“Dinosaurs are nature’s special effects.”
When Sir Richard Owen coined the term ‘dinosaur’ (meaning terrible lizard) in 1842, little did he know the pandora’s box he was about to open. Having roamed across continents, both on land and in the air, for over 150 million years, dinosaurs continue to captivate and inspire. Beyond the colossal teeth and fantastical shapes highlighted in books like Jurassic Park, the world of dinosaurs holds a wealth of fascinating discoveries. Join us at What We Reading as we delve into the latest findings and unveil jaw-dropping revelations with the best dinosaur books every palaeontologist needs to explore!
Dinosaurs Rediscovered: The Scientific Revolution In Paleontology – Michael J. Benton
Over the past twenty years, the study of dinosaurs has been revolutionised. Thanks to advancements in the technologies available, discoveries are being made that radically change what we thought we knew about these incredible animals.
In Dinosaurs Rediscovered, Michael J. Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol, gathers all the latest findings and traces the history of the study of dinosaurs into one enthralling volume. From working out their colours and growth to the possibility of bringing them back to life one day, it is one of the best dinosaur books for getting to grips with our current understanding of prehistoric life.
The Rise And Fall Of The Dinosaurs: A New History Of A Lost World – Steve Brusatte
Hailed as the ‘Ultimate Dinosaur Biography’ by Scientific America and winner in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Science & Technology, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a comprehensive walkthrough of the age of the dinosaurs, and their eventual demise.
One of the most treasured palaeontologists of his day, Brusatte utilises all of his experience in the field to document how dinosaurs reached their peak in the Jurassic and Creactarous periods, chronicling the most exciting findings along the way. With 75 high-quality images, prehistoric world maps and a dinosaur family tree, it is a thoroughly researched and treasured account.
The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, And The Quest For Earth’s Ultimate Trophy – Paige Williams
All of our understanding of dinosaurs comes from the fossils that have been preserved from their reign. In The Dinosaur Artist New Yorker staff writer Paige Williams delves into the international fossil trade through the true story of one man’s attempt to sell a giant Gobi Desert dinosaur skeleton from Mongolia, a nation that has made the sale of its natural history illegal.
Through the escapades of Eric Prokopi and his discovery of the T. bataar skeleton, readers are given an eye-opening insight into the black market of dinosaur fossils and the palaeontologists who are increasingly finding themselves in fear for their field. The Prokopi case remains an unprecedented point in the history of palaeontology, art and museum artefacts and is masterfully brought to life by Williams.
My Beloved Brontosaurus: On The Road With Old Bones, New Science, And Our Favorite Dinosaurs – Brian Switek
From their gigantic sizes, terrifying claws and teeth to their seemingly otherworldly abilities, dinosaurs conjure up a sense of wonder for the natural world. In My Beloved Brontosaurus, certified dino fan Brian Switek taps into all of our childhood imaginations to breathe new life into the bones. From feathers on the T-rex to desolate excavation sites and museum halls to why dinosaurs disappeared, Switek delivers the book with an infectious enthusiasm anyone with an interest in dinosaurs is sure to relate to.
Weaving in the latest paleontological discoveries alongside personal anecdotes from his lifelong obsession with these prehistoric animals, My Beloved Brontosaurus is an endearing and essential guide into evolution, scientific progress and our standing in the natural world.
Check Out These Awesome Archaeology Books
How To Build A Dinosaur: Extinction Doesn’t Have To Be Forever – Jack Horner And James Gorman
Another one of the best dinosaur books for tackling the tantalising question of whether or not we may be able to bring these ancient animals back to life comes from Jack Horner and James Gorman in How to Build a Dinosaur.
Jack Horner is a renowned palaeontologist and advised Steven Spielberg on Jurassic Park. How to Build a Dinosaur is his attempt to bring palaeontology into the twenty-first century and open readers’ eyes to what might be in store. He lifts the lid on the stunning research and experiments that are being conducted in the pursuit of creating a dinosaur using extracted fossil molecules and a chicken embryo. Horner’s insights and enthusiasm are palpable throughout the pages, with this still standing as one of the best guides to evolutionary studies and their future.
Feathered Dinosaurs: The Origin Of Birds – John Long
At this point, most of us are aware of the close link between dinosaurs and birds. The shift from thinking from terrible lizard to cousin of the chicken has been one of the biggest developments in our understanding of dinosaurs since the 1970s.
In Feathered Dinosaurs, palaeontologist lifts the lid on these ground-breaking discoveries by taking readers into the heart of northern China and the collection of fossils that blew everything we previously thought we knew about dinosaurs out of the water. With more than 80 full-colour images readers are granted a full portrait of what these feathered dinosaurs looked like. Utilising all of his years of expertise in the field, Long analyses how these dinosaurs evolved and behaved, and visually traces the path between these magnificent animals and the birds in our world.
The Last Days Of The Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, And The Beginning Of Our World – Riley Black
One of the things that has made dinosaurs so captivating is the cataclysmic way they found themselves vanishing from the Earth. Backed by the latest fossil discoveries and hard facts, Riley Black guides readers through the single deadliest day for life on Earth in The Last Days of the Dinosaurs.
Told through a compelling narrative that feels more fantasy than scientific, Black sets the scene of Hell Creek, Montana, sixty-five million years ago. There, the lush verdure is suddenly replaced by fire as a seven-mile-wide asteroid crashes into the planet’s surface, resulting in a geographic wound over fifty miles in diameter. Over half the species of life on the planet, regardless of size, shape or diet, would find themselves extinct. Black’s guide not only takes readers on a stunning AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence-winning read takes readers through the hours, days and millions of years in the aftermath of the impact, but also explores how life’s resilience ensured some survival, gradually opening the door to new evolutionary opportunities and the world we see today.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
