Customer Reviews

Historical Geology: Evolution of Earth and Life Through Time (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)

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The authors give a strong explanation of biological evolution, from its earliest unicellular origins to the present. Much fossil and DNA evidence is summarised. Including recent findings in fossil digs from the 90s.

They point out that many so-called missing links are not. For relations between genera, families, orders and classes, the intermediate forms ("links") are often present in the fossil record. Amongst the cases cited are the origins of whales and sea cows.

More generally, the book has numerous instances where transitions found in fossils are explained in terms of limbs or bones developing, or suchlike, so that you can clearly see how one fossil is the evolutionary ancestor of another later fossil. As in the early fishes. Where those who developed jaws with bones were then more able to hunt other fishes; a strong evolutionary advantage. While the move onto land is shown in fossils that had fins with muscles. This allowed for propulsion above water, where the original advantage was to let the fish move around under water, in mud or vegetation.

Geology is also emphasised. Often giving rise to various ore and petroleum bodies found today. Plus plate tectonics is shown to account for the continental drifts and the breakup of Gondwanaland.

If you need this for a class, then it is your best friend. I personally think that the book is interesting to read by itself, but I'm a nerd.

Historical Geology: Evolution of Earth and Life Through Time (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac) I bought this Historical Geology book..It is good but not perfect...It has lots of good pictures..and diagrams..It is a good introduction to Historical Geology...It is a good introduction ..It has lots of pictures and diagrams....It is not perfect..If you want a very detailed and comprhensive history of the Earth this is not it...A very detailed and complete history of the Earth would be great..This is an introduction....It is not complete or comprehensive..It has lots of pictures and diagrams....It is good...The price is reasonable....I am glad I bought it...It is not comprehensive and complete..But it is good..