The rise and fall of the dinosaurs [eBook - NC Digital Library] : A New History of a Lost World

A sweeping and groundbreaking history of the age of dinosaurs, from one of our finest young scientists The dinosaurs. 66 million years ago, the Earth's most fearsome and spectacular creatures vanished. Today their extraordinary true story remains one of our planet's great mysteries. In this stunning narrative spanning more than 200 million years, Steve Brusatte, a young American paleontologist who has emerged as one of the foremost stars of the field—discovering ten new species and leading groundbreaking scientific studies and fieldwork—masterfully tells the complete, surprising, and new history of the dinosaurs, drawing on cutting-edge science to dramatically bring to life their lost world and illuminate their enigmatic origins, spectacular flourishing, astonishing diversity, cataclysmic extinction, and startling living legacy. Captivating and revelatory, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a book for the ages. Brusatte traces... "THE ULTIMATE DINOSAUR BIOGRAPHY," hails Scientific American: A thrilling new history of the age of dinosaurs, from one of our finest young scientists. "A masterpiece of science writing." -Washington Post A New York Times Bestseller • Goodreads Choice Awards Winner • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Smithsonian, Science Friday, The Times (London), Popular Mechanics, Science News, and more. "This is scientific storytelling at its most visceral, striding with the beasts through their Triassic dawn, Jurassic dominance, and abrupt demise in the Cretaceous." -Nature The dinosaurs. Sixty-six million years ago, the Earth's most fearsome creatures vanished. Today they remain one of our planet's great mysteries. Now The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs reveals their extraordinary, 200-million-year-long story as never before. In this captivating narrative (enlivened with more than seventy original illustrations and photographs), Steve Brusatte, a young American paleontologist who has emerged as one of the foremost stars of the field-naming fifteen new species and leading groundbreaking scientific studies and fieldwork-masterfully tells the complete, surprising, and new history of the dinosaurs, drawing on cutting-edge science to dramatically bring to life their lost world and illuminate their enigmatic origins, spectacular flourishing, astonishing diversity, cataclysmic extinction, and startling living legacy. Captivating and revelatory, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a book for the ages. Brusatte traces the evolution of dinosaurs from their inauspicious start as small shadow dwellers-themselves the beneficiaries of a mass extinction caused by volcanic eruptions at the beginning of the Triassic period-into the dominant array of species every wide-eyed child memorizes today, T. rex, Triceratops, Brontosaurus, and more. This gifted scientist and writer re-creates the dinosaurs' peak during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, when thousands of species thrived, and winged and feathered dinosaurs, the prehistoric ancestors of modern birds, emerged. The story continues to the end of the Cretaceous period, when a giant asteroid or comet struck the planet and nearly every dinosaur species (but not all) died out, in the most extraordinary extinction event in earth's history, one full of lessons for today as we confront a "sixth extinction." Brusatte also recalls compelling stories from his globe-trotting expeditions during one of the most exciting eras in dinosaur research-which he calls "a new golden age of discovery"-and offers thrilling accounts of some of the remarkable findings he and his colleagues have made, including primitive human-sized tyrannosaurs; monstrous carnivores even larger than T. rex; and paradigm-shifting feathered raptors from China. An electrifying scientific history that unearths the dinosaurs' epic saga, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs will be a definitive and treasured account for decades to come. Includes 75 images, world maps of the prehistoric earth, and a dinosaur family tree A Sweeping Narrative Scientific History That Tells The Epic Story Of The Dinosaurs, Examining Their Origins, Their Habitats, Their Extinction, And Their Living Legacy. Print Run 75,000. The Dinosaurs. Sixty-six Million Years Ago, The Earth's Most Fearsome Creatures Vanished. Today They Remain One Of Our Planet's Great Mysteries. Now The Rise And Fall Of The Dinosaurs Reveals Their Extraordinary, 200-million-year-long Story As Never Before. In This Captivating Narrative, Steve Brusatte, A Young American Paleontologist Who Has Emerged As One Of The Foremost Stars Of The Field--naming Fifteen New Species And Leading Groundbreaking Fieldwork--masterfully Tells The Complete, Surprising, And New History Of The Dinosaurs, Drawing On Cutting-edge Science To Dramatically Bring To Life Their Lost World And Illuminate Their Enigmatic Origins, Spectacular Flourishing, Astonishing Diversity, Cataclysmic Extinction, And Startling Living Legacy. Brusatte Traces The Evolution Of Dinosaurs From Their Inauspicious Start As Small Shadow Dwellers--themselves The Beneficiaries Of A Mass Extinction Caused By Volcanic Eruptions At The Beginning Of The Triassic Period--into The Dominant Array Of Species Every Wide-eyed Child Memorizes Today, T. Rex, Triceratops, Brontosaurus, And More. He Re-creates The Dinosaurs' Peak During The Jurassic And Cretaceous Periods, When Thousands Of Species Thrived, And Winged And Feathered Dinosaurs, The Prehistoric Ancestors Of Modern Birds, Emerged. The Story Continues To The End Of The Cretaceous, When A Giant Asteroid Or Comet Struck The Planet And Nearly Every Dinosaur Species (but Not All) Died Out, In The Most Extraordinary Extinction Event In Earth's History, One Full Of Lessons For Today As We Confront A 'sixth Extinction.' Brusatte Also Recalls Compelling Stories From His Globe-trotting Expeditions During One Of The Most Exciting Eras In Dinosaur Research--which He Calls 'a New Golden Age Of Discovery'--and Offers Thrilling Accounts Of Some Of The Remarkable Findings He And His Colleagues Have Made, Including Primitive Human-sized Tyrannosaurs; Monstrous Carnivores Even Larger Than T. Rex; And Paradigm-shifting Feathered Raptors. An Electrifying Scientific History That Unearths The Dinosaurs' Epic Saga, The Rise And Fall Of The Dinosaurs Will Be A Definitive And Treasured Account For Decades To Come.--dust Jacket. Timeline Of The Age Of Dinosaurs -- Dinosaur Family Tree -- World Maps Of The Prehistoric Earth -- Prologue: The Golden Age Of Discovery -- The Dawn Of The Dinosaurs -- Dinosaurs Rise Up -- Dinosaurs Become Dominant -- Dinosaurs And Drifting Continents -- The Tyrant Dinosaurs -- The King Of The Dinosaurs -- Dinosaurs At The Top Of Their Game -- Dinosaurs Take Flight -- Dinosaurs Die Out -- Epilogue: After The Dinosaurs. Steve Brusatte. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. New York Times Bestseller"THE ULTIMATE DINOSAUR BIOGRAPHY," hails Scientific American: A sweeping and revelatory new history of the age of dinosaurs, from one of our finest young scientists."This is scientific storytelling at its most visceral, striding with the beasts through their Triassic dawn, Jurassic dominance, and abrupt demise in the Cretaceous." — NatureThe dinosaurs. Sixty-six million years ago, the Earth's most fearsome creatures vanished. Today they remain one of our planet's great mysteries. Now The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs reveals their extraordinary, 200-million-year-long story as never before.In this captivating narrative (enlivened with more than seventy original illustrations and photographs), Steve Brusatte, a young American paleontologist who has emerged as one of the foremost stars of the field—naming fifteen new species and leading groundbreaking scientific studies and fieldwork—masterfully tells the complete, surprising, and new history of the dinosaurs, drawing on cutting-edge science to dramatically bring to life their lost world and illuminate their enigmatic origins, spectacular flourishing, astonishing diversity, cataclysmic extinction, and startling living legacy. Captivating and revelatory, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a book for the ages.Brusatte traces the evolution of dinosaurs from their inauspicious start as small shadow dwellers—themselves the beneficiaries of a mass extinction caused by volcanic eruptions at the beginning of the Triassic period—into the dominant array of species every wide-eyed child memorizes today, T. rex, Triceratops, Brontosaurus, and more. This gifted scientist and writer re-creates the dinosaurs' peak during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, when thousands of species thrived, and winged and feathered dinosaurs, the prehistoric ancestors of modern birds, emerged. The story continues to the end of the Cretaceous period, when a giant asteroid or comet struck the planet and nearly every dinosaur species (but not all) died out, in the most extraordinary extinction event in earth's history, one full of lessons for today as we confront a "sixth extinction."Brusatte also recalls compelling stories from his globe-trotting expeditions during one of the most exciting eras in dinosaur research—which he calls "a new golden age of discovery"—and offers thrilling accounts of some of the remarkable findings he and his colleagues have made, including primitive human-sized tyrannosaurs; monstrous carnivores even larger than T. rex; and paradigm-shifting feathered raptors from China.An electrifying scientific history that unearths the dinosaurs' epic saga, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs will be a definitive and treasured account for decades to come