Indica A Deep Natural History of the..., Pranay Lal
Indica A Deep Natural History of the..., Pranay Lal
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Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent

Author: Pranay Lal

Narrator: Vikrant Chaturvedi

Unabridged: 12 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/03/2019


Synopsis

The first definitive natural history of the Indian subcontinent.

Did you know that the exquisite caves of Ellora were hewn from rock formed in the greatest lava floods the world has known—eruptions so enormous that they may well have obliterated dinosaurs? Or that Bengaluru owes its unique climate to a tectonic event that took place 88 million years ago? That the Ganga and Brahmaputra sequester nearly 20 per cent of global carbon, and their sediments over millions of years have etched submarine canyons in the Bay of Bengal that are larger than the Grand Canyon? Ever heard of Rajasaurus, an Indian dinosaur which was perhaps more ferocious than T rex? Many such amazing facts and discoveries—from 70-million-year-old crocodile eggs in Mumbai to the nesting ground of dinosaurs near Ahmedabad—are a part of Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent.

Researching across wide-ranging scientific disciplines and travelling with scientists all over the country, biochemist Pranay Lal has woven together the first compelling narrative of India’s deep natural history, filled with fierce reptiles, fantastic dinosaurs, gargantuan mammals and amazing plants. This story, which includes a rare collection of images, illustrations and maps, starts at the very beginning—from the time when a galactic swirl of dust coalesced to become our life-giving planet—and ends with the arrival of our ancestors on the banks of the Indus. Pranay Lal tells this story with verve, lucidity and an infectious enthusiasm that comes from his deep, abiding love of nature.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Manzoor on April 28, 2018

The most important aspect of science writing is to get the facts right. It has been a pain in the ass to cross check everything written in this book. Pranay Lal wrote that the "Deccan eruptions were the greatest lava floods in Earth’s history", but he didn't provide any reference to back it up. Also......more

Goodreads review by Suman on February 28, 2017

This is a book to be physically possessed. Its beautiful cover and brilliant illustrations would have been half the reason to buy even without an interest in the subject. It is an excellent guide book to the places around your home in India that still hold evidence of its geographical history. Prana......more

Goodreads review by Anithra on July 05, 2018

I admit that I read this book mainly due to peer pressure - from friends and family. Am I glad I read it - A resounding YES! Did I enjoy it as much as I thought I would - unfortunately, no. I was hoping for a good introduction to the natural history of the subcontinent, what I got was a lot of wow f......more

Goodreads review by Osama on December 03, 2019

What makes Pranay Lal's book so very compelling, fascinating and a must-read is his masterly overview of a vast literature on a vast subject over an unimaginably vast timescale brought to life by a deft personal touch and palpable and contagious passion for the topics that he takes on. As a result,......more

Goodreads review by Sajith on December 23, 2019

We have come across many ‘histories’ of India. Some will cover the British period, some would include the Mughals too and a few might cover everything from the Indus civilization. Beyond a few centuries, such narratives are constrained in scope by current political boundaries. Any meaningful exposit......more