Taking Wing: Archaeopteryx and the Evolution of Bird Flight

The other reviews accurately describe the contents of this book. What I want to emphasize is Shipman's writing. This is probably the best written science book I have ever read. The author breaks down the book into smaller stories, such as the discovery of the fossils themselves, the structure of the skeletal joints of dinosaurs and modern birds, and the evolution and aerodynamics of feathers to name a few. Also recounted are the some of the more interesting human characters interpreting the fossil record of these little birds for the past 150 years. All of this is told in a lively, informal fashion. Yet Shipman does not shy away from some of the more technical details, and that is part of the joy of this book. Instead, she takes us by the hand and leads us through the details, never trying to oversimplify things, but never boring us, either. It reads like a novel.My only complaint is that the illustrations, in the paperback edition I read, are reduced to such a tiny size that they are often very hard or impossible to read. This is a shame, because the illustrations are really necessary to understand some of the concepts presented here. But don't let that stop you--get a magnifying glass and let your mind soar back tens of thousands of millenia to the time when little Archaeopteryx lived and died.This is a great book.

Just got back from seeing the only specimen of Archaeopteryx in the Americas, in Thermopolis,Wyoming. Information is slightly dated, but an excellent and thorough review of the controversies around Archaeopteryx, especially in the era before the recent spate of Chinese feathered dinosaurs from Liaoning. After this and Alan Feduccia’s Origin and Evolution of Birds, and Gregory Paul’s Dinosaurs of the Air, I feel a bit more prepared to tackle Peter Wellnhofer. But Pat Shipman is a good place to start for anyone interested in where birds came from and how flight arose in birds.

Probably more of a read than casual readers would care for, but very interesting subject for me. You will learn about birds and is a good complimentary book for those studying bird morphology and pre-history.

What a great read. Deals with much of how and why birds evolved flight and how archaeopteryx fits into the picture. Quite detailed, if your not into the science/ biology, it might be a little too technical in parts: these can be skipped if needed. However, it is a geat review of all the available evidence, opinions and arguments supporting/ opposing the dinosaurian origins of archaeopteryx and a very detailed account at that!

Book in very good condition, although may have been in a humid environment as some buckling or page warping has occurred. Arrived quickly nevertheless, and is in fine condition for reading... overall positive buying experience

Beautifully written, lots of interesting detail about the evolution of flight in animals and explanations of what debates among scientists over these issues can be like. Very entertaining and educational.

Wonderful book, a little dense at times but very good

all about the bird

livre broché format poche papier recyclé datant de 1998; c'est un essai scientifique décrivant la découverte de ce fossile et toutes les questions que les savant se sont posées concernant l'évolution de ces créatures vers le vol; texte passionnant suffisamment illustrés de croquis, dessins schémas en n&b, jamais en couleur; cet ouvrage scientifique est bien écrit et même si son iconographie le rend un peu austère, c'est un très bon livre à avoir dans sa bibliothèque