When Life Nearly Died
The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time
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When Life Nearly Died
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Narrated by:
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Julian Elfer
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Written by:
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Michael J. Benton
About this listen
Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. It is far less widely understood that a much greater catastrophe took place at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago: at least 90 percent of life on earth was destroyed.
When Life Nearly Died documents not only what happened during this gigantic mass extinction, but also the recent renewal of the idea of catastrophism: the theory that changes in the earth's crust were brought about suddenly in the past by phenomena that cannot be observed today. Was the end-Permian event caused by the impact of a huge meteorite or comet or by prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia? The evidence has been accumulating, and Michael J. Benton gives his verdict at the end of the volume.
The new edition brings the study of the greatest mass extinction of all time thoroughly up-to-date. In the years since the book was originally published, hundreds of geologists and paleontologists have been investigating all aspects of how life could be driven to the brink of annihilation, and especially how life recovered afterward, providing the foundations of modern ecosystems.
©2003, 2008, 2015 Thames & Hudson Ltd (P)2020 TantorWhat listeners say about When Life Nearly Died
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Henry F
- 2022-12-06
fascinating material, great delivery
if you thought to geology was a dull science this will change your mind. Benton outlines the history of geology and the fascinating characters involved. his dry wit is delivered perfectly by the narrator. And we witness his discoveries that helped advanced geology from the dark ages of gradualism to the current embrace catastrophic change.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karl
- 2020-12-31
Fascinating and Thorough
An excellent introduction to pre-dinosaur paleontology and geology. The complete history of the research, conjecture, and revolutions in perspective over the 200 years of study of Permian life gave a sound foundation for delving into mass extinctions and the great dying. This book is accessible to basically anyone interested in earth's biological history.
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2 people found this helpful