I, like so many other people. have believe that an asteroid caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Gerta Keller, in a fascinating book, disputes that widely-held theory -- and it must be called a theory -- with extensive research and her very plausible explanation (especially in these days, where climate change is a given, despite certain politicians' rebuttals) that the more likely explanation was climate change leading after volcanic activity. The most interesting aspect of Keller's book is the pushback she received from colleagues regarding her research. Very interesting book and highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Diversion Books for the eARC. aAll opinions are my own.

Have you heard of the dinosaur wars?

A thoroughly fascinating look at the dinosaur wars from the eyes of an insider. The author, Gerta Keller, is the scientist targeted in a smear campaign. Her work disputes the theory that asteroid impacts caused the dinosaurs' mass extinction. The book is a stunning indictment of groupthink, where everyone jumps on a bandwagon and ignores conflicting information. There was a financial incentive to support the asteroid theory. It had grabbed the public's attention and raised fears of future asteroid impacts. NASA saw it as a way to continue its funding. Even major scientific publications had asteroid impactors to sit on their review panels. Thereby blocking any papers that proposed a different theory. Dr. Keller, a Professor of Paleontology and Geology at Princeton, does a great job in describing, in layman's terms, the science behind her theory. There were only a couple of places that got somewhat technical. This is a very accessible read for non-scientists.

This book made my blood boil when I read about the misogyny towards her and her work. The whole account was enthralling. I hope that her theory becomes more well-known to the public.
Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley for access to a digital review copy.

<b><u>The Last Extinction: The Real Science Behind the Death of the Dinosaurs</u></b>
Gerta Keller
Date of Publication: September 9, 2025

ARC courtesy of Diversion Books and NetGalley

<i>The Last Extinction</i> is an absorbing, thought-provoking book, part scientific paper presenting compelling evidence of an alternative cause of the Earth’s fifth extinction event, massive volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Traps of west-central India, and in part, an inspiring memoir of her academic plight amidst resistance to her theory and as a female scientist in the male-dominated fields of paleontology and geology.

The debate over what led to the extinction of the dinosaurs is fascinating, and Gerta’s experiences as a woman in a male-dominated scientific field make for an engaging read. I’m no expert in paleontology, geology, or any other related field so I can’t speak to the merits of Gerta’s arguments. However, I searched a bit online to get a sense of the scientific consensus and found that her position is still not widely accepted. I didn’t feel that her arguments were strong enough for me to question consensus. Still, it was an interesting read in a topic I don’t often delve into and I will recommend it to folks with an interest in dinosaurs.

So, I mentioned to my teen that I was reading a book about what really killed the dinosaurs, and she was sure it was an asteroid, a theory that was pretty much debunked before she was even born. But that idea has pervaded because it showed up in so many news stories back when the Chicxulub asteroid was thought to be what killed the dinosaurs. It was a good theory. But over time, scientists looking at various pieces of the puzzle were able to show that the asteroid hit at least 200,000 years before the 5th big extinction event that killed the dinosaurs.

The problem was that the “Impactors” were louder and prouder than those quietly chipping away at the evidence, with one Impactor going as far as to steal core samples and throttle scientific papers that went against his pet theory. People don’t like to be wrong, even scientists. After all, they’ve put lots of money and time into promoting their theories. Interestingly, this is the second book I’ve read recently where scientists taking a multi-disciplinary approach to a scientific idea debunk or question other scientists’ theories, resulting in having their papers throttled from publications in journals like Science by peer reviewers from the opposition. I understand skepticism, but it makes me wonder how many times this happens.

Anyhow, the author details decades and decades of work that she did in conjunction with others from various scientific disciplines that not only to disprove the asteroid theory but also shows what likely really did kill the dinosaurs: a series of volcanic eruptions over many years that made the atmosphere and oceans difficult for many species to survive. The real clincher comes at the end of the book when an “Impactor” does studies related to what everyone had been citing as the smoking gun in the fossil record for the asteroid theory, only to find that that smoking gun is chemically inconsistent with an asteroid. You’d think they would have started with that test rather than waiting decades in the future. But sometimes people want to believe what they want to believe.

This was a slow read in the beginning, but it picked up about midway, and I finished the last half over the course of an afternoon. The ending of the book correlating the current climate crisis with the state of the atmosphere when the dinosaurs died out was kind of startling. Yeah. We’re probably doomed. Happy reading!

The Last Extinction is, on the surface, a book about solving one of science’s great mysteries: what really caused the fifth mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, the event that wiped out the dinosaurs. But it quickly becomes clear that this book is much more than the answer to a decades old mystery.
Gerta Keller brings us along on her extraordinary journey, from her childhood in poverty on a Swiss farm to her rise as a tenured professor at Princeton. She shares the highs of discovery and adventure in the field, as well as the bruising battles of academic life. The book is as much a memoir as it is a scientific argument, offering glimpses into her personal life, including her marriage to mathematician Majda and her close bond with her sisters, alongside her research career.
Keller’s account of academia is not always flattering, and at times blistering. She describes conferences that feel more like gladiatorial arenas, the persistence of an academic boys’ club, and the undercurrents of misogyny and racism that many will sadly recognize as still present today. As an academic myself, albeit in a very different field, much of what she writes about still resonates.
On the science itself, I don’t claim the expertise to adjudicate between asteroid impacts and Deccan volcanism, but Keller presents her case with clarity, detail, and conviction. She argues persuasively that massive volcanic eruptions in India, not a single asteroid strike, were the true driver of extinction. Even if you remain unconvinced, the real power of the book lies in the broader themes: courage in the face of entrenched opposition, the dangers of so-called “zombie theories” that refuse to die, the exhilaration of discovery, and the ultimate satisfaction of standing your ground.
What impressed me most was that, despite its technical detail, the book never lost its narrative pull. It’s a gripping read that combines scientific detective work, personal memoir, and a frank yet unflattering look at the “Ivory Tower” of Academia.
Whether or not you care deeply about dinosaurs or mass extinctions, The Last Extinction is worth reading for its insight into what may be considered the “dark side” of science: messy, political, personal, whilst also illuminating some of the good parts – the value of good colleagues and the joy of discovery. It also provides reflection on our current environment and potential for the sixth mass extinction, not caused by volcanism this time, but our own overuse of natural resources. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in science, history, or memoir.
Thank you Diversion Books for providing an advance content copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My initial reaction to this book is the best proof of its importance. "What is this unknown woman writing about? EVERYBODY knows it was an asteroid that killed the dinosaurs!" Fortunately, I was curious enough to do some digging — after all, what publisher would approve a strange conspiracy theory? And that's how I learned about "the Nastiest Feud in Science." I was appalled that I had never heard about it before, even though I have read many natural history books.

A quick search revealed that Gerta Keller, the author, is a well-respected geologist and paleontologist with an intriguing biography. She refused to be silenced for decades while pointing out the lack of scientific proof of the impact theory. According to Keller, the theory's popularity was partly achieved thanks to its simplicity and appeal:

„From the moment it was first published in the June 6, 1980, issue of Science magazine, the impact hypothesis captured the public imagination. An asteroid hurtling through space . . . a catastrophic explosion . . . a gigantic dust cloud that plunged Earth into freezing darkness and destroyed the dinosaurs. Who could be immune to such a spectacular story? As Australian journalist Ian Warden later reflected, all it lacked was ‚some sex and the involvement of the Royal Family and the whole world would be paying attention.’”

However, there was another reason: the pressure exerted by the author of the theory, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. The author is very harsh in her criticism:

„From Luis Alvarez, I observed my first lesson in media manipulation. He orchestrated a two-front war—one controlling media and public opinion and the other eliminating or destroying any scientists who questioned or opposed his hypothesis”.

I don’t have the expertise to judge whether Professor Keller is right. Her arguments sound convincing, but she may be biased because she is on a side of this conflict. Nevertheless, I believe the general public should be more aware of this discussion — after all, that's what science is all about.

I encourage anyone with the slightest interest in paleontology, geology, or natural history to read this book.

Thanks to the publisher, Diversion Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I now realize I haven't given a ton of thought to the 5th extinction / the fall of the dinosaurs. I do remember that the general consensus we were taught growing up (zillenial) was that a big-ass asteroid (meteorite?) hit the earth and the dinos fell over dead, which sounds wild now that I think about it. Because like how could one impact kill that species around the entire globe??? Maybe it was implied that it set off a chain reaction of craziness. I don't remember. Point is, turns out that's actually not what happened or how it works.

Overall, the drama was high in this read. I think I would have appreciated more receipts, and less "he said/she said." I'm also incredibly saddened (though not entirely surprised) to learn how unscientific so many of these scientists were. I love science bc it's about constant learning and correcting. Science and fact do not care how ardently you believe in it. And yet... these guys, these impactor fanatics were unwilling to review actual evidence and willing to literally steal samples. WILD.

Also, I noticed that while Keller was fighting the patriarchy in a male dominated field, she had her own biases that appeared from time to time. For example, it stood out to me that she recalled traveling and being driven by a woman professor. Her gender wasn't actually relevant to the story, but it was pointed out nonetheless. This is small, but stood out as Keller was constantly commenting on the power trips the male scientists around her were on.

This was a fascinating topic, and Gerta Keller has an incredibly interesting story. However, this read a bit too much like a scientific paper. I can see it being difficult for general audiences to grasp a lot of what is being discussed. Even I had trouble following, and I’m a huge dinosaur nerd.

I wish that Gerta had worked with a coauthor, someone similar to Edward Dolnick or Timothy Eagan, who can take heavily researched topics and make them more accessible for wider audiences.

Very interesting account of a female scientist’s career and engagement with the scientific community when you have an alternative theory. How did the dinosaurs become extinct? Really enjoyed the science, and the scientific arguments. A lot of bullying behaviour in play. Thank you to the author. Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

The Last Extinction by Gerta Keller is a compelling and controversial scientific exploration that challenges conventional theories about mass extinctions. Bold, thought-provoking, and rigorously researched.

Mrs. Keller is an icon, a figure for little girls everywhere to look up to, and a complete badass - excuse my french. I already knew I was going to like this book, I love anything with dinosaurs and the study of the extinctions, but I also love a good memoir - so this was a perfect combination.

I was horrified by the rampant sexism the author faced in her pursuit of truth. The death threats, the assaults, the hatred. And way after all of it, they would often remove her name from their discoveries after she had done most of the work. The research and info within this book is amazingly well done, of course it is from her experiences with discovering it herself. I also learned a lot of things I didn’t know about before, as well as the state of paleontology around the 70s-80s. I highly recommend this.

Professor Gerta Keller’s groundbreaking research challenged the dominant impact theory for the dinosaurs’ extinction, revealing the role of Deccan volcanism. This memoir details her decades-long battle against entrenched scientific opposition and her eventual vindication.

I went into this book skeptical and ended up persuaded by the evidence. The memoir is fascinating and easy to read. I was expecting this book to focus less on politics and more on science—I’m interested in learning more about the Deccan Traps theory. I hope scientists will do a better job in the future in working together to determine how the impactor event and the Deccan Traps eruptions might each have contributed to the K-Pg extinction.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.