Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life

Did you know that Marie Stopes was an expert palaeobotanist? Do you know what a cladogram is and how helpful it can be? Over what did Reg Sprigg stumble in 1946? What is special about the Messel deposits? Here is a book that tells you all this and lots more - as it should, having styled itself an 'Encyclopaedia'. I am old fashioned enough to still spell Encyclopaedia with two A's and expect its content to begin at A and go on to Z, meaning that you have to know what you're looking for before you start to look. Apart from Atlascopcosaurus (not featured in this volume) and Euparkeria (the world's first traffic warden, allegedly) I've never been much taken by dinosaurs, preferring to interest myself in other forms of prehistoric life. I'm happy to report that these latter are nobly represented in this commodious information source, which seems to consist of a coming together of nearly all of the celebrated DK presentation skills with a truly authoritative text. A splendid 'how to use this book' spread allows the reader to get the best out of the content to which a comprehensive index and glossary provide specific access and illumination. The 'Reference Section' which forms the last 100 pages is a brilliant book in itself, dealing especially well with palaeological techniques and museum-style restoration as well as a guide to familiar fossils. Yes, this is an excellent palaeo-compendium, probably at its best in the midst of an interested family but well worth a place in a reference library.