T. Rex And the Crater of Doom (Penguin Press Science S.) - Softcover

Alvarez, Walter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 014027636X ISBN 13: 9780140276367

Publisher: Penguin, 1998

Synopsis

Sixty-five million years ago, a comet or asteroid larger than Mount Everest fell from outer space and hit the Earth's surface. The environmental disasters that followed brought about the mass extinction of vast numbers of animal and plant species, among them the great carnivorous dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus Rex. In this thrilling tale of scientific detection, Walter Alvarez unfolds the quest for the answer to one of science's greatest mysteries as he and a team of scientists searched for evidence of a cataclysmic impact. Hotly disputed among the scientific community, the impact theory was vindicated when, in 1991, a massive crater buried beneath the Yucatan Peninsula was rediscovered by Alvarez.

About this title

Review:

One of the great mysteries is what happened to the dinosaurs and it has taken great detective work to give us an answer. In T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, some brilliant, not to mention determined, scientists roam the world and seek out the clues. What they conclude is that the earth withstood a colossal impact with a meteor (or perhaps a comet) 65 million years ago. The resulting cataclysm destroyed half the life on the planet.

Walter Alvarez, a geologist at the University of California at Berkeley, and one of the four scientists who present this theory on the mystery, tells the story in a clear narrative that contains a wealth of scientific material. The book does require an investment of attention, but the presentation is quite readable and the story itself is fascinating.

Review:

One of New York Times Notable Books for 1997
"Appealing and accessible, an excellent introduction to the subject."--Kirkus Review

"A fascinating proof of a once ridiculed theory. In fitting together the puzzle of dino demise, Alvarez excitingly shapes the story for the widest audience."--Booklist

"[D]eft and readable . . . T. rex and the Crater of Doom gets the facts across in a lighthearted, almost playful manner. But it's also solid science, a clear and efficient exposition that conveys plenty of cogent detail while keeping an eye on the subtle interplay of thought, action, and personality that makes scientific research such arresting human behavior. . . . [An] estimable account from the world's leading authority on death from above."--Timothy Ferris, New York Times Book Review

"A geologist (who happens to be a kind of working philosopher) gives a deft, readable explanation of the extinction of the dinosaurs."--New York Times Book Review

"A nicely told and well-written tale of scientific discovery."--Library Journal

"The book is very well written and so engrossing that a reader with little or no background in the earth's geologic history will enjoy an easy and vastly entertaining summary of how we came to our present understanding of the past. It is a wonderful adventure in science."--Dale Russell, The Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Alvarez's book recounts this scientific detective story in an authoritative yet consistently engaging manner. Once considered absurd, the idea that extraterrestrial factors were involved in some of the great crises in the history of life has become widely accepted."--Hans-Dieter Sues, Toronto Globe and Mail

"A first-rate, swiftly paced tale of how science can propel its participants down avenues of surprising discovery to breathtaking conclusions."--Charles Petit, San Francisco Chronicle

"This personal account of the search for a geological Excalibur makes fascinating reading. . . . [It] reads like Arthurian legend, full of temptations which lead the hero astray and distract him and his followers from the true path."--Douglas Palmer, New Scientist

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 014027636X
• ISBN 13: 9780140276367
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208