The Worst of Times: How Life on Earth Survived Eighty Million Years of Extinctions Hardcover - 2015

From the rear cover

"We often think of extraterrestrial impacts, such as the one that killed off the dinosaurs, as the primary cause of mass extinction. But in this elegantly written book, Paul Wignall cites large volcanic eruptions as the most likely cause of several earlier mass extinctions, and offers a cogent analysis of why, since the Jurassic, such eruptions have posed less of a threat to life on Earth."--David J. Bottjer, University of Southern California

[An] excellent introduction to the latest thinking about this key period in Earth's history. . . . Wignall's book is enthralling.--New Scientist

"Wignall does a wonderful job of describing the mass extinctions from the Middle Permian through the Jurassic. His personal contributions to this field have been influential, and it is great fun to read about the subject through his eyes and the experiences of his research team. I really enjoyed this informative and entertaining book."--Jonathan Payne, Stanford University

"Wignall covers everything from volcanic eruptions and the carbon cycle to climate reconstruction and the possible role the Pangea supercontinent may have played in these devastating events. This is a story well told."--Michael J. Benton, author ofThe History of Life: A Very Short Introduction

Media reviews

Citations

• Choice, 04/01/2016, Page 0
• Discover, 11/01/2015, Page 18
• Publishers Weekly, 08/17/2015, Page 0