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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
One of the best pop sci books I've read, genuinely loved it. An emotive and absorbing journey back into geologic time, from most recent to most ancient.
I really thought I would like this book but I couldn't get into it. I found it hard to see how everything fitted together and felt that there was neither a broad enough overview of each era, nor specific enough deep dives into particular species. Going backwards in time also didn't help - it made it hard to see the development and the changes from one era to another. The inclusion of maps was useful but they could have benefited from more labels, as the majority of the places mentioned in the text weren't marked. In addition, more illustrations would have definitely made it easier to imagine the fauna and thus the geological age.
For me, world-building is the linchpin of a captivating book, which is precisely why I'm drawn to narratives set in the past. Why invent make-believe realms when history itself offers a tapestry of wonders that are even more fantastic and magical? 'Otherlands' effortlessly transports you into bygone eras, unveiling landscapes that are both distant and hauntingly familiar.
Imagine a world before the proliferation of flowering plants, a time when the flora we now hold dear had yet to emerge. It's a challenge to picture a forest devoid of these familiar greens, but Thomas Halliday expertly peels back the layers of time, unveiling the secrets of these ancient ecosystems. He skillfully navigates through the prehistoric foliage, shedding light on how these plants coexisted with their contemporary counterparts while also highlighting their unique attributes.
Thomas Halliday proves himself not only as a gifted writer but also a masterful storyteller. This book is a compelling journey through the annals of Earth's history, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to both my friends and anyone seeking a remarkable literary adventure.
Imagine a world before the proliferation of flowering plants, a time when the flora we now hold dear had yet to emerge. It's a challenge to picture a forest devoid of these familiar greens, but Thomas Halliday expertly peels back the layers of time, unveiling the secrets of these ancient ecosystems. He skillfully navigates through the prehistoric foliage, shedding light on how these plants coexisted with their contemporary counterparts while also highlighting their unique attributes.
Thomas Halliday proves himself not only as a gifted writer but also a masterful storyteller. This book is a compelling journey through the annals of Earth's history, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to both my friends and anyone seeking a remarkable literary adventure.
Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds is a fascinating look at the history of life on this planet. The paths that life has taken to end up where we are now is a captivating testament to the demand for existence; and Halliday is a spectacular guide on that path.
Paleontology and geological study are some of the few subjects that will cause my nerd flag to fly high. It is easy to take for granted the different plants and animals here on earth; and for me learning about the creatures of our past helps me to stop and appreciate, even more, the ones we have here with us now. I hope what we start to treat our planet better because there may be a time when it’s not just prehistoric fossil records that are being studied.
This is the type of book that is so packed with information and description that it can be read multiple times and the reader will get something new out of it each time. It is well writing and engages the reader. Just Fascinating.
"In mapping the past, we can predict the future, and find the routes that avert disaster."
Paleontology and geological study are some of the few subjects that will cause my nerd flag to fly high. It is easy to take for granted the different plants and animals here on earth; and for me learning about the creatures of our past helps me to stop and appreciate, even more, the ones we have here with us now. I hope what we start to treat our planet better because there may be a time when it’s not just prehistoric fossil records that are being studied.
This is the type of book that is so packed with information and description that it can be read multiple times and the reader will get something new out of it each time. It is well writing and engages the reader. Just Fascinating.
"In mapping the past, we can predict the future, and find the routes that avert disaster."
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced