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Introducing PalaeontologyA Guide to Ancient LifePublished by: Dunedin Academic PressLtd. [www.dunedinacademicpress.co.uk]ISBN: 978-1-906716-15-8Date: 2010, 152 pagesPrice: £9.99 (stg), paperbackby Patrick N. Wyse JacksonBook review by David Harper 1This is the third in a short series ofconcise introductions to aspects ofthe geosciences published by DunedinAcademic Press. Those already published,on geology (2 nd edition, see below))and volcanology, are clearly written andlavishly illustrated. This new addition tothe stable, Introducing Palaeontology, is noexception. Patrick Wyse Jackson in some150 pages and 100 figures has attemptedto summarize the history of life on ourplanet, a journey that stretches back almostfour billion years, underpinning the planet’sbiodiversity today of some 20 millionspecies. The book is logically arranged.The first part, some 50 pages, is devotedto concepts such as taxonomy, the use offossils in, for example, biostratigraphy andthe reconstruction of ancient climates andenvironments; the occurrence and significanceof exceptionally-preserved biotas ofthe fossil Lagerstätten is a particular focus.The history of life is reviewed and the mainextinction events exposed. Particularlyuseful are the sections of the collectionand study of fossils and a collectors’ codeof conduct. The second part, the bulk of thebook, addresses the 18 main groups thatcharacterize the fossil record; everythingfrom algae and the vascular plants to dinosaursand human evolution is tackled inan engaging style ably supported by JohnMurray’s clear and didactic illustrations.About three pages are devoted to eachgroup, enough to introduce the morphology,distribution and ecology of each withessential terminology that can be pursuedfurther in a comprehensive glossary.There is, however, already a range ofexcellent textbooks in palaeontology. Isthere need for yet another? Well, yes therealways is a need for another, particularlyone that is ambitious, as well as competentand well focused. This book is aimedat both the general public and studentstaking introductory courses in palaeontology.Wyse Jackson admirably crosses thisdivide between an informed coffee tablebook and an academic text, with a lucidand informative narrative, illustrations thatreally jump from the page and a core ofvery useful information for the amateurand professional alike. One slight irritationis the lack of scales on the photographs;microscopic radiolarians, for example,appearing at almost the same size as dinosaurfootprints. Some of these data can begleaned from the text but scale bars wouldbe an advantage. I would recommend thisas one of the best introductory texts on thesubject around at present and no doubt itsfine illustrations will soon begin to punctuatemany introductory courses in ourscience.Book reviewIntroducing GeologyA Guide to the World of Rocksby Graham ParkReview by David Harper 1Published by: Dunedin Academic PressLtd. [www.dunedinacademicpress.co.uk]ISBN: 978-1-906716-21-9Date: 2010, 134 pagesPrice: £9.99 (stg), paperbackposition and history of our planet. In hissecond edition, some four years later, thetext has been revised, many of the linedrawings redrafted and a short list of referencesto the literature and useful web linksadded. This remains a key resource for bothamateur and professional geologists alike,remarkably squeezing virtually all of thebasics of our subject into some 135 pageswith many informative illustrations.For a review of the First Edition (2006),see European Geologist 22, p.40.Graham Park, in his first editionof Introducing Geology, capturedthe excitement of the Earth Sciencesin an accessible, elegantly-written,beautifully-illustrated guide to the com-1Professor of Palaeontology and Headof Geology, Natural History Museum ofDenmark, University of CopenhagenEuropean Geologist 3045