The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World

Steve Brusatte traces the evolutionary trajectory of dinosaurs from their emergence as small, peripheral specialists in the Triassic period to their ultimate dominance and sudden extinction. The narrative moves through the Pangean supercontinent, detailing how the rise of the sauropods and the evolution of the tyrannosaurs were shaped by massive volcanic eruptions and shifting tectonic plates. Brusatte incorporates modern research methods, such as CT scanning and geochemical analysis, to explain how feathered species developed flight and how specific physiological traits allowed dinosaurs to survive the end-Permian mass extinction while other competitors perished.

This book serves readers interested in paleontology and deep history who want a technical yet accessible account of prehistoric life. It appeals to those who seek to understand the intersection of biology and geology over hundreds of millions of years. Readers finish the text with a clear understanding of the phylogenetic relationships between extinct reptiles and modern birds, alongside a detailed map of how global climate shifts dictated the survival or failure of dominant terrestrial lineages.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; a moderate read.

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