DK Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life: Definitive Visual Guide

Definitive Guide: DK Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life is a richly illustrated reference spanning prehistoric life from early microbes to dinosaurs, mammals, and humans. Its broad subject coverage and fossil-focused visuals make it suited to browsing and reference, rather than a dinosaur-only catalog.

At a glance

Covers prehistoric life from Precambrian microbes through dinosaurs, early mammals, and the first humans.
Includes extinct plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, in addition to dinosaurs.
The listing describes 3D reconstructions, fossils, skeletons, CGI artwork, and explanations of geological time and fossil preservation.
The listing claims a catalog of over 500 animals, plants, fungi, and microbes.

Price

$24.01Save 56%

Reference price: ~~$55.00~~

Price checked: Nov 13, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Broad coverage makes this relevant to readers interested in prehistoric life beyond dinosaurs alone.
Visual reconstructions and fossil imagery provide material to browse alongside the species and evolution coverage.
At 440 pages, it offers reference-book scale rather than a brief overview.

Technical specifications

10 specifications

Book details
Publisher	DK
Publication date	October 8, 2019
Edition	Reprint
Language	English
Print length	440 pages
ISBN-10	1465482490
ISBN-13	978-1465482495
Reading age	10+ years, from customers

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions	10.2 x 1.38 x 12.13 inches
Weight listed	5.58 pounds

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers seeking an illustrated overview of prehistoric life across many types of organisms.
Families with dinosaur enthusiasts and natural-history readers, including readers around the listed customer-suggested age of 10 and older.
A coffee table or browsing book focused on fossils, ancient species, and geological history.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a focused, specialist account of dinosaurs only.
Readers who prefer a lightweight book, since its listed weight is 5.58 pounds.

DK Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life: Definitive Visual Guide · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 1,813 ratings

5 stars91%91%
4 stars6%6%
3 stars3%3%
2 stars0%0%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback describes the book as an engaging, illustrated reference with broad prehistoric coverage, and mentions its appeal as a coffee table book for both younger readers and adults. This aligns with the listing's extensive species range and visual emphasis. The aggregate ratings are strongly positive, but ratings alone do not establish how suitable the writing or level of detail will be for a particular reader.

Positive themes

Customers highlight the illustrations and crisp pictures.
Feedback praises the breadth of coverage and the book's informative, engaging character.
Customers mention using it as a coffee table book and spending extended time browsing it.

Frequently asked questions

Does this book cover only dinosaurs?

No. The listing describes coverage of prehistoric plants, fungi, microbes, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, and humans as well as dinosaurs.

What kinds of visuals are described?

The listing mentions 3D reconstructions, CGI artwork, fossils, skeletons, and annotated illustrations of geological processes.

How long is the book?

The listed print length is 440 pages.

What age is it intended for?

The listing includes a reading age of 10+ years, attributed to customers. Treat that as guidance rather than a verified publisher age recommendation.