Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds (Hardcover)

by Luis M. Chiappe (Author)
Key Phrases: nonavian maniraptorans, avian hypothesis, enantiornithine species, Late Cretaceous, Early Cretaceous, Late Jurassic (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"I think that Luis Chiappe has done an excellent job of producing a book that will be used both by researchers and those seeking to learn more about the birds they see flapping around every day…will sell very well, be widely cited and go onto become a classic in the vertebrate paleontological literature..." (Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, June 2008)

"Construction of the book is superb; it is well made and lavish with color photographs and figures on glossy paper. The author provides a glossary, an index, and references for specific readings in support of the dinosaurian origin of birds. The chapters are organized and well written in an authoritative tone by one of the top experts in the field." (PALAIOS, April 2008)

"...should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the early evolution of birds. Chiappe’s acquaintance with virtually all of the Mesozoic fossils he writes about makes it a competent review of the subject which will stand for years to come." (Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, December 2007)

"Chiappe is to be congratulated on this excellent book...it will appeal to a wide audience…" (American Scientist, November-December 2007)

"Chiappe's beautifully illustrated book…is nothing more or less than a celebration of the feathered dinosaurs." (The Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2007)

"Chiappe, one of the world's leading authorities on birds, offers a thorough, careful, often exhaustive exposition on the anatomy, biology, and paleontologic record of birds and their ancestors." (CHOICE, July 2007)

"...'Glorified Dinosaurs' is a book you won't want to miss." (Fossil News, June 2007)

"This book is bound to appeal not only to scientists, but also to anyone with an interest in dinosaurs, ornithology, evolution and natural history." (Nature, 10th May 2007)

"...an invaluable resource for every paleontologist, ornithologist, evolutionary biologist, geology and life sciences student and professional. It is also exciting reading...for all those with a general interest in the topic." (SirReadaLot.org, March 2007)

"...the best summary yet of how dinosaurs evolved into birds." (Books-On-Line)

"…Chiappe's breaking deep ground, escorting us across the threshold of many new and intriguing realms…the full-color illustrations are breath-taking." (Electric Review, March/April 2007)

Product Description
The last few years have witnessed an unparalleled rate of discoveries of early birds and their dinosaurian predecessors. Written by a recognised authority in the field, Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds provides a comprehensive summary of these discoveries and addresses the fascinating topic of how modern birds evolved from fearsome dinosaurs akin to the celebrated Velociraptor. The book focuses on an evolutionary approach and presents current research and fossil discoveries. The title includes coloured photographs of fossils and fossil localities, many of which have been rarely reproduced elsewhere.

Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds is an invaluable resource for every palaeontologist, ornithologist, evolutionary biologist, geology and life sciences student. It is also an exciting reading for people interested in dinosaurs and avian evolution and for all those with a general interests in the topic.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Liss; 1 edition (February 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471247235
• ISBN-13: 978-0471247234
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #547,824 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most Authoritarian Book on the Subject, February 9, 2007

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think it has come to be pretty well accepted by most scientists that the songbird outside your window is a descendent of the dinasaurs that once reigned supreme.

This book by a renowned paleornithologist, gives the best summary yet of how the dinosaurs evolved into birds. It begins with the development of feathers, and continues with the earliest fossil samples, including the famous archaeopteryx. (As best I can tell there is only one archaeopteryx in the United States at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis. At this date the display for these fossils is being built. It should be open sometime in May, 2007, but check with them first.)

This book is current as to early 2007, reflecting all of the latest findings (especially in China) of the steps in the descent of the modern bird.

This book is lavisly illustrated with hundreds of illustrations from color photographs of fossils to line drawings showing the variations in skeletal structure as the birds developed. It uses high quality paper, printing and binding to insure a long useful life.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best handbook on feathered dinosaurs and early birds, June 12, 2007

By	Michal Ginter (Warsaw, Poland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Luis Chiappe is one of the leading paleontologists working on Jurassic and Cretaceous predatory dinosaurs and primitive birds. In his "Glorified Dinosaurs" he summarises in clear words the arguments supporting the idea of close relationships between these two groups, but also discusses the alternative theories on the origin of birds and their flight. The illustrations - photographs, color drawings, reconstructions and diagrams - are of extraordinary quality. Photographs of virtually all the most important relevant fossils, such as Archaeopteryx and perfectly preserved feathered dinosaurs and birds from Liaoning in China, are provided. The book gives a very interesting insight into the history of discoveries and evolution of concepts. It is an invaluable tool for all the vertebrate paleontology teachers and a thrilling lecture for non-professionalists.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 13, 2007

By	George Olshevsky "Dinogeorge" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book covers all the latest research, with readable text and splendid artwork and photography. It is a deluxe must-have book for dinosaur and paleo-bird enthusiasts everywhere.