A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

fascinating new discoveries, bang up to date, 04 Dec 2007
a well written and beautifully illustrated, thoroughly modern overview of dinosaurs.includes sections on discovery, anatomy, lifestyle and habitat as well as describing and illustrating over 3oo mesozoic creatures including pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, icthyosaurs.bang up to date including my 1st view of feathered primitive tyrannosaurs along with thomas r. holtz's new book the best,modern look at the great dinosaurs, worth every penny

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

fascinating new discoveries, bang up to date, 04 Dec 2007
a well written and beautifully illustrated, thoroughly modern overview of dinosaurs.includes sections on discovery, anatomy, lifestyle and habitat as well as describing and illustrating over 3oo mesozoic creatures including pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, icthyosaurs.bang up to date including my 1st view of feathered primitive tyrannosaurs along with thomas r. holtz's new book the best,modern look at the great dinosaurs, worth every penny

From Dinosaurs to Birds - A Bunch of Intermediates, 31 Oct 2008
It is quite an opulent edition. Big book format, good quality paper and an abundance of colorful dinosaur illustrations. But on close inspection, some irritating flaws emerge.
First of all there is the "generalist" part of the book, laying the foundation for the species profiles. It discusses various carnivorous dinosaur families and how these seem to lead, by careful evolutionary steps, to the first birds. The text is interesting but the "dinosaurs-birds" connection comes through somewhat weakly. The arguments are there all right, but I have read much stronger propositions on the subject, "Dino-Birds" and "Glorified Dinosaurs" for instance. And there is virtually nothing on the most crucial question of the origin of flight
Then we come to the main part of the book, the profiles themselves. Well, there is a very good representation from all relevant dinosaur and bird families, with many obscure and / or recently discovered species, mainly form the current paleontologist's paradise, the Liaoning Province in China. The emphasis, of course, is on the feathered dinosaur species, but it seems to me that the author and artist take the opportunity to put feathers in as many reptiles as possible, even on scant paleontological evidence. Perhaps they thought this way it would be easier for the general public to understand the continuum between the two animal groups, but poetic and artistic license may go just a bit too far. Finally, the artist's comments on why he chose animal postures and colors were a nice documentation touch, but his arguments are not always convincing and the images themselves sometimes verge, to my opinion, on the kitsch.
Overall it is a good try on the subject, one of the most controversial in modern paleontology, but it could have done with less flamboyance and more quality and substance.

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

fascinating new discoveries, bang up to date, 04 Dec 2007
a well written and beautifully illustrated, thoroughly modern overview of dinosaurs.includes sections on discovery, anatomy, lifestyle and habitat as well as describing and illustrating over 3oo mesozoic creatures including pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, icthyosaurs.bang up to date including my 1st view of feathered primitive tyrannosaurs along with thomas r. holtz's new book the best,modern look at the great dinosaurs, worth every penny

From Dinosaurs to Birds - A Bunch of Intermediates, 31 Oct 2008
It is quite an opulent edition. Big book format, good quality paper and an abundance of colorful dinosaur illustrations. But on close inspection, some irritating flaws emerge.
First of all there is the "generalist" part of the book, laying the foundation for the species profiles. It discusses various carnivorous dinosaur families and how these seem to lead, by careful evolutionary steps, to the first birds. The text is interesting but the "dinosaurs-birds" connection comes through somewhat weakly. The arguments are there all right, but I have read much stronger propositions on the subject, "Dino-Birds" and "Glorified Dinosaurs" for instance. And there is virtually nothing on the most crucial question of the origin of flight
Then we come to the main part of the book, the profiles themselves. Well, there is a very good representation from all relevant dinosaur and bird families, with many obscure and / or recently discovered species, mainly form the current paleontologist's paradise, the Liaoning Province in China. The emphasis, of course, is on the feathered dinosaur species, but it seems to me that the author and artist take the opportunity to put feathers in as many reptiles as possible, even on scant paleontological evidence. Perhaps they thought this way it would be easier for the general public to understand the continuum between the two animal groups, but poetic and artistic license may go just a bit too far. Finally, the artist's comments on why he chose animal postures and colors were a nice documentation touch, but his arguments are not always convincing and the images themselves sometimes verge, to my opinion, on the kitsch.
Overall it is a good try on the subject, one of the most controversial in modern paleontology, but it could have done with less flamboyance and more quality and substance.

a real bad dude, 04 Dec 2007
a thoroughly enjoyable read, dedicated to the lifestyle of a true superpredator an immense crocodylian which co-existed with and evidently dominated the dinosaurs of its era. no colour plates unfortunately but that didn't detract from the quality of the text. a must read for anyone interested in paleontology

Dubbed "Supercroc", 03 Dec 2002
I enjoyed the book and I'd like to recommend to those who are interested in palaeontolgy, fossils and crocs. To begin with, two points to comment in negative way, although these can't ruin the piece.
One is about not excellent quality of illustrations. The comparison is those of recent books of dinosaurs in which we see once-lived creatures resurrected vividly. I'm afraid to say they are not adequate for the contents.
The other is trivial and quite understandable. The feature of this book is, without question, Deinosuchus. However, due to the nature of fossilization and scarcity of materials, its complete restoration is so far impossible. In that sense, the author did his best and I think he could secceed in profiling this monster.
In spite of above mentioned, then what made this book so interesting and worth reading?
First of all, if I'm not wrong, nobody has written fossil crocs as this book. Second, it's well written and easy to read. So, there might be no one to be bothered by jargon.
Third, not only focused on Deinosuchus itself (& other relatives), but also he tried to reconstruct its whole surroundings. Its geological history is very well documented. Especially its local habitat, including historical one, is superbly described. Actually, much more pages shared for the theme.
Well done!

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

fascinating new discoveries, bang up to date, 04 Dec 2007
a well written and beautifully illustrated, thoroughly modern overview of dinosaurs.includes sections on discovery, anatomy, lifestyle and habitat as well as describing and illustrating over 3oo mesozoic creatures including pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, icthyosaurs.bang up to date including my 1st view of feathered primitive tyrannosaurs along with thomas r. holtz's new book the best,modern look at the great dinosaurs, worth every penny

From Dinosaurs to Birds - A Bunch of Intermediates, 31 Oct 2008
It is quite an opulent edition. Big book format, good quality paper and an abundance of colorful dinosaur illustrations. But on close inspection, some irritating flaws emerge.
First of all there is the "generalist" part of the book, laying the foundation for the species profiles. It discusses various carnivorous dinosaur families and how these seem to lead, by careful evolutionary steps, to the first birds. The text is interesting but the "dinosaurs-birds" connection comes through somewhat weakly. The arguments are there all right, but I have read much stronger propositions on the subject, "Dino-Birds" and "Glorified Dinosaurs" for instance. And there is virtually nothing on the most crucial question of the origin of flight
Then we come to the main part of the book, the profiles themselves. Well, there is a very good representation from all relevant dinosaur and bird families, with many obscure and / or recently discovered species, mainly form the current paleontologist's paradise, the Liaoning Province in China. The emphasis, of course, is on the feathered dinosaur species, but it seems to me that the author and artist take the opportunity to put feathers in as many reptiles as possible, even on scant paleontological evidence. Perhaps they thought this way it would be easier for the general public to understand the continuum between the two animal groups, but poetic and artistic license may go just a bit too far. Finally, the artist's comments on why he chose animal postures and colors were a nice documentation touch, but his arguments are not always convincing and the images themselves sometimes verge, to my opinion, on the kitsch.
Overall it is a good try on the subject, one of the most controversial in modern paleontology, but it could have done with less flamboyance and more quality and substance.

a real bad dude, 04 Dec 2007
a thoroughly enjoyable read, dedicated to the lifestyle of a true superpredator an immense crocodylian which co-existed with and evidently dominated the dinosaurs of its era. no colour plates unfortunately but that didn't detract from the quality of the text. a must read for anyone interested in paleontology

Dubbed "Supercroc", 03 Dec 2002
I enjoyed the book and I'd like to recommend to those who are interested in palaeontolgy, fossils and crocs. To begin with, two points to comment in negative way, although these can't ruin the piece.
One is about not excellent quality of illustrations. The comparison is those of recent books of dinosaurs in which we see once-lived creatures resurrected vividly. I'm afraid to say they are not adequate for the contents.
The other is trivial and quite understandable. The feature of this book is, without question, Deinosuchus. However, due to the nature of fossilization and scarcity of materials, its complete restoration is so far impossible. In that sense, the author did his best and I think he could secceed in profiling this monster.
In spite of above mentioned, then what made this book so interesting and worth reading?
First of all, if I'm not wrong, nobody has written fossil crocs as this book. Second, it's well written and easy to read. So, there might be no one to be bothered by jargon.
Third, not only focused on Deinosuchus itself (& other relatives), but also he tried to reconstruct its whole surroundings. Its geological history is very well documented. Especially its local habitat, including historical one, is superbly described. Actually, much more pages shared for the theme.
Well done!

Buy for the graphics not for the text, 06 Sep 2007
The idea that this relatively thin volume could possibly be a 'complete' guide to 500 million years of evolution is faintly and in fact this book only scratches the surface of our limited knowledge of prehistoric life. The inclusion of 'complete' in the title actually refers to the fact that this book is a companion to all three of the 'Walking With' TV series - Dinosaurs, Monsters, and Beasts).

There are about 100 animals featured (no plants) each covering one or two pages. The text begins with describing the animal and its probable lifestyle, then goes on to the discovery of the first fossils and its place in the evolutionary tree. This last bit is very confusing and little is gained by its inclusion. In fact the whole text would be better presented as a 'fact file' with small paragraphs under each subject, such as food, habitat, taxonomy etc.

The big advantage this book has over its competitors is the full weight of computer graphics that comes from its link to the three TV series'. All the pictures featured (over 200) are stills from these films and they go a long way to bringing prehistoric creatures to life on the page. The only disappointment with this is that the majority are merely pictures of the animal standing in its environment rather than in the behavioural poses that was such a great feature on the TV.

In terms of reliability it falls woefully short of many other publications. For a start it manages to contradict itself on several occasions. More importantly however there are certain important bits that the book gets horribly wrong such as confusing reptile with lizard. These are serious errors because they are not realised unless you have some knowledge of prehistoric life already, so can mislead many readers - a sacrilege for a 'guide book'!

In short this book should not be relied upon as the source of your prehistoric knowledge. In terms of illustration it is good and is perhaps more entertaining than others, so may be better for attracting young people to the subject. Having said that it's probably better (and by now possibly cheaper) to buy the DVDs!

Eye-catching but inaccurate, 19 Apr 2007
The authors of this book were perhaps a little presumptuous when giving it a title - it goes without saying that this slim volume is hardly the 'complete' guide to prehistoric life. It does, however, feature almost all the creatures that appeared in the B.B.C. series 'Walking With Monsters', 'Walking With Dinosaurs' and 'Walking With Beasts', as well as additional species.

For the most part, the computer-generated images of the animals are excellent (though the cave lion is incorrectly proportioned, being depicted with a short tail when it was, in fact, identical to modern lions except for being larger and would therefore have had a long tail).

Unfortunately, though the majority of the information given is correct, there are an unacceptable number of mistakes in the text. Many are simple schoolboy errors, such as using the word ancestor in place of descendant, or stating that 'artiodactyl' means 'odd-toed' when in fact it means 'even-toed'. Some may even be typographical errors - for example, it is stated that Smilodon became extinct 100,000 years ago, when it actually became extinct only 10,000 years ago. In either case, these should have been picked up at the editing stage and should not have made it into final print.

What I found more irritating was the apparently deliberate mistranslation of the word 'saurus' (which means 'lizard') as 'reptile' in the case of almost every creature with this as part of its name. Anyone with even a passing interest in palaeontology knows that the name of the famous Tyrannosaurus translates as 'tyrant lizard' - here, however, it is translated as 'terrible reptile'. Whilst it is true that many of these animals were named when dinosaurs were believed to be cold-blooded, lizard-like creatures, one cannot simply change the meaning of the word to reflect our new knowledge.

It is one thing to overlook facts here and there in a work of fiction, but in a supposedly educational reference book I feel every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the information, else what is the point? In short, if you buy this book, do so only for the handsome reconstructions of the animals - as an accurate source of knowledge, it should not be relied upon.

Nice compilation of ancient "beasts", 16 Jan 2006
This volume by Tim Haines of "Walking with..." fame is a handsome compilation of some (perhaps even all?) of the many ocreatures featured in those series. There is at least one late inclusion which did not feature in any of the series - and I seem to recollect that there may be a few other welcome interlopers representing more recent discoveries.

Each creature is allocated one, or, in some cases, two pages of background information and at least one "photo". This kind of space doesn't allow for any indepth review or discussion, but, that's not the purpose of this volume - its a quick overview of a host of more eye catching or significant species from our deep past.

The book would be ideal of as a momento of the Walking with Monsters, Dinosaurs and Beasts series - note that the "creatures" of Walking with Cavemen are not represented within this book - I guess because they wanted to retain the relatively more exotic feel associated with non-humanoid creatures.

It is pitched at least at an early secondary school level, but would be adequate for the interested laymen of any age greater than that. It assumes little prior knowledge, and is very accessible.

This book is suitable for those fascinated by ancient life (although not overly academic in their fascination) and who enjoyed the way in the which the "Walking with" series tried to depict a sample of that life. It is a colourful, vivid "family album" of many of the fascinating, improbable, and/or dramatic creatures which once walked this world.

Re: A Monster of a Book!, 14 Dec 2005
This book does exactly what it says on the cover. As a guide to the prehistoric world it really is unbeatable. It takes you from the formation of the Earth, 4.5 billion years ago, through to the modern day. As well as getting a potted history of life on Earth, this book also acts as an encyclopedia to prehistoric.

By my count over 100 animals (from all time periods) are portrayed in detail using the realistic computer generated photographs that Walking with Dinos is famous for. Each animal has one or two pages devoted to including several hundred words of text that describes what it looked like, where and when it lived, how it may have behaviour and also its evolutionary history and the history of its discovery. There is a lot of information packed in, including some amazing facts.

I am familiar with books on fossils and dinosaurs and I must say that this is one of the best ones I've come across. It manages to get that rare balance of being informative without being dull. I would recommend it to children and adults alike.

Well put together and inclusive of the latest research, 14 Nov 2005
I have followed Tim Haines’ road to Earth’s prehistoric life and I have thoroughly enjoyed both “Walking with Dinosaurs” and “Walking with Beasts” in their book and TV series formats. This latest addition, covering the whole story, from the first stirrings of life in the Cambrian up to the emergence of Homo Sapiens, is up to the high standards set by the previous books.
The text is very well written and manages to be quite thorough and to the point, given the small space allowed for each of the examined geological periods and individual species. The authors always try to include the latest results scientific research has to offer, for the various prehistoric creatures presented. At the same time, they are very careful to point out the huge gaps in our knowledge about prehistoric life, due to the scarcity of the fossil record. And of course they make a lot of educated guesses, but these are an indispensable part of paleontology.
Given the restricted space of the book, it is unavoidable that only a handful of prehistoric species are presented, so one may regret the absence of special favorites. My personal regret is the absence of Caudipteryx or, for that matter, of anyone of the feathered dinosaurs, discovered in China during the 90s. Certainly, they are referred to when the authors examine bipedal carnivorous dromaeosaurids, trying to establish the dinosaurs-birds connection, but it is not the same. And I would also like to have estimations about each species’ weight included in its data table, a matter not always covered in the text.
Putting this minor regrets aside, along with some typing errors, which should not have made it to the final print of a BBC edition, the book is both educating and entertaining in the extreme. The vivid text, along with the superb CGI illustrations and the very clear chronological table and diagrams at the end, go a long way to ensure the reader’s pleasure.

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

fascinating new discoveries, bang up to date, 04 Dec 2007
a well written and beautifully illustrated, thoroughly modern overview of dinosaurs.includes sections on discovery, anatomy, lifestyle and habitat as well as describing and illustrating over 3oo mesozoic creatures including pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, icthyosaurs.bang up to date including my 1st view of feathered primitive tyrannosaurs along with thomas r. holtz's new book the best,modern look at the great dinosaurs, worth every penny

From Dinosaurs to Birds - A Bunch of Intermediates, 31 Oct 2008
It is quite an opulent edition. Big book format, good quality paper and an abundance of colorful dinosaur illustrations. But on close inspection, some irritating flaws emerge.
First of all there is the "generalist" part of the book, laying the foundation for the species profiles. It discusses various carnivorous dinosaur families and how these seem to lead, by careful evolutionary steps, to the first birds. The text is interesting but the "dinosaurs-birds" connection comes through somewhat weakly. The arguments are there all right, but I have read much stronger propositions on the subject, "Dino-Birds" and "Glorified Dinosaurs" for instance. And there is virtually nothing on the most crucial question of the origin of flight
Then we come to the main part of the book, the profiles themselves. Well, there is a very good representation from all relevant dinosaur and bird families, with many obscure and / or recently discovered species, mainly form the current paleontologist's paradise, the Liaoning Province in China. The emphasis, of course, is on the feathered dinosaur species, but it seems to me that the author and artist take the opportunity to put feathers in as many reptiles as possible, even on scant paleontological evidence. Perhaps they thought this way it would be easier for the general public to understand the continuum between the two animal groups, but poetic and artistic license may go just a bit too far. Finally, the artist's comments on why he chose animal postures and colors were a nice documentation touch, but his arguments are not always convincing and the images themselves sometimes verge, to my opinion, on the kitsch.
Overall it is a good try on the subject, one of the most controversial in modern paleontology, but it could have done with less flamboyance and more quality and substance.

a real bad dude, 04 Dec 2007
a thoroughly enjoyable read, dedicated to the lifestyle of a true superpredator an immense crocodylian which co-existed with and evidently dominated the dinosaurs of its era. no colour plates unfortunately but that didn't detract from the quality of the text. a must read for anyone interested in paleontology

Dubbed "Supercroc", 03 Dec 2002
I enjoyed the book and I'd like to recommend to those who are interested in palaeontolgy, fossils and crocs. To begin with, two points to comment in negative way, although these can't ruin the piece.
One is about not excellent quality of illustrations. The comparison is those of recent books of dinosaurs in which we see once-lived creatures resurrected vividly. I'm afraid to say they are not adequate for the contents.
The other is trivial and quite understandable. The feature of this book is, without question, Deinosuchus. However, due to the nature of fossilization and scarcity of materials, its complete restoration is so far impossible. In that sense, the author did his best and I think he could secceed in profiling this monster.
In spite of above mentioned, then what made this book so interesting and worth reading?
First of all, if I'm not wrong, nobody has written fossil crocs as this book. Second, it's well written and easy to read. So, there might be no one to be bothered by jargon.
Third, not only focused on Deinosuchus itself (& other relatives), but also he tried to reconstruct its whole surroundings. Its geological history is very well documented. Especially its local habitat, including historical one, is superbly described. Actually, much more pages shared for the theme.
Well done!

Buy for the graphics not for the text, 06 Sep 2007
The idea that this relatively thin volume could possibly be a 'complete' guide to 500 million years of evolution is faintly and in fact this book only scratches the surface of our limited knowledge of prehistoric life. The inclusion of 'complete' in the title actually refers to the fact that this book is a companion to all three of the 'Walking With' TV series - Dinosaurs, Monsters, and Beasts).

There are about 100 animals featured (no plants) each covering one or two pages. The text begins with describing the animal and its probable lifestyle, then goes on to the discovery of the first fossils and its place in the evolutionary tree. This last bit is very confusing and little is gained by its inclusion. In fact the whole text would be better presented as a 'fact file' with small paragraphs under each subject, such as food, habitat, taxonomy etc.

The big advantage this book has over its competitors is the full weight of computer graphics that comes from its link to the three TV series'. All the pictures featured (over 200) are stills from these films and they go a long way to bringing prehistoric creatures to life on the page. The only disappointment with this is that the majority are merely pictures of the animal standing in its environment rather than in the behavioural poses that was such a great feature on the TV.

In terms of reliability it falls woefully short of many other publications. For a start it manages to contradict itself on several occasions. More importantly however there are certain important bits that the book gets horribly wrong such as confusing reptile with lizard. These are serious errors because they are not realised unless you have some knowledge of prehistoric life already, so can mislead many readers - a sacrilege for a 'guide book'!

In short this book should not be relied upon as the source of your prehistoric knowledge. In terms of illustration it is good and is perhaps more entertaining than others, so may be better for attracting young people to the subject. Having said that it's probably better (and by now possibly cheaper) to buy the DVDs!

Eye-catching but inaccurate, 19 Apr 2007
The authors of this book were perhaps a little presumptuous when giving it a title - it goes without saying that this slim volume is hardly the 'complete' guide to prehistoric life. It does, however, feature almost all the creatures that appeared in the B.B.C. series 'Walking With Monsters', 'Walking With Dinosaurs' and 'Walking With Beasts', as well as additional species.

For the most part, the computer-generated images of the animals are excellent (though the cave lion is incorrectly proportioned, being depicted with a short tail when it was, in fact, identical to modern lions except for being larger and would therefore have had a long tail).

Unfortunately, though the majority of the information given is correct, there are an unacceptable number of mistakes in the text. Many are simple schoolboy errors, such as using the word ancestor in place of descendant, or stating that 'artiodactyl' means 'odd-toed' when in fact it means 'even-toed'. Some may even be typographical errors - for example, it is stated that Smilodon became extinct 100,000 years ago, when it actually became extinct only 10,000 years ago. In either case, these should have been picked up at the editing stage and should not have made it into final print.

What I found more irritating was the apparently deliberate mistranslation of the word 'saurus' (which means 'lizard') as 'reptile' in the case of almost every creature with this as part of its name. Anyone with even a passing interest in palaeontology knows that the name of the famous Tyrannosaurus translates as 'tyrant lizard' - here, however, it is translated as 'terrible reptile'. Whilst it is true that many of these animals were named when dinosaurs were believed to be cold-blooded, lizard-like creatures, one cannot simply change the meaning of the word to reflect our new knowledge.

It is one thing to overlook facts here and there in a work of fiction, but in a supposedly educational reference book I feel every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the information, else what is the point? In short, if you buy this book, do so only for the handsome reconstructions of the animals - as an accurate source of knowledge, it should not be relied upon.

Nice compilation of ancient "beasts", 16 Jan 2006
This volume by Tim Haines of "Walking with..." fame is a handsome compilation of some (perhaps even all?) of the many ocreatures featured in those series. There is at least one late inclusion which did not feature in any of the series - and I seem to recollect that there may be a few other welcome interlopers representing more recent discoveries.

Each creature is allocated one, or, in some cases, two pages of background information and at least one "photo". This kind of space doesn't allow for any indepth review or discussion, but, that's not the purpose of this volume - its a quick overview of a host of more eye catching or significant species from our deep past.

The book would be ideal of as a momento of the Walking with Monsters, Dinosaurs and Beasts series - note that the "creatures" of Walking with Cavemen are not represented within this book - I guess because they wanted to retain the relatively more exotic feel associated with non-humanoid creatures.

It is pitched at least at an early secondary school level, but would be adequate for the interested laymen of any age greater than that. It assumes little prior knowledge, and is very accessible.

This book is suitable for those fascinated by ancient life (although not overly academic in their fascination) and who enjoyed the way in the which the "Walking with" series tried to depict a sample of that life. It is a colourful, vivid "family album" of many of the fascinating, improbable, and/or dramatic creatures which once walked this world.

Re: A Monster of a Book!, 14 Dec 2005
This book does exactly what it says on the cover. As a guide to the prehistoric world it really is unbeatable. It takes you from the formation of the Earth, 4.5 billion years ago, through to the modern day. As well as getting a potted history of life on Earth, this book also acts as an encyclopedia to prehistoric.

By my count over 100 animals (from all time periods) are portrayed in detail using the realistic computer generated photographs that Walking with Dinos is famous for. Each animal has one or two pages devoted to including several hundred words of text that describes what it looked like, where and when it lived, how it may have behaviour and also its evolutionary history and the history of its discovery. There is a lot of information packed in, including some amazing facts.

I am familiar with books on fossils and dinosaurs and I must say that this is one of the best ones I've come across. It manages to get that rare balance of being informative without being dull. I would recommend it to children and adults alike.

Well put together and inclusive of the latest research, 14 Nov 2005
I have followed Tim Haines’ road to Earth’s prehistoric life and I have thoroughly enjoyed both “Walking with Dinosaurs” and “Walking with Beasts” in their book and TV series formats. This latest addition, covering the whole story, from the first stirrings of life in the Cambrian up to the emergence of Homo Sapiens, is up to the high standards set by the previous books.
The text is very well written and manages to be quite thorough and to the point, given the small space allowed for each of the examined geological periods and individual species. The authors always try to include the latest results scientific research has to offer, for the various prehistoric creatures presented. At the same time, they are very careful to point out the huge gaps in our knowledge about prehistoric life, due to the scarcity of the fossil record. And of course they make a lot of educated guesses, but these are an indispensable part of paleontology.
Given the restricted space of the book, it is unavoidable that only a handful of prehistoric species are presented, so one may regret the absence of special favorites. My personal regret is the absence of Caudipteryx or, for that matter, of anyone of the feathered dinosaurs, discovered in China during the 90s. Certainly, they are referred to when the authors examine bipedal carnivorous dromaeosaurids, trying to establish the dinosaurs-birds connection, but it is not the same. And I would also like to have estimations about each species’ weight included in its data table, a matter not always covered in the text.
Putting this minor regrets aside, along with some typing errors, which should not have made it to the final print of a BBC edition, the book is both educating and entertaining in the extreme. The vivid text, along with the superb CGI illustrations and the very clear chronological table and diagrams at the end, go a long way to ensure the reader’s pleasure.

Fascinating, Educational and very readable., 10 Jan 2000
I am an amateur paleontologist studying to go to university to study paleobiology and evolution, so as you can imagine I have read one or two dinosaur books, esspecially as I hope to specialise in this subject eventually. It is refreshing to come across a book on a less well known species, as most dinosaur books tend to either specialise on one group or on alot of the well known groups. The book reads for the most part like an adventure story and pauses from time to time to fill you in with the science, with out blinding you with ultra complex terms, I might add. I recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest on dinosaurs. Although you do need a very very basic understanding of science for the scientific parts, you don`t, however just to enjoy the book. For a good read go and raid the piggy bank. The paper back version costs next to nothing and amazon deliver when they promise to. And no I did not get paid to say that.

One of the great mysteries is what happened to the dinosaurs, and it has taken great detective work to give us an answer. In T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, some brilliant, not to mention determined, scientists roam the world and seek out the clues. What they conclude is that the earth sustained a colossal impact from a meteor (or perhaps a comet) 65 million years ago. The resulting cataclysm destroyed half the life on the planet.

Walter Alvarez, a geologist at the University of California at Berkeley, and one of the four scientists who present this theory on the mystery, tells the story in a clear narrative that contains a wealth of scientific material. The book does require an investment of attention, but the presentation is quite readable and the story itself is fascinating.

A Must for Anyone Interested in Prehistory, 01 Sep 2008
If you have an interest on the origins of man and the early civilisations of Europe, then this book should already have a space on your shelf. Brilliantly edited by Barry Cunliffe, the one time professor of European Archaeology at Oxford; this book gives you an insight into the development of human society in Europe from 700,000 Years ago, up until the age of the Vikings.
In short, it is an amazing guide to several millennia of prehistory and early history. The book's chapters cover subjects such as:

1. The Peopling of Europe, 700,000-40,000 Years before the Present.
2. The Upper Palaeolithic Revolution.
3. The Mesolithic Age.
4. The First Farmers.
5. The Transformation of Early Agrarian Europe: The later Neolithic and Copper Ages, 4500-2500 BC.
6. The Palace Civilisations of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece, 2000-1200 BC.
7. The Emergence of Elites: Earlier Bronze Age Europe, 2500-1300 BC.
8. The Collapse of Aegean Civilisation at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
9. Reformation in Barbarian Europe, 1300-600 BC.
10. Iron Age Societies in Western Europe and Beyond, 800-140 BC.
11. Thracians, Scythians, and Dacians, 800 BC-AD 300.
12. The Impact of Rome on Barbarian Society, 140 BC-AD 300.
13. Barbarian Europe, AD 300-700.

Each chapter is written by an expert on the subject, so we have Barry Cunliffe on Celtic culture, Andrew Sherratt on the Neolithic, and so on.
Because the chapters are often written by different authors, the book often varies in quality, as some sections are slightly better written than others. For instance I found the first chapter by Clive Gamble an interesting read, but I found a few others slightly dry and plodding. That said, the book makes up for this in the sheer wealth of information and facts it provides. The book has many maps, diagrams, charts and graphs, which helps explain the development of such things as tools, or the changes in European vegetation and enviroment.

The book's text is also accompanied by excellent photographs, both black and white and colour. These display photographs of archaeological sites or finds. They compliment the book very well.

Overall, this is a brilliant book, but it certainly isn't for absolute beginners, unless they are brave. The book does have it's downsides in that it can be difficult for the layperson at times. That said, a worthy read for those who'd like to know how civilisation first emerged in Western Europe.

Review of "Prehistoric Europe" by Cunliffe, 31 Jul 2003
I am currently studying Archaeology at University and this book was very helpful when researching information regarding prehistoic Europe. It is very detailed and informative and has many examples and case studies. It is an all round textbook but irrespective of this it would appeal to those who are simply interested in the history of Archaoelogy such as the Stone Age and studying the development of humans from homo erectus to modern day man. Its emphasis is on history rather than scientific methods and principle although there are naturally aspects of this as this is an inherent vital part in Archaeology.

Good, but too many mistakes to be reliable, 16 Aug 2008
For the most part, this book makes a fascinating and highly informative read. It details extinct animals from a wide variety of groups and time periods - the dinosaurs in particular are excellently represented, with almost every known species featured. Other animal groups appear in lesser numbers, but well-known pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and prehistoric mammals all make an appearance. In addition, lesser-known extinct animals are included, such as early amphibians and the mammal-like reptiles.

However, there are a few glaring errors which cannot be overlooked. For example, the nimravids are described as cats, when they were in fact a completely separate family - Nimravidae, as opposed to Felidae (the cat family). Two of the prehistoric whales, Rodhocetus and Basilosaurus, are classified in their information boxes as primates, which is obviously incorrect. One sentence reads: 'It has been accepted for some time that the dinosaurs evolved from birds' - clearly the words 'dinosaurs' and 'birds' are the wrong way round here. There are also numerous spelling errors that one would not expect to see in a scientific book such as this - e.g. yolk spelt 'yoke'.

The problem here is that, once you notice one mistake, you are left wondering how many others you have missed. The end result is that you cannot rely on the information given as being correct. In an educational book such as this every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the facts, otherwise those who buy the book in good faith will end up being misinformed - surely the very opposite of the purpose of this kind of publication.


wow! what a book, 09 Feb 2008
if you are interested in prehistoric animals buy this now! i have received a copy today and obviously haven't read the 500 odd pages but i am totally spellbound by the originality, and the comprehensive coverage of hundreds and hundreds of marvellous creatures. the greatest thing is the fact that it starts from the earliest amphibians right through to human ancestry and i can't wait to get stuck in to the text! the illustrations are quite unique and breathtaking. amazing value for money as well

fascinating new discoveries, bang up to date, 04 Dec 2007
a well written and beautifully illustrated, thoroughly modern overview of dinosaurs.includes sections on discovery, anatomy, lifestyle and habitat as well as describing and illustrating over 3oo mesozoic creatures including pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, icthyosaurs.bang up to date including my 1st view of feathered primitive tyrannosaurs along with thomas r. holtz's new book the best,modern look at the great dinosaurs, worth every penny

From Dinosaurs to Birds - A Bunch of Intermediates, 31 Oct 2008
It is quite an opulent edition. Big book format, good quality paper and an abundance of colorful dinosaur illustrations. But on close inspection, some irritating flaws emerge.
First of all there is the "generalist" part of the book, laying the foundation for the species profiles. It discusses various carnivorous dinosaur families and how these seem to lead, by careful evolutionary steps, to the first birds. The text is interesting but the "dinosaurs-birds" connection comes through somewhat weakly. The arguments are there all right, but I have read much stronger propositions on the subject, "Dino-Birds" and "Glorified Dinosaurs" for instance. And there is virtually nothing on the most crucial question of the origin of flight
Then we come to the main part of the book, the profiles themselves. Well, there is a very good representation from all relevant dinosaur and bird families, with many obscure and / or recently discovered species, mainly form the current paleontologist's paradise, the Liaoning Province in China. The emphasis, of course, is on the feathered dinosaur species, but it seems to me that the author and artist take the opportunity to put feathers in as many reptiles as possible, even on scant paleontological evidence. Perhaps they thought this way it would be easier for the general public to understand the continuum between the two animal groups, but poetic and artistic license may go just a bit too far. Finally, the artist's comments on why he chose animal postures and colors were a nice documentation touch, but his arguments are not always convincing and the images themselves sometimes verge, to my opinion, on the kitsch.
Overall it is a good try on the subject, one of the most controversial in modern paleontology, but it could have done with less flamboyance and more quality and substance.

a real bad dude, 04 Dec 2007
a thoroughly enjoyable read, dedicated to the lifestyle of a true superpredator an immense crocodylian which co-existed with and evidently dominated the dinosaurs of its era. no colour plates unfortunately but that didn't detract from the quality of the text. a must read for anyone interested in paleontology

Dubbed "Supercroc", 03 Dec 2002
I enjoyed the book and I'd like to recommend to those who are interested in palaeontolgy, fossils and crocs. To begin with, two points to comment in negative way, although these can't ruin the piece.
One is about not excellent quality of illustrations. The comparison is those of recent books of dinosaurs in which we see once-lived creatures resurrected vividly. I'm afraid to say they are not adequate for the contents.
The other is trivial and quite understandable. The feature of this book is, without question, Deinosuchus. However, due to the nature of fossilization and scarcity of materials, its complete restoration is so far impossible. In that sense, the author did his best and I think he could secceed in profiling this monster.
In spite of above mentioned, then what made this book so interesting and worth reading?
First of all, if I'm not wrong, nobody has written fossil crocs as this book. Second, it's well written and easy to read. So, there might be no one to be bothered by jargon.
Third, not only focused on Deinosuchus itself (& other relatives), but also he tried to reconstruct its whole surroundings. Its geological history is very well documented. Especially its local habitat, including historical one, is superbly described. Actually, much more pages shared for the theme.
Well done!

Buy for the graphics not for the text, 06 Sep 2007
The idea that this relatively thin volume could possibly be a 'complete' g