Book recommendations

[tyrantqueen]

Dougal Dixon's Illustrated Enyclopedia of Dinosaurs seems like a good choice if you prefer an encyclopedia format. Here's a example of the layout





Also consider The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, by Gregory S Paul (although it comes with a few provisos...) We had a very similar thread started that you might want to check out http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=2117.msg56365#msg56365

If money was no object, then a great book to choose would be Don Glut's encyclopedia.

[LaFanda]

That looks perfect, thanks! 

[Jetoar]

Really wonderful .

[HD-man]

Hello, I was wondering if someone on here could help me pick a good dinosaur encyclopedia. I've been a fan of dinosaurs for a long time, I just haven't really found a book to enjoy about them. I'd like to find an encyclopedia that has a variety of dinosaurs with illustrations and has basic information such as time period, size, location, and a little blurb about the dinosaur. Most of the ones I have found were for children, and I'm looking for a more advanced encyclopedia that isn't made for a college professor. I'd like a thick book (the bigger the better) without being incredibly expensive.

I have the 2001 Animal Encyclopedia, and if anyone is familiar with the book I would love a dinosaur-version of it. I really enjoy my animal encyclopedia and if there is a dinosaur equivalent I would be very interested in it. I'll post the link to my animal book so you can get a feel of what I am looking for.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/smithsonian-institution-animal-david-burnie/1112925442?ean=9780789477644

As "a dinosaur-version of...my animal encyclopedia", Holtz's Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages is the best choice for reasons discussed earlier in this thread (See my 1st post: http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=177.80 ).

Dougal Dixon's Illustrated Enyclopedia of Dinosaurs seems like a good choice if you prefer an encyclopedia format. Here's a example of the layout

That looks perfect, thanks! 

It's a trap! Seriously, though, Dixon's not a good source of dino info. To quote GSPaul ( http://www.gspauldino.com/Tertiary.pdf ), "Dixon has a superfi-cial understanding of dinosaur and pterosaur biology, and of their actual evolutionary patterns- i. e. he is not familiar with the technical literature, a necessity since the popular literature re-mains incomplete and sometimes obsolete...In addition, he wants to make archosaurs more mammalian than is appropriate". I hate to say it b/c, based on what I've read ( https://matthewbonnan.wordpress.com/2013/12/26/now-the-circle-is-complete-or-a-belated-dinosaur-christmas-gift/ ), Dixon's a nice guy.

[tyrantqueen]

It's a trap! Seriously, though, Dixon's not a good source of dino info. To quote GSPaul ( http://www.gspauldino.com/Tertiary.pdf ), "Dixon has a superfi-cial understanding of dinosaur and pterosaur biology, and of their actual evolutionary patterns- i. e. he is not familiar with the technical literature, a necessity since the popular literature re-mains incomplete and sometimes obsolete...In addition, he wants to make archosaurs more mammalian than is appropriate". I hate to say it b/c, based on what I've read ( http://matthewbonnan.wordpress.com ), Dixon's a nice guy.

I guess you're right, as a source of detailed information it is a bit lacking.

But notice the OP did mention this in the original post:

I'd like to find an encyclopedia that has a variety of dinosaurs with illustrations and has basic information such as time period, size, location, and a little blurb about the dinosaur.

I think that Dixon's book suits that request pretty well. Holtz's book is great too, but it doesn't cover individual species in detail.

[DinoToyForum]

My review of Plesiosaur Peril by Daniel Loxton:
http://plesiosauria.com/news/index.php/book-review-plesiosaur-peril-by-daniel-loxton/

[Libraraptor]

My review of Plesiosaur Peril by Daniel Loxton:
http://plesiosauria.com/news/index.php/book-review-plesiosaur-peril-by-daniel-loxton/

Beautiful book, cool review!

Yesterday I ordered myself a copy of Colin Tudge´s "The Variety Of Life" 
http://www.amazon.de/Variety-Life-survey-celebration-creatures/dp/0198604262/ref=sr_1_1?s=books-intl-de&ie=UTF8&qid=1397680251&sr=1-1&keywords=colin+tudge

[HD-man]

But notice the OP did mention this in the original post:

I'd like to find an encyclopedia that has a variety of dinosaurs with illustrations and has basic information such as time period, size, location, and a little blurb about the dinosaur.

I think that Dixon's book suits that request pretty well. Holtz's book is great too, but it doesn't cover individual species in detail.

To be fair, Holtz's "Dinosaur Genus List" ( http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/dinoappendix/HoltzappendixWinter2011.pdf ) includes most of the same info. The only major differences are the pics.

[wings]

But notice the OP did mention this in the original post:

I'd like to find an encyclopedia that has a variety of dinosaurs with illustrations and has basic information such as time period, size, location, and a little blurb about the dinosaur.

I think that Dixon's book suits that request pretty well. Holtz's book is great too, but it doesn't cover individual species in detail.

I have to agree that in some way Dixon's book maybe more suited to the request. For example, if you look at the entry for Parasaurolophus (image from TQ's post above) and compare the info given on both books (Holtz is on page 46 from HD-man's reference); you will see that Dixon mentioned the animal was studied by Parks (1922) (assuming Dixon probably listed Parks' in a reference section, if not it is still a good starting point for a search) , however such info is not given in Holtz's. You can always cross reference with the original publication from Dixon's (most of the time, if you can obtain these reference materials). Info wise Holtz's is clearly less descriptive (the only extra information that Holtz gave is the weight of the animal, in this case Parasaurolophus is weigh as much as a "rhino" in Holtz's; however, is Holtz talking about the black or white rhino? because their weight could be quite different).

[fleshanthos]

Just finished "The Complete Dinosaur" ISBN 0-253-33349-0. While it is rather old at 1997, it's not only nicely technical but also has some basic biology principles that the uneducated and brainless layman wouldn't yet know. So it doubles as a good preliminary primer.
Most of the skeletal measurements and studies should be pretty much just as valid today.

Unless some specialists reading this can weigh in?

[DinoToyForum]

I just reviewed another book,  Sticks 'N' Stones 'N' Dinosaur Bones, on my blog: http://plesiosauria.com/news/index.php/book-review-sticks-n-stones-n-dinosaur-bones/

A lot of fun 

[Scipionyx]

While this book has been suggested before, I highly recommend Peter Dodson's The Horned Dinosaurs. The few illustrations it has are really good ones by Wayne Barlowe, and the text is fun to read (at least I think so).  I'm sure by now it is outdated, because it was published in 1998, but there is some valuable information. I got my copy on Abebooks, but here is an Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Horned-Dinosaurs-Peter-Dodson/dp/0691059004/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398147159&sr=8-1&keywords=the+horned+dinosaurs

Also, Dinosaurs of Australia and New Zealand (http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Australia-Zealand-Animals-Mesozoic/dp/067420767X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398147966&sr=1-1&keywords=dinosaurs+of+Australia+and+New+zealand) has quite a few photos of fossils, and some nice illustrations by Peter Schouten. It was also published in 1998 and is probably outdated by now, but there are photographs and line drawings of things I've never seen before, such as the skull of Siderops, the jaw of Koolasuchus, a big photograph of Leaellynasaura's skull, back leg and tail bones from a Victorian Hypsilophodontid, and some nice photos of Marine Reptile skeletons. I'd especially recommend this to anyone with an interest in Australian and New Zealand Marine Reptiles, Dinosaurs and Temnospondyls.

[tyrantqueen]

Also, Dinosaurs of Australia and New Zealand (http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Australia-Zealand-Animals-Mesozoic/dp/067420767X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398147966&sr=1-1&keywords=dinosaurs+of+Australia+and+New+zealand) has quite a few photos of fossils, and some nice illustrations by Peter Schouten. It was also published in 1998 and is probably outdated by now, but there are photographs and line drawings of things I've never seen before, such as the skull of Siderops, the jaw of Koolasuchus, a big photograph of Leaellynasaura's skull, back leg and tail bones from a Victorian Hypsilophodontid, and some nice photos of Marine Reptile skeletons. I'd especially recommend this to anyone with an interest in Australian and New Zealand Marine Reptiles, Dinosaurs and Temnospondyls.

I'd second that recommendation. It's a great book.

[SpittersForEver]

I recomend Dinosaurs and Prehistoric animals.         

[HD-man]

I recomend Dinosaurs and Prehistoric animals.

Which 1? Many books have used that title.

[tyrantqueen]

Is GSP's coffee table book worth getting? I know it's expensive, but I like his art and I am wondering if there is any artwork in it that has not been reproduced elsewhere.



If it's just artwork that's been printed elsewhere, but in a better quality, I'll probably skip it. Any ideas?

[Everything_Dinosaur]

A bit of summer reading (northern hemisphere at least), we came across this book called "The Dinosaur Four" written by Colorado based author Geoff Jones.  Reviewers have stated that it is a cross between "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park".  Seems to have been quite well received and got some good comments.  A bit of science fiction with some adult themes, might be worth taking a look at the author's website.

"The Dinosaur Four": Author's website

Edit by admin - available on Amazon here.

[HD-man]

QUESTION: Has anyone here read Pickrell's Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231171781 )? If so, how is it quality-wise? Also, is it more for "casual readers" or "the enthusiast" ( http://whenpigsfly-returns.blogspot.com/2008/04/paleo-reading-list.html )? Based on what I've read about it, I'm thinking the latter, but want to make sure. Many thanks in advance.

[DinoToyForum]

QUESTION: Has anyone here read Pickrell's Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flying-Dinosaurs-Fearsome-Reptiles-Became/dp/174223366X/ref=la_B00K468QFQ_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402933384&sr=1-1 )? If so, how is it quality-wise? Also, is it more for "casual readers" or "the enthusiast" ( http://whenpigsfly-returns.blogspot.com/2008/04/paleo-reading-list.html )? Based on what I've read about it, I'm thinking the latter, but want to make sure. Many thanks in advance.

Nope, but it hasn't been released yet

[HD-man]

but it hasn't been released yet

Really? Maybe I'm missing something, but it says that the paperback came out on "June 1, 2014": http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Dinosaurs-Fearsome-Reptiles-Became/dp/174223366X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=