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The Story of the Mammals in 25 Discoveries: Amazing Fossils and the People Who Found Them
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26544 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 14, 2026
About the author
Donald R. Prothero
44 books149 followersDonald 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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dr. Prothero is a very intelligent and capable scientist. While reading, I learned interesting information about early mammals, including facts about their anatomy, evolution, and fossils. If this book focused on his strengths, I would have gladly rated five stars and had a welcome resource for my classroom library. The title is pure nostalgia bait for those of us who grew up reading animal fact books, and high quality resources on evolution are always welcome. Unfortunately, the rest of the book requires him to also write about scientists, discoverers, and people.
From the first chapter, the book is haunted by a general lack of representation and the portrayal of different racial and ethnic groups. In a five hundred page book, covering 25 distinct discovery categories, there is not a solid focus on a single female paleontologist. At best, there are brief mentions of graduate students or the spouses of various famous men. In one particularly memorable case, a scientist who discovered a species is described simply as his "friend's wife, Gail," without ever mentioning her full name in text. The absence of women, however, feels weirdly passive in comparison to ethnic and racial biases.
Representation of non-white scientists people is either scant, biased or ultimately connects back to the legacy of a white man. The presence of antiquated terms like the 'natives were restless' and 'on the warpath' are jarring and repeated. The positioning of the quote that starts the chapter on bison implies Native Americans have been killed off and are no longer their true selves without the buffalo as opposed to be an expression of grief and anger. This feels pointed when we lack an explicit mention of the American government's project of attempting extinction in the effort of genocide. Especially when we do get an intense description the most extreme hunting methods for buffalo used by plains groups with equal focus to those of the white settlers. The book is not better when referring to other marginalized groups. The mention of aboriginal people taking part in gathering fossils in Australia was brief and inappropriate. Every opportunity is taken to describe various indigenous groups potentially killing off various species, especially if it might soften the destruction done by colonial projects. The exceptions to this pattern of poor representation only exist where individuals or groups bring renown to a white male scientist.
The apologia in the book is strong. The description of the Bone Wars contains notes of 'boys will be boys' at a level I cannot fathom. One of the most destructive and self-serving battles of scientific egos to ever capture public attention is labeled as excusable because it did capture public attention. The fact that it resulted in a tangled and inaccurate mess of various evolutionary trees is also justified because it made people pay attention to paleontology. In a similar vein, a particularly ineffective scientist is worthwhile because of his clout and ability to fundraise, despite his being a racist and eugenicist who stole credit for the work of far better scientists. Never mind the extensive social impacts caused by a culture of bigoted scientists.
My frustration is so strong because I genuinely believe the author is capable of better. He gives credit to the value of nonacademic workers when the subject is a white layman digging up coastal fossils in brief windows of availability. Surely that lens could have been upon the Chinese farmers who helped dig up historically important fossils? And he understands the importance of evolving language. After all, there is an intense commentary about people not using the most up to date terminology for the complicated trees of early horses. (Dismissing that unclear communication and outdated text might play a factor.) Such people are described as lazy and unwilling to change. It leaves with the question of whether he unable to live to his own standards when it comes to terminology and ideology that harms living people?
Understanding evolution is hugely important to our ongoing survival as humans. It is just as important to understand and recognize the ways in which it has been used to justify harm to a variety of oppressed groups. That is simply never part of the discussion in this work beyond the vaguest hints. Given the language and poor representation, I cannot in good conscience keep this book in my classroom or offer it any kind of endorsement. Information about how different teeth structures help us determine diets of various extinct animals or how faux thumbs evolved separately in two different pandas species is not enough to offset the potential harm.
Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the ARC of this book.
Note: Due to modifications of text to address some concerns, both rating and review have been edited.
From the first chapter, the book is haunted by a general lack of representation and the portrayal of different racial and ethnic groups. In a five hundred page book, covering 25 distinct discovery categories, there is not a solid focus on a single female paleontologist. At best, there are brief mentions of graduate students or the spouses of various famous men. In one particularly memorable case, a scientist who discovered a species is described simply as his "friend's wife, Gail," without ever mentioning her full name in text. The absence of women, however, feels weirdly passive in comparison to ethnic and racial biases.
Representation of non-white scientists people is either scant, biased or ultimately connects back to the legacy of a white man. The presence of antiquated terms like the 'natives were restless' and 'on the warpath' are jarring and repeated. The positioning of the quote that starts the chapter on bison implies Native Americans have been killed off and are no longer their true selves without the buffalo as opposed to be an expression of grief and anger. This feels pointed when we lack an explicit mention of the American government's project of attempting extinction in the effort of genocide. Especially when we do get an intense description the most extreme hunting methods for buffalo used by plains groups with equal focus to those of the white settlers. The book is not better when referring to other marginalized groups. The mention of aboriginal people taking part in gathering fossils in Australia was brief and inappropriate. Every opportunity is taken to describe various indigenous groups potentially killing off various species, especially if it might soften the destruction done by colonial projects. The exceptions to this pattern of poor representation only exist where individuals or groups bring renown to a white male scientist.
The apologia in the book is strong. The description of the Bone Wars contains notes of 'boys will be boys' at a level I cannot fathom. One of the most destructive and self-serving battles of scientific egos to ever capture public attention is labeled as excusable because it did capture public attention. The fact that it resulted in a tangled and inaccurate mess of various evolutionary trees is also justified because it made people pay attention to paleontology. In a similar vein, a particularly ineffective scientist is worthwhile because of his clout and ability to fundraise, despite his being a racist and eugenicist who stole credit for the work of far better scientists. Never mind the extensive social impacts caused by a culture of bigoted scientists.
My frustration is so strong because I genuinely believe the author is capable of better. He gives credit to the value of nonacademic workers when the subject is a white layman digging up coastal fossils in brief windows of availability. Surely that lens could have been upon the Chinese farmers who helped dig up historically important fossils? And he understands the importance of evolving language. After all, there is an intense commentary about people not using the most up to date terminology for the complicated trees of early horses. (Dismissing that unclear communication and outdated text might play a factor.) Such people are described as lazy and unwilling to change. It leaves with the question of whether he unable to live to his own standards when it comes to terminology and ideology that harms living people?
Understanding evolution is hugely important to our ongoing survival as humans. It is just as important to understand and recognize the ways in which it has been used to justify harm to a variety of oppressed groups. That is simply never part of the discussion in this work beyond the vaguest hints. Given the language and poor representation, I cannot in good conscience keep this book in my classroom or offer it any kind of endorsement. Information about how different teeth structures help us determine diets of various extinct animals or how faux thumbs evolved separately in two different pandas species is not enough to offset the potential harm.
Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the ARC of this book.
Note: Due to modifications of text to address some concerns, both rating and review have been edited.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for an ARC of Prothero's latest book.
4.5/5 stars.
I have read few of Prothero's other books, as well as his textbook on an Introduction to Paleontology being used for my invertebrate paleontology class, and I always learn something new. Now, I am an employed paleontologist at a museum, though I specialize in invertebrates and do not have much knowledge on mammals. Many of the mammals and/or mammal groups written about in this are featured in our museum, so it was especially helpful to read to give me more of an understanding of these creatures.
Dr. Prothero discusses amazing mammal fossil discoveries, as well as the scientists or citizens who found them. Many of these discoveries were made by famous paleontologists, showcasing how unfortunately exclusive the field was historically. Some of these men were not the best people (that's an understatement when it comes to Fairfield Osborn, but they are responsible for furthering our understanding of these ancient creatures. Once does wish such people were never involved in the field, but as I'm always told... there are quite some "bold" and "controversial" personalities in this field (which is again... a serious understatement if you know anything about this field).
Despite the lack of diversity among the famous paleontologists of the past, they are credited with discovering fascinating animals. Well-known animals are mentioned in this book alongside those not as known. Going down the chapter list of well-knowns (extinct and extant), we see mastodons and mammoths, giant ground sloths, platypus, giant kangaroos, wombats, horses, buffalo, deer and antelope, whales, sea cows, bears, dire wolves, sabertoothed cats, and the early apes. Little-known creatures that are featured do resemble their present-day relatives, just with some differences (or many): short-necked giraffes, camels without their humps, rhinos without horns (and wooly rhinos), beavers the size of bears, and whales with legs. We also do see animals that are nothing like we'd think of today: Chalicotherium which looks like a horse mixed with some sort of great ape, Uintatherium which is something with just too many horns for my liking, and Entelodonts which are pigs from literal hell.
This was well written, well researched, and for anyone who wishes to learn more, Prothero as always has included his citations for each chapter. This is a great book for anyone who wishes to learn more about the evolution and taxonomy of mammals. Many of the illustrations you'll get a kick out of as well (I'm talking about you, chapter on Sirenians).
4.5/5 stars.
I have read few of Prothero's other books, as well as his textbook on an Introduction to Paleontology being used for my invertebrate paleontology class, and I always learn something new. Now, I am an employed paleontologist at a museum, though I specialize in invertebrates and do not have much knowledge on mammals. Many of the mammals and/or mammal groups written about in this are featured in our museum, so it was especially helpful to read to give me more of an understanding of these creatures.
Dr. Prothero discusses amazing mammal fossil discoveries, as well as the scientists or citizens who found them. Many of these discoveries were made by famous paleontologists, showcasing how unfortunately exclusive the field was historically. Some of these men were not the best people (that's an understatement when it comes to Fairfield Osborn, but they are responsible for furthering our understanding of these ancient creatures. Once does wish such people were never involved in the field, but as I'm always told... there are quite some "bold" and "controversial" personalities in this field (which is again... a serious understatement if you know anything about this field).
Despite the lack of diversity among the famous paleontologists of the past, they are credited with discovering fascinating animals. Well-known animals are mentioned in this book alongside those not as known. Going down the chapter list of well-knowns (extinct and extant), we see mastodons and mammoths, giant ground sloths, platypus, giant kangaroos, wombats, horses, buffalo, deer and antelope, whales, sea cows, bears, dire wolves, sabertoothed cats, and the early apes. Little-known creatures that are featured do resemble their present-day relatives, just with some differences (or many): short-necked giraffes, camels without their humps, rhinos without horns (and wooly rhinos), beavers the size of bears, and whales with legs. We also do see animals that are nothing like we'd think of today: Chalicotherium which looks like a horse mixed with some sort of great ape, Uintatherium which is something with just too many horns for my liking, and Entelodonts which are pigs from literal hell.
This was well written, well researched, and for anyone who wishes to learn more, Prothero as always has included his citations for each chapter. This is a great book for anyone who wishes to learn more about the evolution and taxonomy of mammals. Many of the illustrations you'll get a kick out of as well (I'm talking about you, chapter on Sirenians).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.
This was an extremely fascinating read, with lots of insight into fossil discoveries, how they've been interpreted throughout history, and the people who discovered them. The illustrations with their size in relation to modern humans was very useful in helping the reader to understand just how large some of these now extinct mammals were.
The parallels between how people at the time of discovery interpreted them compared to how they're viewed in modern day was really interesting. I like that people in the past, who could only work with the resources and information avaliable to them, weren't criticised for their incorrect conclusions, unless they stemmed from deliberate ignorance, racism, imperialism, or a stubborness to cling to ideas that had already been disproven.
Although not the focus of the book, I like how it showed the changing way that Palentologists view and interact with the fossils they find and how our understanding of the role that these animals may have played in indiginous peoples' lives.
Overall, this was such a fascinating read and really useful for understanding the history of mammals.
This was an extremely fascinating read, with lots of insight into fossil discoveries, how they've been interpreted throughout history, and the people who discovered them. The illustrations with their size in relation to modern humans was very useful in helping the reader to understand just how large some of these now extinct mammals were.
The parallels between how people at the time of discovery interpreted them compared to how they're viewed in modern day was really interesting. I like that people in the past, who could only work with the resources and information avaliable to them, weren't criticised for their incorrect conclusions, unless they stemmed from deliberate ignorance, racism, imperialism, or a stubborness to cling to ideas that had already been disproven.
Although not the focus of the book, I like how it showed the changing way that Palentologists view and interact with the fossils they find and how our understanding of the role that these animals may have played in indiginous peoples' lives.
Overall, this was such a fascinating read and really useful for understanding the history of mammals.
May 12, 2026
Reviewing this one is not an easy task - nor was reading it. I didn't enjoy it, but I can recognise that a lot of research went into it and it's well constructed and a good choice for those who are looking for what this book offers.
I'll admit, I might've put too much stock on the section of the blurb that promised "opening a window onto the worlds of some of the most incredible and peculiar animals that ever lived", and underestimated the amount of information about "the palaeontologists who unraveled them". This was 100% a case of tarnished expectations. I enjoyed the bits about the animals, their anatomy and supposed behaviours, where and in what condition their fossils were found, anything around that, really. However, I felt like there was a lot more focus on the people involved in the process, which just doesn't interest me as much.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
I'll admit, I might've put too much stock on the section of the blurb that promised "opening a window onto the worlds of some of the most incredible and peculiar animals that ever lived", and underestimated the amount of information about "the palaeontologists who unraveled them". This was 100% a case of tarnished expectations. I enjoyed the bits about the animals, their anatomy and supposed behaviours, where and in what condition their fossils were found, anything around that, really. However, I felt like there was a lot more focus on the people involved in the process, which just doesn't interest me as much.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well-worth reading
I enjoyed this book. The information on the fossils was interesting, with a lot of great supporting visuals, especially the reconstruction of the extinct animals. I enjoyed the author’s journey and the biographical information. The author more than adequately communicated his enthusiasm for the material, to the point where to me, he sometimes provided too much information. I liked the quotes that introduced all the chapters and some of the nods to the reader. This book was well worth reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the advance reader copy.
I enjoyed this book. The information on the fossils was interesting, with a lot of great supporting visuals, especially the reconstruction of the extinct animals. I enjoyed the author’s journey and the biographical information. The author more than adequately communicated his enthusiasm for the material, to the point where to me, he sometimes provided too much information. I liked the quotes that introduced all the chapters and some of the nods to the reader. This book was well worth reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the advance reader copy.
April 8, 2026
Truly incredible book. I had no idea that so many prehistoric mammals existed and how everything fit together. Just extraordinary research and written in such a readable and enjoyable way.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews