Extinctions: How Life Survives, Adapts and Evolves

by Michael J. Benton

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Michael J. Benton FRS is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol. He is particularly interested in early reptiles, Triassic dinosaurs, and macroevolution, and has published over 50 books and 300 scientific articles. He leads one of the most successful palaeontology research groups at the University of Bristol, and has supervised over 60 PhD students.

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. If you like evolution, paleontology and/or geology then you'll probably like this book.

It goes into detail about the 5 mass extinctions, how they happened, the result, and how animals came back from them. It does have technical terminology but the author does well to explain it.

[Gleb Berloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic introduction to life on Earth.
Only, it is so much more than that- it is concise, it is engaging, and it is almost impossible to put down. And the breadth of ideas is so astonishing that you won't find much excluded from it either.
Anyone interested in how we got here will surely enjoy this book. I certainly did.

[AD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the history of life on Earth, a few technical terms here and there, but still an easy and enjoyable read overall

[Michelle Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative and interesting trip back in time.

[Jay Heap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good educational read