Amazon.com: Vanishing Life: The Mystery of Mass Extinctions (9780684193311): Jeff Hecht: Books

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1993

A fascinating, illustrated study explains the various scientific theories about what causes large species, such as the dinosaurs, to vanish from the earth and looks at the geological evidence for such theories.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } A fascinating, illustrated study explains the various scientific theories about what causes large species, such as the dinosaurs, to vanish from the earth and looks at the geological evidence for such theories.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-12-Hecht incorporates some of the latest dinosaur discoveries into this fairly in-depth presentation of current theories on mass extinction. Frequently including references to his own participation in fossil-hunting expeditions, he shows how scientific explanations of these phenomena were developed, recognizing a wide variety of possibilities. His methodical marshalling of evidence is exemplary. The black-and-white photographs and diagrams are particularly well keyed to the text. Other books on the subject for this age group have slightly different emphases: Christopher Lampton's Mass Extinctions (Watts, 1986) concentrates on the comet-collision theory and presents fewer competing ideas, and Rebecca Stefoff's Extinction (Chelsea, 1992) devotes much more space to current problems of species loss. Given the continuing high interest in paleontology, there is plenty of room on the shelf for Hecht's attractive treatment.
Jonathan Betz-Zall, Sno-Isle Regional Library System, Edmonds, WA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. Just about everyone knows dinosaurs disappeared rather abruptly from the face of the earth, and many students will be aware that there are conflicting theories explaining their extinction. Hecht's incredibly thorough study of mass extinctions throughout the earth's history provides young adults with a wealth of information about the hows and whys of such disappearances. Background information on fossil development, evolution, and how scientists evaluate physical evidence leads off, followed by discussion of the ways geological evidence supports or discredits various current extinction theories. Hecht raises as many provocative questions about ancient and modern extinctions as he answers, and science teachers can easily use any of them as a starting point for student research or discussion. An extensive glossary and a bibliography are supplied. Chris Sherman

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Jeff Hecht Page

Jeff Hecht has been writing about lasers, optics and fiber optics for more than 35 years. After writing for industry magazine Laser Focus World for several years, he began writing books that explain laser science and technology to newcomers to the field. His books are aimed at readers from middle-school students to professionals. The New York Academy of Sciences gave his book Optics: Light for a New Age, honorable mention as one of the best children's science books in older age group in 1988. His technician-training and self-study book Understanding Fiber Optics is now in its fifth edition, with more than 100,000 copies in print.

After years of writing about new science and technology, he turned to the history of fiber optics, writing City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics, as part of the Sloan Technology Series. More recently, he wrote BEAM: The Race to Make The Laser, describing the work that led to the world's first laser in 1960.

He continues to write extensively for magazines, covering topics from lasers to dinosaurs for New Scientist magazine, and continuing developments in lasers and photonics for Laser Focus World