Bringing Fossils To Life: An Introduction To Paleobiology

by Donald R. Prothero

This is the first text to combine both paleontology and paleobiology. Traditional textbooks treat these separately, despite the recent trend to combine them in teaching. It bridges the gap between purely theoretical paleobiology and purely descriptive invertebrate paleontology books. The text is targeted at undergraduate geology and biology majors, with the emphasis on organisms, rather than dead objects to be described and catalogued. Current ideas from modern biology, ecology, population genetics, and many other concepts will be applied to the study of the fossil record.

Genres: Science, Palaeontology, Geology, Evolution, Nonfiction, Biology, Reference

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Donald R. Prothero is a Professor of Geology at Occidental College and Lecturer in Geobiology at the California Institute of Technology. He teaches Physical and Historical Geology, Sedimentary Geology, and Paleontology. His specialties are mammalian paleontology and magnetic stratigraphy of the Cenozoic. His current research focuses on the dating of the climatic changes that occurred between 30 and 40 million years ago, using the technique of magnetic stratigraphy. Dr. Prothero has been a Guggenheim and NSF Fellow, a Fellow of the Linnean Society, and in 1991 received the Schuchert Award of the Paleontological Society for outstanding paleontologist under the age of 40, the same award won by the renowned paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould. He has authored or co-edited numerous books, including Horns, Tusks, Hooves and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals, the best-selling textbook from McGraw-Hill, Evolution of the Earth, Evolution: What the Fossils Say & Why it Matters, Bringing Fossils to Life, After the Dinosaurs, and the textbook Sedimentary Geology. He is also a Technical Editor of the Journal of Paleontology.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty technical but a good introductory text book. NOT an "Our Friends the Dinosaurs" sort of book.

[Anca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never knew paleontology could be so fascinating!
I love broad overview science books - since I study aging, a systemic phenomenon as well - and this book has already given me many insights for my research.
I'll write a more detailed review when I'll finish the book. Hopefully soon!

[MNGooner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction to the world of Paleobiology.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome textbook. It was readable, interesting, and informative. If you're just interested in learning about the topic, it would be a great resource to have.