The popularity of dinosaurs seems never ending, fuelled by films such as "Jurassic Park" and documentaries ("Walking with Dinosaurs"). But how much do these popular programmes really tell us about the recent scientific discoveries and the latest research into the world of the dinosaur? This is the first book explain the latest findings in dinosaur research and the exciting scientific discoveries that have built up a picture of how dinosaurs looked, what they ate, and how they moved and interacted with each other. Taking a new approach to the subject, David Norman combines many areas of science, such as anatomy, genetics, forensics and engineering design, to piece together the evidence of how animal life evolved on earth, and why it did in the way that it did. David Norman also discusses the role that informed speculation and luck has played in many of the major discoveries. Starting with ancient myths of dinosaur-like monsters (dragons) and the history of the discovery of dinosaurs, he goes on to discuss their evolution and the many different techniques used to understand them, including the latest virtual reality animation sequences and engineering design analysis.

戴維•諾曼，劍橋大學基督學院塞奇威剋地球科學博物館館長，古脊椎動物學高級講師。他緻力於古生物學、解剖學和進化等領域的研究，已齣版多部圖書並獲奬，包括《恐龍百科圖解》、《恐龍！》等。

史立群，中國科學院古脊椎動物與古人類研究所編審，中國科學院自然科學期刊編輯研究會理事。長期從事《古脊椎動物學報》的編輯工作。已齣版多部科普譯著，包括《絕滅動物大全》、《鳥類》、《恐龍的奧秘》、《與野獸同行——史前探秘》、《完全恐龍寶典》等。