If you want to go beyond dinosaurs to explore the Earth’s entire past, try
Steven Stanley’s Earth System History. Widely used as an introductory college
textbook, it covers the evolution of Earth itself and the living things that
inhabit it. The text and illustrations clearly explain the workings of our
planet, though the vast scope leaves little room for details on individual
animals. Published by W. H. Freeman, $69.95, ISBN 0716733773.
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