History of Life - Softcover

Praise for previous editions:"Cowens book is refreshing and radically different from most other textbook of this genre as it presents to the non-scientist the study of paleontology and the history of lifew as a dynamic and exciting science." (Journal of the Society for Sedimentary Geology)

The living world today contains all kinds of creatures that do unexpected things - we have come to expect that there were complex and unusual ways of life in the past, and that evolution took some unexpected turns at times. Entertainingly written for students, "History of Life, 3rd Edition" takes you to the edge of current knowledge. The text covers the field succinctly with the appropriate depth - for the undergraduate market. This is the only book on the market to cover the vertebrates in depth - the easiest group or organisms for the student to focus on. The examples are drawn from both vertebrate and invertebrate fossil record - all animal life is detailed. The careful choice of subject matter makes this book suitable for introductory courses - it covers only the key processes that have shaped the Earth. The features new to this edition include: fuller coverage of invertebrates within the text and an appendix dedicated to them; glossary and key terms; updated art program; web site component with additional artwork, text, and discussion forums.