BEHOLD THE MIGHTY DINOSAUR

Professor John Kricher's delivery is so calm and practiced that early in this series of 14 lectures listeners may think he sounds almost bored. Fortunately, his sense of humor--as dry as the ancient bones he's discussing--soon surfaces. What's more, since Kricher recounts not just the formal scientific theories regarding dinosaurs, but also their ever evolving role in history and popular culture, the result is both pleasant and broadly educational. Kricher sketches the personalities involved in "the bone wars"--the quest to claim the mastery of dinosaurs in the public mind--and shows how these and other conflicts still color our understanding of these creatures. Along the way, he explains everything from bone structure to excavation techniques, always with an apt analogy or image to aid understanding. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]