Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
A long form ode to paleontology. Lyrical, exquisite, evocative, beautifully narrated. First book I have ever wanted to own as a digital and as a hard copy and as an audiobook. I am desperate for illustrations. The descriptions of each creature were so thorough, I could almost picture them, but I REALLY want to see the fossils or drawings.
An epic, fantastic, truly brilliant look at Earth's history.
I was a little confused at first the journey started at the top of the layer cake, so to speak, and went back in time, rather than starting ancient and working forwards, but it makes sense once you get used it.
The narration is so soothing it's easy to forget it's very hard science!
10000% recommend.
An epic, fantastic, truly brilliant look at Earth's history.
I was a little confused at first the journey started at the top of the layer cake, so to speak, and went back in time, rather than starting ancient and working forwards, but it makes sense once you get used it.
The narration is so soothing it's easy to forget it's very hard science!
10000% recommend.
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
When I decide what I'm going to say about the book half way through, and the rest of it doesn't change my mind, I know it's a 3 stars. This was one of those! Not a bad book at all: fluid, well written, paints beautiful pictures, informs with great attention to detail, etc. It's interesting and also chock full of information.
Where it went "wrong" for me is...it's boring. Even though each "time period" explored is different by definition, the format of the book was repetitive and, since at the end of the day this is all speculation (though obviously well supported by the fossil record) it got a little too whimsical for me. I always wanted to know more about how and why these conclusions were drawn, rather than just being immersed in "what the world looked like." I also did not like that the author chose to just "pick" a theory when several were scientifically possible; I would have preferred he briefly outline the theories and then explain why he was settling on the one he was. Instead, the way he told the stories made what he was saying come off as fact, even though he briefly warned against it in the forward.
It was definitely highly intelligent and full of information, but it didn't keep my attention very well.
Where it went "wrong" for me is...it's boring. Even though each "time period" explored is different by definition, the format of the book was repetitive and, since at the end of the day this is all speculation (though obviously well supported by the fossil record) it got a little too whimsical for me. I always wanted to know more about how and why these conclusions were drawn, rather than just being immersed in "what the world looked like." I also did not like that the author chose to just "pick" a theory when several were scientifically possible; I would have preferred he briefly outline the theories and then explain why he was settling on the one he was. Instead, the way he told the stories made what he was saying come off as fact, even though he briefly warned against it in the forward.
It was definitely highly intelligent and full of information, but it didn't keep my attention very well.
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This is one of the most fascinating and well written book about the story of flora and fauna through the ages I've ever read.
I found it riveting and gripping, informative and well researched. It's full of descriptions that made me feel like I was watching a movie, and food for thought as there's references to our current climate crisis.
It was like travelling in time and seeing how the planet and its inhabitants evolved.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I found it riveting and gripping, informative and well researched. It's full of descriptions that made me feel like I was watching a movie, and food for thought as there's references to our current climate crisis.
It was like travelling in time and seeing how the planet and its inhabitants evolved.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine