In the geological record, there are five major mass extinctions-the "Big Five." The most famous happened at the end of the Cretaceous Period, when the dinosaurs and two-thirds of all marine animal species were wiped out, opening the door for the age of mammals and the rise of Homo Sapiens. Using this example as a springboard, David M. Raup leaps into an egaging discussion of the theories, assumptions, and difficulties associated with the science of species extinction. Woven is along the way are stories of the trilobite eye, tropical reefs, flying reptiles, and the fate of the heath hen on Martha's Vineyard, a very modern extinction.


About the Author
David M. Raup is the Sewell Avery Distinguished Service Professor and a statistical paleontologist at the University of Chicago. Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002) was the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Professor of Geology at Harvard University. He published over twenty books, received the National Book and National Book Critics Circle Awards, and a MacArthur Fellowship.

Reviews
"An eminently entertaining and informative read." -- Malcolm W. Browne - New York Times Book Review
"A delightful little book about life on this planet and about extinctions, in particular. It is as much about the philosophy and methodology of science as about the downside of evolution." -- Clark R. Chapman, Planetary Science Institute



Book Information
ISBN 9780393309270
Author David M. Raup
Format Paperback
Page Count 230
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 208mm * 140mm * 15mm