Author: Thomas Halliday
My Rating: 👍👍👍👍
My Review: This is an amazing book full of factual information about evolution, biology, botany, geology and every other kind ology you can think of. I found myself getting a little overwhelmed with the amount of information and I probably only absorbed a small fraction. I think my favorite chapter was the last chapter (epilogue) that discusses humans and our role in what is likely the sixth extinction event in the history of Earth.
Description (Audible): This book is an exploration of the Earth as it used to exist, the changes that have occurred during its history, and the ways that life has found to adapt―or not. It takes us from the savannahs of Pliocene Kenya to watch a python chase a group of australopithecines into an acacia tree; to a cliff overlooking the salt pans of the empty basin of what will be the Mediterranean Sea just as water from the Miocene Atlantic Ocean spills in; into the tropical forests of Eocene Antarctica; and under the shallow pools of Ediacaran Australia, where we glimpse the first microbial life.
Otherlands also offers us a vast perspective on the current state of the planet. The thought that something as vast as the Great Barrier Reef, for example, with all its vibrant diversity, might one day soon be gone sounds improbable. But the fossil record shows us that this sort of wholesale change is not only possible but has repeatedly happened throughout Earth history.
Even as he operates on this broad canvas, Halliday brings us up close to the intricate relationships that defined these lost worlds. In novelistic prose that belies the breadth of his research, he illustrates how ecosystems are formed; how species die out and are replaced; and how species migrate, adapt, and collaborate. It is a breathtaking achievement: a surprisingly emotional narrative about the persistence of life, the fragility of seemingly permanent ecosystems, and the scope of deep time, all of which have something to tell us about our current crisis.
Description (ChatGPT): Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds by Thomas Halliday is a thrilling ride through the planet's prehistoric past, where time travel isn't just possible—it's downright awe-inspiring. Halliday invites readers to explore ancient ecosystems that vanished long before humans existed, from vast forests of towering ferns to deserts teeming with bizarre creatures. His prose is rich, vivid, and laced with just the right amount of humor, making extinct worlds feel both alien and strangely familiar. It’s like Jurassic Park, but with more science and less "run for your life" action. A captivating blend of history, imagination, and pure wonder.
Otherlands also offers us a vast perspective on the current state of the planet. The thought that something as vast as the Great Barrier Reef, for example, with all its vibrant diversity, might one day soon be gone sounds improbable. But the fossil record shows us that this sort of wholesale change is not only possible but has repeatedly happened throughout Earth history.
Even as he operates on this broad canvas, Halliday brings us up close to the intricate relationships that defined these lost worlds. In novelistic prose that belies the breadth of his research, he illustrates how ecosystems are formed; how species die out and are replaced; and how species migrate, adapt, and collaborate. It is a breathtaking achievement: a surprisingly emotional narrative about the persistence of life, the fragility of seemingly permanent ecosystems, and the scope of deep time, all of which have something to tell us about our current crisis.
Description (ChatGPT): Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds by Thomas Halliday is a thrilling ride through the planet's prehistoric past, where time travel isn't just possible—it's downright awe-inspiring. Halliday invites readers to explore ancient ecosystems that vanished long before humans existed, from vast forests of towering ferns to deserts teeming with bizarre creatures. His prose is rich, vivid, and laced with just the right amount of humor, making extinct worlds feel both alien and strangely familiar. It’s like Jurassic Park, but with more science and less "run for your life" action. A captivating blend of history, imagination, and pure wonder.
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