The Complete Dinosaur

by Bob Walters (Illustrator), Michael K. Brett-Surman (Editor), Thomas R. Holtz (Editor)

What do we know about dinosaurs, and how do we know it? How did dinosaurs grow, move, eat, and reproduce? Were they warm-blooded or cold-blooded? How intelligent were they? How are the various groups of dinosaurs related to each other, and to other kinds of living and extinct vertebrates? What can the study of dinosaurs tell us about the process of evolution? And why did typical dinosaurs become extinct? All of these questions, and more, are addressed in the new, expanded, second edition of The Complete Dinosaur. Written by many of the world's leading experts on the "fearfully great" reptiles, the book's 45 chapters cover what we have learned about dinosaurs, from the earliest discoveries of dinosaurs to the most recent controversies. Where scientific contention exists, the editors have let the experts agree to disagree. Copiously illustrated and accessible to all readers from the enthusiastic amateur to the most learned professional paleontologist, The Complete Dinosaur is a feast for serious dinosaur lovers everywhere.

Genres: Science, Palaeontology, Dinosaurs, Nonfiction, Animals, Biology, Reference

1128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as Bob Walters

See also:
Robert E. Walters, scientist
Robert E. Walters, for works on SQL

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is your imagined dinosaur world sort of like Jurassic Park? Or is your cup of tea more like The Land that Time Forgot? Unless you want your illusions shattered, skip this book.

This book is more for that YA or adult who obsesses about Dinosaurs and wants to know EVERYTHING that is known about those creatures from Earth’s past. The book is big; it is loaded with detail about Paleontology, Zoology, Geology, Biology, Anatomy, etc. It will provide a lot of information on “field work, site preparation and illustrating dinosaurs...” I am not the one to determine whether what it offers is beyond dispute, but it will be the most comprehensive dinosaur book you will own. I would really like to know if there is somebody who has read this book, as it is written, from start to finish. I consider it more like an encyclopedia that will be consulted as issues/questions arise.


My rating is more from ignorance than lack of delight.

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly remarkable book. I read every single page of text. This book is really a compilation of peer-reviewed literature reviews of different aspects of dinosaur paleontology. It seems that the editors solicited chapters from various professional paleontologists about just about all the subjects they felt were worth writing about (hence the book's title).

The content and quality of the chapters is highly variable as you might expect given the many authors. Some chapters seem to be written for a layman who may have a serious but amateur interest in dinosaurs. Other chapters appear to be written as rigorous academic literature reviews suitable for professional academics entering the field. At best, this book provides fascinating and accessible information that covers a level of detail beyond what is found in books about dinosaurs for the general casually interested public (e.g. the chapter on dinosaur brains). However, there are some chapters that devolve into lengthy catalogs of specific characteristics and/or species in paragraph format that surely can only be interesting as a reference to practicing researchers (e.g. the chapter on birds). Some chapters are written in simple English; others are filled with technical jargon with minimal explanation/definition.

Overall, this book is just too big to be really great from cover to cover. The fact that I read every single page of text in this book tells you I have a pretty high level of interest in dinosaurs, and I generally pride myself on not shying away from technical details. However, even I found this book geared to a more academic audience than myself in many chapters. Despite this, I appreciate this book for compiling so much dinosaur information in one volume. This book is probably best enjoyed as a reference book read in bits and pieces over months or years, but true dinosaur enthusiasts will surely find few other sources that put so much up-to-date information at their fingertips.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this work in conjunction with the Coursera class, Dino 101, offered by the University of Alberta. It proved to be quite the conversation piece in the staff lounge at work during the three months it took me to work my way through it. But wow! It is an incredible collection of knowledge spanning all presently known areas of dinosaur study and speculation, from the history of paleontology itself to dinosaur origins, anatomy, classification, behavior, disease and extinction. I would very much recommend The Complete Dinosaur to the adult armchair paleontologist who never quite grew out of the youthful passion for dinosaurs.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns out they were like big newts

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in the last hundred pages or so of this book, which has taken me awhile. It is very comprehensive. A fantastic book. Some of the chapters can be quite a challenge, as they focus on very specific aspects of Dinosaur biology and throw quite a bit of anatomical terminology at you. This is a book I will keep coming back to, as my understanding deepens. The chapters on muscle attachment and bone histology I found the most challenging and will have to reread this at a later date. Overall, if you are interested in Dinosaurs and paleontology, this is a marvelous book, well worth the money. Finally finished. Very useful book that I will return to in the future.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book about dinosaurs that has lots of pictures of skeletons and the critters mooching about in their habitats, maybe with a T-Rex and a Triceratops going fifteen rounds in a clearing, this is not it. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a compilation of scholarly articles by a variety of authors in an encyclopedic, textbook format, then you have come to the right place. Be aware, this distinction is not trivial. The Complete Dinosaur is an intensive read, footnoted to the extreme, with supporting references that could keep you reading about nothing else until you were fossilized. However, if that is what you were looking for, read on!

Featuring articles ranging from the origin of the word dinosaur, and surprise, it is not what you think, to an analysis of footprints; from feeding patterns to musculature; from brain size to excavation techniques, this volume has it all. Yes while there are some nice full color plates in the middle, including one of a Sauropod having a very bad day, this is primarily a technical reference work that is more suited to a serious student of paleontology than to a casual reader. The articles are in depth, frequently technical, and in some cases, difficult to read. Still, this is a rewarding look into the science behind these critters and is absolutely a springboard into more serious study.

You can read this book straight through or you can use it as a reference tome for background on various topics of interest. It is absolutely the most thorough compilation of research I have ever seen of the subject, as a layman, in my lifetime. It is not for the faint of heart, but is certainly rewarding if you know what you are getting into. If this is what you are seeking, then it is well worth the price.

[Miroslav · Rating 4 out of 5]

treba uznať, že kniha je vo svojom rozsahu veľmi detailne rozpracovaná a tematicky dobre rozkúskovaná, no na druhej strane, náruživý milovník dinosaurov v nej narazí na naozaj nezáživné kapitoly ako trebárs história paleontológie, skladba kostí či choroby dinosaurov (čo z celého rozsahu knihy odoberá celé stovky strán), plus čo bolo najprekvapujúcejšie, kniha nemá k svojej dobe vydania žiadny zoznam známych druhov, čo je asi najviac vyhľadávaná pasáž a takisto, treba zabudnúť na obrázky, pretože nejde o encyklopédiu. Uprostred knihy je niekoľko farebných obrázkov a pri klasifikácií základných rodín sú len kostrové nákresy slúžiace na poukázanie rozdielov...

I keď polovica knihy ma k téme prakticky nezaujímala, 4 hviezdy sú za komplexnosť knihy. Je tam všetko (okrem zoznamu druhov), čo by mohlo nadšenca zaujímať a zhrnúť 150 rokov paleontológie do jedinej knihy musela byť naozaj fuška, takže klobúk dolu :)

[Kitri Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive book on the science of dinosaurs. It covers everything from the obvious for the bones themselves to what is known of the environment that they lived. There is a lot on how technology has improved the ability to answer questions, as well as discussing what the limitations still are in figuring out what dinosaurs were like. Just be warned that it does get very technical at some points, so this is more of a book for more serious readers, then those with a casual interest.

The only part that I think needs a serious rethink is the sections that cover the history of the field. It is generally a very eurocentric, colonial view. Considering how much of impact Asia is now having on the field these days it would be nice to know more of their history with their fields of science. There is also a lot of reference to native cultures before modern science took over that might be more to include.

[David Catron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dense. Only of interest to the true fanatic, or dinosaur expert. Had to stop reading.

[Steve LaForest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of it way over my head - like reading research papers in a science journal. Occasional chapters were a bit easier to understand.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read, assumes you know nothing and when it says Complete, it means complete :-)