Recommend a good dinosaur book..

the_monkey

Hi folks,
Just back from Berlin and went to the natural history museum and I must say it has reignited an interest in dinosaurs that I had as a kid.

Looking for a good book, obviously not one for kids, but not a
university level one aimed at paleontology students either


I remember as a kid I had one by David Norman I think,
it was an illustrated encyclopedia, and was excellent,
suited kids to adults aswell.

I gather that book could be out of date, + cannot find an updated
version on amazon ...


so any good suggestions ??

the_monkey

what about this ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Encyclopedia-Dinosaurs-Illustrations/dp/0754815730/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277726425&sr=1-7

Galvasean

the_monkey wrote: »

Hi folks,
Just back from Berlin and went to the natural history museum and I must say it has reignited an interest in dinosaurs that I had as a kid.

Welcome. Hope you enjoy the forum. Any questions about anything at all, feel free to start more threads.

the_monkey wrote: »

Looking for a good book, obviously not one for kids, but not a
university level one aimed at paleontology students either

We have a big thread with all manner of suggestions here.

The thread itself is a good read.

the_monkey wrote: »

I remember as a kid I had one by David Norman I think,
it was an illustrated encyclopedia, and was excellent,
suited kids to adults aswell.

I gather that book could be out of date, + cannot find an updated
version on amazon ...

I think I know that book. It was good for it's day, but as you suspect it has become fairly out of date now. You'd be amazed how much we thought we knew 10-20 years ago that is actually wrong! (for instance T. rex is not only not the largest known meat eating dinosar anymore, but it's not even in the top five. :eek:)

the_monkey wrote: »

what about this ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Encyclopedia-Dinosaurs-Illustrations/dp/0754815730/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277726425&sr=1-7

That is a very good one alright. However, it features only dinosaurs. There is an expanded version featuring many other kinds of prehistoric creatures. I would highly recommend it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Encyclopedia-Dinosaurs-Prehistoric-Creatures/dp/075481730X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277743672&sr=1-3

This one is great too. The ilustrations are absolutely gorgeous.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinosaurs-Complete-Up-Date-Encyclopedia/dp/0375824197/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b


PS: If you took any photos of the Berlin museum we'd love to see them!

the_monkey

Cheers!!! I did take some photos, I'll post them up soon !!

marco_polo

If you are looking for a good book that is not a reference or Dinosaur encyclopedia, then Dinosaur Odessey mentioned in the reccommended reading thread is definately worth a look.

Kess73

the_monkey wrote: »

what about this ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Encyclopedia-Dinosaurs-Illustrations/dp/0754815730/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277726425&sr=1-7

Have this and would defo recommend it. It is not an indepth look at the various species, but it is an excellent starting point for anyone with hankering for dino knowledge, and is a great refresher book too.

As Galv said, it is pretty much dino only, but well worth the buy.



Am looking forward to your pics from Berlin. I used to live in Germany some years ago, and going up to Berlin to the same museum was always something I really enjoyed.

the_monkey

Kess73 wrote: »

Am looking forward to your pics from Berlin. I used to live in Germany some years ago, and going up to Berlin to the same museum was always something I really enjoyed.

Cheers, don't get too excited i only got a couple of pics cos the light was
bad and can't use a flash...

anyway ... will post up -- hopefully today.

again cheers for the excellent help on the books.

the_monkey

I think i'll get World Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Encyclopedia-Dinosaurs-Prehistoric-Creatures/dp/075481730X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277743672&sr=1-3

and
Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinosaurs-Complete-Up-Date-Encyclopedia/dp/0375824197/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

maybe they are similar but I think i'll treat myself and get both.

Galvasean

Hope you enjoy the books. I have both personally and they compliment each other quite well IMO. The 'World Encyclopedia' has more creatures in it, while the 'The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages' has fewer animals but more detail (and nicer pictures IMO).

PS: I've split the thread now. Photos from the Berlin museum can be found here.

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Design-Duane-T-Gish/dp/0890511659

In art quality and detailed information on these mysterious beasts, this book rivals that of any secular source. However, the strong Biblical theme makes it unique among dinosaur resource books. Offers plausible explanations for believing that man walked with dinosaurs.

It's actually OK for younger readers in a my first book of dinosaurs type thing, once you ignore the obvious propaganda




TBH I'd like to see a book about prehistoric life that wasn't mostly about large terrestrial reptiles.

Galvasean

I think kids would be better off starting with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Were-Wrong-About-Dinosaurs/dp/B003F76D88/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1278499339&sr=8-1-fkmr2#_

Reminds me of that book I never wrote, "Everything You Know About Dinosaurs Is Wrong"

the_monkey

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Design-Duane-T-Gish/dp/0890511659

I don't think this crap has a place in this forum.

the_monkey

So my books arrived today!!

amazing , had a flick through them and amazing how things have changed,
amount of new species alone discovered in the last 15 years ! , + Deinonoychus (sp?) had feathers!!! ,
Amazing , this is just after a quick flick through them, can't wait to get stuck in ...

the_monkey

Not that I can change it, but don't like the idea of these dinosaurs having feathers ??

I mean a Velociraptor with feathers ? come on .... he seems a pussy,
I doubt Micheal Crichton would have used them in Jurassic Park had he known!


Anyway , amazed how much has been learnt in the last 15 years since I last looked at a dino book ...

Galvasean

For all its faults Jurassic Park 3 did at least try to make the Velocirapors look a bit more closse to reality by changing the skull shape, adding the crest and some feather like quills.