Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know by Dr Dean Lomax

Travel back to the prehistoric world and discover the most fascinating parts of the lives of Earth’s most awe-inspiring creatures – the dinosaurs.

Dr Dean Lomax brings these prehistoric creatures to life in ten bite-sized essays, written for people short on time but not curiosity. Making big ideas simple, Dean takes readers on a journey to uncover what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, what dinosaurs ate, how they evolved, what caused them to go extinct, and more!

Perfect for anyone fascinated by the dinosaur exhibits at museums, palaeontology, and fans of Jurassic Park.

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Ever since I was a child, I’ve been a big fan of dinosaurs.  It’s a love that has stayed with me into my adult life, and a topic that I’m happy to read about even though I don’t delve into non-fiction all that often.

Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know is a wonderfully short book – I read it in a single, lazy afternoon – which briefly touches upon 10 facts about dinosaurs.  Through ten chapters, Dr Lomax shares some of the new insights and discoveries in the field of palaeontology, yet also highlights the gaps in our knowledge.  He’s clear about what is hypothesis as opposed to fact, and the evidence that any current theories are based upon.  It makes for a fascinating and informative read, told in simple and engaging language that those with only a passing interest can follow. 

For a short book, it’s broad in scope, and I liked the structure which starts with the big things, such as what the world was like at the time, and what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur.  It then gets more into the detail – what they ate, how family orientated they were – before moving on to the inevitable conclusion of how they were wiped out. It’s a fascinating whirlwind tour of the latest insights, and a great book for the dinosaur lovers out there. It may even suit some younger readers given its brevity and straightforward language.

Not everything in this book was new to me, but there was one topic included that I’ve never even considered before.  Dinosaur sex.  How did dinosaurs get it on?  And – the thought that has really stayed with me – how did the stegosaurus in particular do it?  Those bony back plates and spiky tail are not conducive to (I’m trying to keep it polite) certain methods… 😬 After planting what is proving to be an immovable thought in my mind (thanks for that!), Dr Lomax goes on to say that little is known about dinosaur sex, although is apparently a hot topic amongst palaeontologists but, short of finding a pair that were caught in the act, we may not be to say how the act was undertaken with any certainty. 

It feels a little odd to comment on the acknowledgments in any detail, but Dr Lomax does mention something in his that I think bears highlighting.  Many careers have traditional and well-established entry routes, and some will tell you that you’re wasting your time in trying an alternative path.  Dr Lomax’s own route into palaeontology wasn’t standard, and by his own admission, he was an average student who wasn’t able to study A-level science and didn’t undertake an undergraduate degree.  He has still achieved his goals, as his work and this book are a testament to, and I think it’s admirable to admit to it, but I also like the encouragement to follow one’s dreams, even if it’s via the road less travelled.  I wish I’d been told this when I was younger, and that more people – the younger generation in particular – knew it now.

Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know is a fascinating whirlwind tour of dinosaurs and the latest discoveries in palaeontology.  The writing style is engaging, and aimed at those with a casual interest rather than Dr Lomax’s fellow experts.  Recommended for those with an interest in the topic whether it’s familiar to you or a new area of interest.