Prothero (geology, California Polytechnic Univ. Pomona; Bringing Fossils to Life) relates the story of evolution from the earliest pre-Cambrian fossils of stromatolites to Australopithecus afarensis, better known as Lucy. Along the way, he corrects the mistaken impression that major gaps in the fossil record still exist, discussing artifacts that are now recognized to be the earliest forms of both yesterday's dinosaurs and today's plants and animals. He describes how land animals came into being and how whales and dolphins returned to water and lost their legs again. He also uses the fossil record to prove that the Loch Ness Monster, mermaids, and Mokele Mbembe cannot possibly exist, and explains what the Jurassic Park movies got wrong—and right. Prothero writes in a conversational, humorous style, creating a text that will be as engaging and accessible to the layperson as to those with science backgrounds. Each chapter is full of illustrations and includes a guide to museums around the world, where the fossils covered in that chapter can be seen by the public. VERDICT Of particular appeal to those who enjoy the writings of Stephen Jay Gould but ideal for anyone interested in the origins of life on earth.—Rachel Owens, Daytona State Coll. Lib., FL