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Dinopedia: A Brief Compendium of Dinosaur Lore
An illuminating and entertaining collection of dinosaur facts, from A to Z
Dinopedia is an illustrated, pocket-friendly encyclopedia of all things dinosaurian. Featuring dozens of entries on topics ranging from hadrosaur nesting colonies to modern fossil hunters and paleontologists such as Halszka Osmólska and Paul Sereno, this amazing A-Z compendium is brimming with facts about these thrilling, complex, and sophisticated animals.
Almost everything we know about dinosaurs has changed in recent decades. A scientific revolution, kick-started in the late 1960s by astounding new discoveries and a succession of new ideas, has shown that these magnificent creatures were marvels of evolution that surpassed modern reptiles and mammals in size, athletic abilities, and more. Darren Naish sheds invaluable light on our current, fast-changing understanding of dinosaur diversity and evolutionary history, and discusses the cultural impacts of dinosaurs through books, magazines, and movies. Naish also shows how our emerging view of these animals is very much a human story about ambition and competing egos, revealing that controversy and disagreement are commonplace in the vigorous field of dinosaur studies.
With a wealth of original illustrations by the author, Dinopedia is an informative and entertaining collection of lore for the dinosaur lover in all of us. Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design
Dinopedia is an illustrated, pocket-friendly encyclopedia of all things dinosaurian. Featuring dozens of entries on topics ranging from hadrosaur nesting colonies to modern fossil hunters and paleontologists such as Halszka Osmólska and Paul Sereno, this amazing A-Z compendium is brimming with facts about these thrilling, complex, and sophisticated animals.
Almost everything we know about dinosaurs has changed in recent decades. A scientific revolution, kick-started in the late 1960s by astounding new discoveries and a succession of new ideas, has shown that these magnificent creatures were marvels of evolution that surpassed modern reptiles and mammals in size, athletic abilities, and more. Darren Naish sheds invaluable light on our current, fast-changing understanding of dinosaur diversity and evolutionary history, and discusses the cultural impacts of dinosaurs through books, magazines, and movies. Naish also shows how our emerging view of these animals is very much a human story about ambition and competing egos, revealing that controversy and disagreement are commonplace in the vigorous field of dinosaur studies.
With a wealth of original illustrations by the author, Dinopedia is an informative and entertaining collection of lore for the dinosaur lover in all of us. Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design
216 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2021
48 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Darren Naish
66 books49 followersDarren Naish is a British vertebrate palaeontologist and science writer. He obtained a geology degree at the University of Southampton and later studied vertebrate palaeontology under British palaeontologist David Martill at the University of Portsmouth, where he obtained both an M. Phil. and PhD.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 4, 2021
Both a book of well-written trivia and an up-to-date primer on dinosaur diversity, Dinopedia makes the perfect gift for the dinofan who needs a bit more substance from their reading. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2021...
April 10, 2024
✨dinosaurs✨
April 21, 2022
This book is a must read for anyone interested in dinosaurs in my opinion. Darren Naish has managed to fit a lot of information about these amazing animals, as well as the people who have studied them, their history and their cultural impact in a comparatively short book.
The information is presented in an easy to understand format, not requiring too much knowledge of advanced scientific vocabulary or processes, nor is it made *too* simple so as to be uninteresting, something I greatly appreciate as a paleontology enthusiast as too often dinosaur books are written explicitly for children and therefore tend to have very simplistic details. (There's no issue with such books for children of course, I simply wish my local book shops stocked more adult orientated dinosaur books)
My only real complaint is that there are no pronunciation guides next to the more complex names, which may be frustrating for people who have never heard of certain dinosaurs (I myself struggled quite a bit with Ophisthocoelicaudia for example). Also the fact that clades and species tend to share extremely similar names, so it can get confusing but this is not really a fault of the book and is simply the way taxonomy works.
What you will find here is a simple, yet very effective guide to dinosaurs and the history surrounding them that is perfect for teenagers and adults who are interested in this topic. Highly recommend, either as an entry point or simply as a handy pocket guide for dinosaur lore.
The information is presented in an easy to understand format, not requiring too much knowledge of advanced scientific vocabulary or processes, nor is it made *too* simple so as to be uninteresting, something I greatly appreciate as a paleontology enthusiast as too often dinosaur books are written explicitly for children and therefore tend to have very simplistic details. (There's no issue with such books for children of course, I simply wish my local book shops stocked more adult orientated dinosaur books)
My only real complaint is that there are no pronunciation guides next to the more complex names, which may be frustrating for people who have never heard of certain dinosaurs (I myself struggled quite a bit with Ophisthocoelicaudia for example). Also the fact that clades and species tend to share extremely similar names, so it can get confusing but this is not really a fault of the book and is simply the way taxonomy works.
What you will find here is a simple, yet very effective guide to dinosaurs and the history surrounding them that is perfect for teenagers and adults who are interested in this topic. Highly recommend, either as an entry point or simply as a handy pocket guide for dinosaur lore.
April 17, 2024
It’s not nearly in-depth on species and types as I had originally hoped and it tends to get a bit argumentative at times however it’s a good starting point to learn from.
May 28, 2023
Very cute and well written, would have benefited tremendously from 200 pages more length and full size format
May 11, 2025
Dino-Renaissance-Pedia ( www.amazon.com/review/R2CVSWQO7RN0QK/... ): 5/5
Naish's "Dinopedia: A Brief Compendium of Dinosaur Lore" (henceforth DA) is technically an encyclopedia, but not like most other dino encyclopedias (E.g. Holtz's "Dinosaurs" & Weishampel et al.'s "The Dinosauria"): For 1, while most dino encyclopedias are targeted at either kids or specialists, DA is targeted at adult casual readers; For another, see the Dictionary.com quote; While most dino encyclopedias cover "all branches of[...dino-related...]knowledge", DA covers "all aspects of one[...dino-related...]subject" (I.e. Dinos & their cultural impact since the 1970s). In this review, I list the 3 main reasons why I think DA is the best of its kind.*
1) Remember what I said about Norell et al.'s writing in "Discovering Dinosaurs: Evolution, Extinction, and the Lessons of Prehistory, Expanded and Updated" ( www.goodreads.com/review/show/3476348912 )? The same goes for DA. This makes sense given Naish's focus on quality over quantity, especially when it comes to science writing (See "ON BEING A SCIENCE WRITER": https://darrennaish.wordpress.com/pub... ).
2) I've always liked Naish's paleoart for what it is. It's not especially flashy or life-like, but it doesn't need to be.** The best way I can describe it is the life reconstruction equivalent of good skeletals (I.e. Dependably accurate & distinctive in style: www.skeletaldrawing.com/home/2012/01/... ). This makes it perfect for comparative anatomy & cladistics. It also helps that Naish's soft lines & subtle gray textures are easy on the eyes.
3) Remember what I said about Stan/Jan's BB work (I.e. "It feels like[...]the creatures in the mind of a concerned parent whose only knowledge of [dinos] comes from the films of the 30s and the 50s": www.goodreads.com/review/show/3510432213 )? As indicated by Ross et al.'s "The Posture of Tyrannosaurus rex: Why Do Student Views Lag Behind the Science?", not much has changed since then, which is why DA is perfect for adult casual readers. Put another way, see the Naish quote.
*I hope that DA will be updated every few years (& thus, always up-to-date). If so, it'll definitely be the best of its kind, similar to how Naish/Barrett's "Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved" is the best natural history of dinos for adult casual readers.
**For especially flashy & life-like paleoart, see that of Luis V. Rey & Robert Nicholls, respectively.
Quoting Dictionary.com: "a book, set of books, optical disc, mobile device, or online informational resource containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical arrangement, covering all branches of knowledge or, less commonly, all aspects of one subject."
Quoting Naish ( https://press.princeton.edu/ideas/how... ): "Today, things in dinosaur science are so fast-paced, so dynamic that most scientists active in the field see little reason to look back on, or talk about, those events of decades past. We’ve moved so far ahead of them that we should perhaps discuss being in a post-Renaissance phase, or even an Enlightenment phase in which the impacts of the Renaissance have been essentially absorbed and largely accepted. With that in mind, there’s a need more than ever to review the history of dinosaur research again, to look at events with a critical and more nuanced eye, and to help compile a narrative that’s fairer and truer to what seems to have actually happened. It’s this and more that I aimed to include in Dinopedia, and I hope I succeeded."
Naish's "Dinopedia: A Brief Compendium of Dinosaur Lore" (henceforth DA) is technically an encyclopedia, but not like most other dino encyclopedias (E.g. Holtz's "Dinosaurs" & Weishampel et al.'s "The Dinosauria"): For 1, while most dino encyclopedias are targeted at either kids or specialists, DA is targeted at adult casual readers; For another, see the Dictionary.com quote; While most dino encyclopedias cover "all branches of[...dino-related...]knowledge", DA covers "all aspects of one[...dino-related...]subject" (I.e. Dinos & their cultural impact since the 1970s). In this review, I list the 3 main reasons why I think DA is the best of its kind.*
1) Remember what I said about Norell et al.'s writing in "Discovering Dinosaurs: Evolution, Extinction, and the Lessons of Prehistory, Expanded and Updated" ( www.goodreads.com/review/show/3476348912 )? The same goes for DA. This makes sense given Naish's focus on quality over quantity, especially when it comes to science writing (See "ON BEING A SCIENCE WRITER": https://darrennaish.wordpress.com/pub... ).
2) I've always liked Naish's paleoart for what it is. It's not especially flashy or life-like, but it doesn't need to be.** The best way I can describe it is the life reconstruction equivalent of good skeletals (I.e. Dependably accurate & distinctive in style: www.skeletaldrawing.com/home/2012/01/... ). This makes it perfect for comparative anatomy & cladistics. It also helps that Naish's soft lines & subtle gray textures are easy on the eyes.
3) Remember what I said about Stan/Jan's BB work (I.e. "It feels like[...]the creatures in the mind of a concerned parent whose only knowledge of [dinos] comes from the films of the 30s and the 50s": www.goodreads.com/review/show/3510432213 )? As indicated by Ross et al.'s "The Posture of Tyrannosaurus rex: Why Do Student Views Lag Behind the Science?", not much has changed since then, which is why DA is perfect for adult casual readers. Put another way, see the Naish quote.
*I hope that DA will be updated every few years (& thus, always up-to-date). If so, it'll definitely be the best of its kind, similar to how Naish/Barrett's "Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved" is the best natural history of dinos for adult casual readers.
**For especially flashy & life-like paleoart, see that of Luis V. Rey & Robert Nicholls, respectively.
Quoting Dictionary.com: "a book, set of books, optical disc, mobile device, or online informational resource containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical arrangement, covering all branches of knowledge or, less commonly, all aspects of one subject."
Quoting Naish ( https://press.princeton.edu/ideas/how... ): "Today, things in dinosaur science are so fast-paced, so dynamic that most scientists active in the field see little reason to look back on, or talk about, those events of decades past. We’ve moved so far ahead of them that we should perhaps discuss being in a post-Renaissance phase, or even an Enlightenment phase in which the impacts of the Renaissance have been essentially absorbed and largely accepted. With that in mind, there’s a need more than ever to review the history of dinosaur research again, to look at events with a critical and more nuanced eye, and to help compile a narrative that’s fairer and truer to what seems to have actually happened. It’s this and more that I aimed to include in Dinopedia, and I hope I succeeded."
November 9, 2021
A buoyant overview of what we think about dinosaurs today. This handsome little book is organized alphabetically by topic, covering not just the main dinosaur clades but also notable paleontologists, concepts, fossil sites, controversies, and art. Although it lacks a table of contents, limiting its use as a quick reference, I found myself enjoying the surprise as I read it cover to cover. Naish has an amiable, direct style, mixing confident proclamations about some theories with a refreshing honesty about the debates that remain unsettled.
As a general interest reader, I relished the entries on pop culture and important figures. Naish covers a ton of ground with his judicious selections. The entries on distinct dinosaur clades were tougher sledding, requiring extensive cross-reference. These latter entries have a high degree of difficulty, as Naish reviews a)the history of the clade, b)the history of the word used for the clade, c)the main characteristics of the dinosaurs found within it, and d)the unsettled parts that keep paleontologists up at night, all in two pages. After an hour or two away, I found it hard to remember whether Ceratosaurs were or were not included in Tetanurans and why.
The book's slim, tactile presentation is wonderful. However, some of the illustrations appear a little washed out, making it hard to appreciate details (see Acrocanthosaurus on page 4).
As a general interest reader, I relished the entries on pop culture and important figures. Naish covers a ton of ground with his judicious selections. The entries on distinct dinosaur clades were tougher sledding, requiring extensive cross-reference. These latter entries have a high degree of difficulty, as Naish reviews a)the history of the clade, b)the history of the word used for the clade, c)the main characteristics of the dinosaurs found within it, and d)the unsettled parts that keep paleontologists up at night, all in two pages. After an hour or two away, I found it hard to remember whether Ceratosaurs were or were not included in Tetanurans and why.
The book's slim, tactile presentation is wonderful. However, some of the illustrations appear a little washed out, making it hard to appreciate details (see Acrocanthosaurus on page 4).
February 25, 2022
An interesting A-Z book filled with facts on various dinosaurs (how they may have looked and lived), some places where dinosaurs fossils have been found, and some people who have influenced how the world sees dinosaurs. It also features dinosaur illustrations by the author.
The book is probably best read by those who already know something about dinosaurs and some terminology used to describe dinosaurs (their names, groups, clades, etc.), and are looking for a quick dive into specific topics on dinosaurs.
The book is probably best read by those who already know something about dinosaurs and some terminology used to describe dinosaurs (their names, groups, clades, etc.), and are looking for a quick dive into specific topics on dinosaurs.
November 6, 2021
A wonderfully written book: not too long and yet perfectly elaborate and in depth to be the perfect book for the layperson and expert alike in dinosaur palaeontology.
It is well illustrated with detailed, scientific sketches throughout the book - though it’s not perhaps not as richly illustrated as a children’s book.
Overall an excellent read and would highly recommend for anyone interested in dinosaurs and dinosaur palaeontology.
It is well illustrated with detailed, scientific sketches throughout the book - though it’s not perhaps not as richly illustrated as a children’s book.
Overall an excellent read and would highly recommend for anyone interested in dinosaurs and dinosaur palaeontology.
August 29, 2022
A dinosaur newbie like me might be better off starting with a more basic introduction to the field. This volume of Princeton’s “Pedia” series spends a great deal of time on technical matters like naming and classification—so much so that at times I felt as awash in unfamiliar names as I do when wading through Old Testament genealogies. Nevertheless, the author’s illustrations are charming, and there is some fun dino-lore here.
October 14, 2022
This took way longer than I would have liked. Immensely interesting and nicely illustrated, but a difficult read due to the dictionary-like structure and heavy use of jargon. Naish is a fantastic writer and palaeontologist, but he does like to shove that fact in your face in every one of his books, which grated on me a bit with this one.
All in all a recommended read for those with existing dinosaur knowledge, but it might prove a bit overwhelming for newcomers.
All in all a recommended read for those with existing dinosaur knowledge, but it might prove a bit overwhelming for newcomers.
February 25, 2022
Книга короткая, выбор глав субъективный, иллюстрации странноватые...
Но автор умудряется в каждой главе либо дать какой-то неочевидный факт, либо показать знакомых динозавров с необычного угла (хотя казалось бы, что нового можно сказать о тираннозавре рексе!), либо просто выстроить мешанину разрозненных фактоидов в связный нарратив.
Отличная книга.
Но автор умудряется в каждой главе либо дать какой-то неочевидный факт, либо показать знакомых динозавров с необычного угла (хотя казалось бы, что нового можно сказать о тираннозавре рексе!), либо просто выстроить мешанину разрозненных фактоидов в связный нарратив.
Отличная книга.
August 13, 2022
Dinopedia, Eotyrannus, and of course Prehistoric Planet just in the last year-ish. This is Darren Naish’s world and we’re just living in it. I don’t even like dinosaurs all that much and yet I somehow end up consuming all his content. I’m so happy I got a chance to pick this up and I am super looking forward to the marine reptiles book!
March 2, 2022
A delightful overview of many of the names, places, and creatures important to the modern study of palaeontology. I found the approachable and conversational writing style of "Dinopedia" a draw and would recommend it for young dinosaur fans and older science buffs alike.
May 22, 2022
It was ok but frankly, the Encyclopedia format of this book didn't do the subject matter, nor the author's writing ability, justice. I enjoyed his writing style, and will look for more books by him, but this one just didn't do it for me because of the format.
July 14, 2024
Recent Reads: Dinopedia. Darren Naish's pocket guide to modern dinosaur thought is essential reading. Surprisingly narrative in its encyclopedia format, it guides you through the various clades and key species, across their multi-million year history. Scientific detective work.
April 21, 2024
Great bedtime dinosaur reading
May 1, 2024
A nice mini overview of dinosaurs and paleontology.
July 13, 2024
A great small book for anyone whether you're new to dinosaurs or want to refresh some knowledge
June 18, 2025
A really excellent, comprehensive, palatable intro to all things dinosaurs. If you want to take your dino knowledge to the next level, this is an excellent place to start. 10/10 would recommend
September 8, 2025
I rated this highly because I am a taxonomy nerd, and this book contains an excellent overview of taxonomy re. dinosaurs.
September 1, 2025
Ein wundervolles Buch für Dino-Nerds. Es gibt so viel zu lernen (es ist schließlich ein Dino-Lexikon), aber die Zeichnungen sind auch super schön und machen einfach Spaß, das Buch anzuschauen.
Mein persönliches Highlight war der Dino-People-Gossip. Ach ja, da haben sich zwei Männer gebattled, wer mehr Dinos benennen kann? Tell me more. 🫖 Ein Mann, der berühmt für seine Entdeckungen ist, aber eigentlich hat seine Frau die Dinos gefunden? Clock it. ⏰ Mit einzubauen, dass das T-Rex-Skelett in New York they/them-Pronomen verwendet, wie auf their X-Account angegeben? Incredible.
Mein persönliches Highlight war der Dino-People-Gossip. Ach ja, da haben sich zwei Männer gebattled, wer mehr Dinos benennen kann? Tell me more. 🫖 Ein Mann, der berühmt für seine Entdeckungen ist, aber eigentlich hat seine Frau die Dinos gefunden? Clock it. ⏰ Mit einzubauen, dass das T-Rex-Skelett in New York they/them-Pronomen verwendet, wie auf their X-Account angegeben? Incredible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2024
i 💗 dinos 🦕🦕🦕🦕🦕🦕
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews