maps. FitzRoy, a flawed character of exceptional energy and intuition, knew well his limitations: depression and a violent temper. To achieve what he knows is possible he drags young English gentlemen off to the ends of the world and sets them on their path to celebrity and fame.

Left to itself, this action story and tragedy (FitzRoy commits suicide in the last narrative chapter) could have stood alone. The author feels compelled to trouble us with a search for the exact moment that Darwin's diary records the inspiration for 'evolutionary theory'. It detracts a bit, but only in a minor way. Unexplored is the relationship between map making and evolutionary trees, an obvious paradigm which would have fit the story better.

A book re-visiting Darwin's steps........2003-06-08

Mr. Keynes (great-grandson of Charles Darwin) re-plays the voyage of the Beagle, with some interesting back-up material. We read of Darwin's early life and his family connections, and the Beagle's Capt. FitzRoy's interest in returning to Tierra del Fuego. Included are plenty of extracts from others' letters and logs, plus many original drawings & paintings. And there is a nice touch; at the top of each page is the month and year, so you are continually reminded of just how much time has passed.

Having read and enjoyed Darwin's 'Voyage of the Beagle', I was not expecting much in the way of startling new evidence re his discoveries & theories. And there is not; but what IS there, is more focus on his time in Patagonia, which surprisingly covered 2 years - nearly half the 5 year trip ... which is not apparent in the 'Voyage' (in my faulty memory) ... And the Beagle only spent 5 weeks in the Galapagos, but that short stay provided most of the hard evidence which fuelled Darwin's later theorising.

Further visits to N.Z., Australia and Tasmania showed the devastation to the indiginous wildlife caused by introduced species, which prompted more thoughts on survival. Had more time been available in Mauritius or Madagascar, his theorising might have been more concentrated and conclusions derived earlier (but of course, 20/20 hindsight always provides the best view!).

Mr. Keynes provides a modern perspective on the scientific method of the young (23) Darwin, especially in his noting exactly which strata fossils were found, and his meticulously accurate un-biased descriptions of specimens (not a predominant trait in the scientific community at that time!). Particular focus is placed on his geological and fossil studies - largely glossed over by Darwin himself - revealing some deep background thinking which was formative in constructing his Theory of Evolution. The penultimste chapter reveals how Darwin spent the 20-odd years leading up to the publication of 'Origin'; how his Father and reading Malthus simulated his imagination; how his friendship with Lyell and Wallace proved crucial in the book's publication. It also underlines the idea that luck, having independant means (something denied to Wallace), and being in the right place at the right time (like Capt. Cook) probably had more to do with his success than his brilliance did.
In a touching final chapter we feel the love and friendship that grew between FitzRoy and Darwin during those 5 years on board, FitzRoy's subsequent jobs, then his final descent into depression and suicide..

Not an easy read; Mr. Keynes' writing style is not as fluid or easy on the eye as some other writers in the popular science arena, and some of the attached letters are hard going. I found myself frequently re-reading passages to ensure that I had the correct gist of the text.
However, that apart, this is an illuminating, fresh look at what was probably the most important voyage - ever - for philosophical science.****

A book re-visiting Darwin's steps........2003-06-08

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