Rocks, Not Dinosaurs

February 2022 | 4/5
Walter Alvarez is one of the scientists responsible for the theory that an interstellar object crashed into the Yucatan Peninsula sixty-five million years ago, triggering a series of events that lead to the mass extinction of three quarters of the plant and animal life on the planet including all the non-avian dinosaurs.

This book is a layman's guide into the research he conducted with his father and other scientists over the course of his career.

A quick read, ideal for anyone interested in geology or the impact hypothesis.

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1 person found this helpful

Fascinating. Pivotal. Cautionary.

This book is basically an exposition of how science evolves to come to a conclusion. The work of dedicated and curious researchers in the 80s and 90s eventually sorted out what killed off the dinosaurs 65 Million Years ago. The book is packed with edifying information that is easily consumable (Walter Alvarez admirably provides a painstakingly accurate listing of the evidence he and colleagues compiled for an extinction-event Impact without becoming overly technical). The foreword from New York Times/National Geographic Science Writer Carl Zimmer further makes the point that Alvarez's work underlines the precarious situation that humanity is in at all times. If the Universe "wanted' us gone - we would be *gone*.
Incredible food for thought.

Unfortunately, the narration from Joel Richards and production standards from Tantor Audio let the book down somewhat. Richards's diction, timbre, and cadence are fine - but his tone is much too uninterested and he reads glacially (setting playback speed at 1.20X is needed to render the recording tolerable). Additionally, Tantor Sound Engineers are unable to soften Richards's natural sibilance (avoid earbuds).

The evidence laid out in this book changed the attitudes of Geologists forever - essentially proving the concept of catastrophism belongs in the field. As such, it's an indispensable read for scientifically-minded readers who need to be reminded that what we think of as "truth" changes.. and serves as an example for how to construct and deliver a gamechanging Scientific argument outside of a Proceedings Congress somewhere.
The relatively weak delivery brings my rating down to 8 stars out of 10, but if you can get 'T. Rex and the Crater of Doom' on sale (as I did) it's well worth a download. If they ask for a Credit, give it some thought.. a text - paper or eBook - iteration may serve you better.

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so so interesting

great narration!!!
since President Kennedy's promise of going to the moon, NASA'S flights and, of course, Star Trek, I've always been waiting for the next adventure.
Now to see that something for space caused mass extinction and how the scientists were finally able to prove it explains so much to us.

For a Trekky like me this book was wonderful and a joy to listen to.

Thanks so much!!!!

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