Fossils: The Essential Guide
© Natural History Museum
Fossils: The Essential Guide is just that – a key handbook providing a fascinating introduction to the world of ancient life. As a teacher of Geology, I am always on the lookout for books that I can recommend to students that will extend their learning but not baffle them with overly complicated terminology. This book covers all the essentials in a general tome aimed at the scientifically literate layperson and explains things in a way that is entertaining, never patronising. The author has ensured that the broadest range of flora and fauna are covered, from the very earliest fossils, right through to trace fossils (and a well put together section on pseudo-fossils). The images are a major draw for the book, with each one carefully chosen to enhance the story being told. As with other books I have seen from the Natural History Museum, the quality of reproduction is exceptionally high. There is a generous use of colour throughout, with excellent photograph choices and figure reproductions that draw the reader in.
I was especially pleased to see that plant fossils and trace fossils have been given equal weighting. As essential components of ecosystems, they are often overlooked in popular palaeontology books, so their inclusion and the level of detail ascribed to their importance is to be highly commended. These sections alone make the book worthwhile, with the obvious passion of the author shining through. Those inspired will be left with a firm foundation of the subject area and are encouraged to delve further into topics through a helpful list of titles at the end of the guide.
The only criticism I have is the lack of a glossary. This feature could help to extend the readership of the book and allow those who don’t possess a scientific background to get more from it. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend the book and hope many more will enjoy it just as much as I did.
Reviewed by Gordon Neighbour
DETAILS
By: Paul D. Taylor (2024), Natural History Museum, 256 pp. (hbk)
ISBN: 9780565095635
Price: £20.00 www.nhmshop.co.uk
