The Great Fossil Enigma: The Search for the Conodont Animal (Life of the Past)
"For those with an interest in conodont paleontology." —The Guardian"Knell focuses on discussions, antagonisms, diverse conclusions, and a slowly emerging consensus about where these tooth-like structures were located in the animal and to what group of known animals these fossils pertained. Readers will learn how scientists develop ideas and interact with colleagues, and how animosities and cooperative relationships develop and change.... Recommended." —Choice"...[A] valuable contribution to the history of science." —thisviewoflife.com"If you want a[n]...entertaining and interesting account of the discovery of knowledge through the analytical, political, and idiosyncratic activities of researchers, The Great Fossil Enigma will serve you well." —Science Magazine"Excellent and refreshing.... This will be the seminal source [on] the interpretation of conodonts and the origin of vertebrates.... Among the plethora of history of science books, and especially histories of... paleontology and the earth sciences, nothing comes close." —Michael J. Benton, University of Bristol"Simon Knell has written, and written particularly well, the history of our conception and misunderstanding of the conodonts. It is the best semi-popular account of the history of paleontology that I have read since Gould's Wonderful Life. The Great Fossil Engima deserves to be widely read and enjoyed, not just by those who work on conodonts, but by a broad cross-section of paleontologists, geologists and anyone with an interest in our understanding of the natural world." —Priscum"Quite a remarkable and well-executed story.... It should be of great interest not only to conodontologists but to paleontologists in general as well as to everyone interested in the history of science. I cannot think of any other comparable work dealing so thoroughly with the exploration history of a widespread and important fossil group." —Stig M. Bergström, Ohio State University