Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales: Fossils of Washington State

by Elizabeth A. Nesbitt, David B. Williams

From trilobites near the Idaho border and primitive horses on the Columbia Plateau to giant bird tracks near Bellingham and curious bear-like beasts on the Olympic Peninsula, fossils across Washington State are filled with clues of past life on Earth. With abundant and well-exposed rock layers, the state has fossils dating from Ice Age mammals only 12,000 years old back to marine invertebrates more than 500 million years old.

In Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales, renowned paleontologist Elizabeth A. Nesbitt teams up with popular science writer David B. Williams to offer a fascinating, richly illustrated tour through more than a half billion years of natural history. Following an introduction to key concepts, twenty-four profiles―each featuring a unique plant, animal, or environment―tell the incredible stories of individual fossils, many of which are on display in Washington museums. The spectacular paleontology of Washington is brought to life with details of the fossils' discovery and extraction, their place in geological time, and the insights they provide into contemporary issues like climate change and species extinction.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 / 5.0

Kind of disjointed and a bit too technical.

Desperately needed maps.

[David P. Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy to read book for anyone interested in PNW fossils and although it focuses on Washington State it has much for those who live in Oregon (especially those as along the Columbia River). The authors include many stories of the avocational contribution as well as the most up to date research. I appreciate how frequently they note how much is still unknown and the current states of speculative thinking, reversals of once accepted knowledge and the encouragement for participation with paleontology. This book was one of bought anticipating I would loan it students interested in biodiversity & climate change and it’s a winner.

[wes moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'll go to the Burke museum, gosh! What a fun book that doesn't get boring when talking about a subject many find tedious. I especially find the giant sloth delightful, and plan to meet the skeleton as soon as possible. Always appreciate whale content, so I also appreciated that. Deeply grateful for the work of the students and scientists whose study contributed to this book.

[Kee Onn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about local Washington fossils and how it informed local geologists about the states of lands past in the Pacific Northwest. I just wish the storytelling was more engaging rather than an info dump. It's still a great and timely read though, since the UW Program for Climate Change's summer theme is "Paleoclimate and the future".

[Matt Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow so good! I loved all the color photos in this book it really added to the experience of reading it, actually seeing the fossils and artistic renditions of ancient animals. I especially enjoyed the parts on whales and mammoths, so crazy thinking how mammoth tusks have been found in downtown Seattle.

[Darlene Granberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Now I need a trip to the various locales, museums, and repositories of the fossils. And it wasn't just mammals, included plants, nautiloids, clams, etc. who knew we had sloths in Washington! #burkemuseum

[Karen Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read about the fossils of Washington State. Good illustrations and set in order from present to earliest. I have lisened to both authors and they are knowledgeable and very interesting.