"A Natural History of Europe" by Tim Flannery Publisher: Strait Bookstore

Introduction · · · · · ·
In this book, renowned paleontologist Tim Flannery tells the natural history of Europe, from the interaction of continents 100 million years ago to the formation of the archipelago we call Europe today and the evolution of the first organisms with distinct European characteristics, to the coming and going of species caused by comet impacts and climate change, to the huge impact of the emergence of humans on the flora and fauna of the European continent after millions of years of evolution, and finally to the role of Europe in wildlife restoration today, and to the future of using biotechnology to rebuild Europe's lost species. Flannery combines elegant writing with scientific expertise, and tells the ups and downs of natural history and the evolution of life on one of the most influential lands on Earth in his unique style.

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★ Why Europe?

Europe is not only the fertile land that gave birth to the source of Western civilization, but also, on a broader time scale, it is a bridge connecting two-thirds of the earth's land - Asia, North America, and Africa - and is one of the most important communication centers in the history of the earth.

★ Why natural history?

When we talk about Europe, we must first think of the human civilization on this land: ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, and even two wars that influenced the world order. These histories have been told thousands of times, but there are few systematic and vivid records about this land itself and the ancient and diverse life on it.

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★ A rarely written history of Europe, starting from life and land, re-understanding Europe as a bridge

In this natural history of Europe, we rediscover Europe from a broader time scale and discover the power of this land itself that gave birth to a brilliant civilization.

★ A complete and coherent life history, not only belongs to the past, but also concerns the present and the future

From 100 million years ago to the 22nd century, from Cretaceous fossils to the resurrection of mammoths by genetic technology, this is a comprehensive and rich natural history, recording a large number of fossil and relic studies and explorations by naturalists and paleontologists, piecing together for us a coherent and wonderful European natural legend.

★ Crack the code of Europe's biodiversity and rediscover the traces of human ancestors here: This book provides the keyword "hybridization". Hybridization allows beneficial genes to be inherited during evolution, so that life, including humans, can survive in a constantly changing environment, shaping and transforming this land.

★ A collection of 30 years of European natural surveys, by a highly respected author

The author of this book has published more than 20 books on paleontology and natural history, which have been praised by Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and media such as Science, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Independent.

★ The book is full of storytelling, with European historical maps and colorful illustrations, making it vivid and easy to read.

The author has a fluent writing style and is good at using metaphors. He sprinkles historical anecdotes of paleontology throughout the text to enhance the reading interest; the reading experience is further enhanced with historical maps and species color illustrations.

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▲Nature: "Tim Flannery takes us from the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago to the present day... This is a rich and inspiring journey."

▲ Publishers Weekly star review: "In this marvelous work, Flannery pulls back the curtain on Europe's historical environment and glimpses its possible future... He shares a wealth of surprising facts, and this book should appeal to any reader interested in the past and future of the natural world."

▲ Kirkus Reviews: "A fascinating geological and natural history of Europe, from its origins as a tropical island arc to the present day, and to the challenges facing the world as it rapidly warms... This is an illuminating natural history and a warning for the future.

▲The Irish Times: "Bold and wise...Flannery not only looks back to the past but also looks forward to the future to see how prehistory will affect tomorrow."

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About the Author
Tim Flannery

Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, mammalogist, paleontologist, environmentalist, explorer, writer, natural resource conservationist and science communication activist.

In 1984, he obtained a doctorate in paleontology from the University of New South Wales, and then joined the Australian Museum as the head of the mammal collection. He has served as a professor at the University of Adelaide, director of the South Australian Museum, visiting professor of Australian studies at Harvard University, and professor at Macquarie University. In his research on paleontology and mammals, he has discovered dozens of new species that have never been described, and was selected as "Australian of the Year" in 2007.