With stunning images and an expert guide, explore the world of fossils to uncover the story of life on Earth, from the origins of new life to mass extinctions.

Ancient Earth seems like an alien world. But the fossil record can help reveal the mysteries of the organisms that have lived on our planet since its formation some 4,600 million years ago. In this engaging and beautifully illustrated book, world-renowned paleontologist Paul D. Taylor provides a comprehensive guide to all aspects of fossils to tell the story of life on Earth.

Taylor begins with the basics: how fossils form, how they mark geological time, and what they tell us about the origins of life and major evolutionary events like the Cambrian Explosion. He then shows the oldest fossils—single-celled bacteria in amazing, three-billion-year-old microbial rock structures—before introducing the first animals in the fossil record. From fishes to amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, we meet these animal fossils in an appropriate evolutionary parade. Next, we imagine plants long past, charting the evolution of this kingdom and learning how ephemeral botanical remains can become permanent records. While comprehensive in his coverage of fossil groups and ages, Taylor pays particular attention to specimens fossil hunters are most likely to encounter, like crinoids and the iconic ammonites. Throughout, he introduces us to fascinating fossil folklore—like the idea that ammonites are the petrified remains of coiled snakes—and helps us distinguish true fossils from fakes.

With stunning color images of many original specimens from the collections of London’s Natural History Museum, Fossils is an essential introduction, connecting life on Earth today to the ancient past.

Paul D. Taylor has worked at the Natural History Museum, London, for forty-five years, heading the Fossil Invertebrate and Plants Division between 1990 and 2003. His research focuses on fossil and living bryozoans, as well as on evolution, paleoecology, and fossil folklore. He is coauthor of A History of Life in 100 Fossils.