Dynamics of Dinosaurs [Paperback]

R. McNeill. Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1989 | ISBN-10: 0231066678 | ISBN-13: 978-0231066679 0

How did the larger dinosaurs run? How and why did they fight? The author applies laws of physics, mechanical engineering and aerodynamics to answer these and other questions.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Dinosaurs are in vogue these days (see also Dougal Dixon's The Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals, reviewed in this issue, p.00). In Alexander's latest, he exercises his considerable expertise in engineering; he tackles questions of dinosaur weight, gait, agility, behavior, and metabolism from a mechanical perspective, and emphasizes methods a paleontologist can use to infer or calculate whole animal structure and function from bones and trackways. Flying and marine reptiles and giant birds and mammals are also included. For the intelligent lay reader who wonders how scientific reconstructions of fossil animals can be created; and for the professional seeking an approachable version of topics covered in Alexander's more technical works.
- Margery C. Coombs, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A wonderful little book... irresistible for its simple and compelling demonstration of the unity of the natural sciences.

(Scientific American )

Product Details

• Paperback: 167 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231066678
• ISBN-13: 978-0231066679
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,260,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dinosaurs seen as engineering problems, November 7, 2001

By 

Jarno Peschier (Westbroek, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dynamics of Dinosaurs (Paperback)

A lot of things about dinosaurs (and other extinct large animals) we will never know. And a lot of questions are out there. Questions like "Could Tyrannosaurus rex run?", "What was their top speed?", "Did sauropods hold their neck horizontally or vertically?" or "Could large quadrupedal dinosaurs rear up on their hind legs?"

This book treats the animals that these questions are about as "nothing more" than engineering projects, similar to large buildings, bridges or mechanical machines.

Using realistic values for things like compressability and tensile stress properties of substances like bones, cartilage, tendons, etc. and using laws of physics and formulas from structural engineering Alexander tries to answer some of these questions.

The results are very interesting. If you're interesting in dinosaurs and how they really could have been in real life, this is a book you should not miss.

5.0 out of 5 stars A revelation, June 14, 2011

By 

Marcuso - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dynamics of Dinosaurs and Other Extinct Giants (Hardcover)

Yes, a revelation it was to me, and I realize that that may say more about my (former) ignorance of the subject than about this adorable little book, whose virtues include clean, simple, British prose. I never thought that so much profit and insight could be gotten by applying physics to animals. That the physics illuminates the animals will come as no surprise; that the illumination redounds upon the physics, however, came as a pleasant one.

5.0 out of 5 stars clear, concise, and compelling, September 8, 2005

By 

Andrew Goldenkranz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dynamics of Dinosaurs and Other Extinct Giants (Hardcover)

This is one of the more powerful little books in science. The author elegantly describes such issues as how we can infer speed from footprints, a practical discussion of whether some dinosaurs were warm blooded, and other interesting topics. Most dinosaur books are either glorified picture books or narrative. This is a practical step by step discovery of "how we know what we know". This, and Random Walks in Biology, are the two best books of this type anywhere. As a biology teacher I've gotten a ton of good ideas and lessons out of this one.