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savaging's review against another edition
4.0
This book shaped my sense of the world I move through. It helped me feel out the vastness of time behind and ahead, and reminded me that my species is so small. This is a bracing tonic.
I think that Brannen did a very good job of telling this deep history, and helping to share why it matters. I also felt myself recoiling a little bit because of his tone. It's a standard science journalism tone, which is clever and detached. Though I guess clever detachment can be useful when discussing so much death.
I think that Brannen did a very good job of telling this deep history, and helping to share why it matters. I also felt myself recoiling a little bit because of his tone. It's a standard science journalism tone, which is clever and detached. Though I guess clever detachment can be useful when discussing so much death.
coltonpugh's review against another edition
challenging
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Solid read. Author does a good job exploring past extinctions and discusses the causes. Definitely learned some interesting facts throughout the book. Could see this being a challenging read as the author has an academic background and has done his research. Book ends discussing the odds of a 6th "modern day" mass extinction where I felt he does a good job sharing facts as opposed to opinions.
mythicaltunes's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read nonfiction in a very long time, and the last time I did was for school. I found this book in a friend’s Books Read in 2023 List and was drawn by the title and summary. A really good and exhaustive look into the five mass extinction events that have occurred on Earth, and a speculative look into the future. Some of the language felt a little garbled to me in some places, but this book was otherwise very well written. I loved the author’s sense of humor and how he wrapped everything together. Despite the book being about mass deaths of the planet, the book ended on a hopeful note. A very enjoyable read.
codyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
[Me, just minding my own business and trying not think about the absolute nightmare that is the encroaching heat death of the planet and the existential crisis we as a species are propagating yet refuse to acknowledge]
Peter Brannen: Want to learn about geology?
Thanks Pete!
Peter Brannen: Want to learn about geology?
Thanks Pete!
angelic712's review against another edition
5.0
If you have even the remotest interest in science or dinosaurs, this book is for you. Though some of the subject matter is pretty deep into the PHD level, the way it is presented is attainable for the average human so no additional textbooks are required in order to complete your journey through the book. That being said, I must admit to reading it with Google Images at hand because I cannot continue without getting a vision of whatever the heck an Isotelus Rex or a Parasaurolophus looks like!