The book of life

Summary: This book uses art and science to tell the story of life on earth. The text provides thorough understanding of the latest research and is accompanied by paintings prepared especially for this book. Never before has our planet's evolution been so clearly explained. History is marked by disaster. The book of life explains how mammals, having survived at least one of these disasters -- the impact of a massive comet -- luckily inherited the earth. Next came the rise of modern humans, who would shape the world as no creature has. As this history unfolds, illustrations allow us to observe climate changes, tectonic plate movement, the spread of plant life, and the death of the dinosaurs. We discover the chains of animal survival, the causes and consequences of adaptation, and finally the environmental impact of human life.

Record details

ISBN: 0393050033
ISBN: 9780393050035
ISBN: 0393321568
ISBN: 9780393321562
Physical Description: print
256 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps ; 30 cm
Publisher: New York : Norton, ©2001.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (page 21).

Formatted Contents Note:

A new introduction: A flawed work in progress / Stephen Jay Gould -- Reconstructing (and deconstructing) the past / Stephen Jay Gould -- Life and time / Michael Benton -- Foundations: life in the oceans / J. John Sepkoski, Jr. -- The rise of the fishes / Michael Benton -- Four feet on the ground / Michael Benton -- Dinosaur summer / Michael Benton -- Victors by default / Christine Janis -- The primates' progress / Peter Andrews and Christopher Stringer.