The book is some 73 pages in length so it is relatively short compared with many contemporary publications on fossil resin. However, there is a fine concentration of exemplary photographs and data within its covers.

The work is divided into a series of sections which deal briefly with a number of classic questions the enquiring reader would typically ask concerning amber, amongst them being;

• What is Amber?
• The Properties of Amber
• Fake Amber
• The Uses of Amber
• Where Is Amber Found?
• Baltic Amber
• Dominican Amber
• What Is a Species?
• Amber Inclusions
• Animal Interactions
• Plant Inclusions
• The Search for DNA
• Biography
• Key to Identifying Arthropods

The book contains hundreds of colour photographs that sumptuously illustrate the authors notes and writing. Nearly all of the photographs are new and original, with less than 10 occurring elsewhere. This is not always the case with some books showing dozens of stock photographs which have been reproduced on numerous occasions in other volumes. I know of one insect inclusion photograph, which has appeared in 3 books to date.

The content of the chapters and explanations are simple and easy to understand. Complicated topics are reduced to simple descriptions that the casual reader can quickly assimilate and understand. A nice balance has been struck in terms of the details included and the information provided. I rashly count myself amongst a group of people who might be termed ‘knowledgeable about amber’ but I found the content sufficiently interesting to hold my attention. New and fresh snippets of information I had not come across before kept me reading.

The section on fake amber contains some useful comparative photographs of various resins that have in the past been sold as true amber. It also contains examples of faked insects and details of tests that will help identify amber from all substitutes.

Different varieties of amber are explored in detail, with some beautiful representative examples of fossil resin from different localities being superbly photographed, a useful resource for anyone making visual comparisons.

There is some detail on the two major sources of amber in the world, namely the Baltic and the Dominican Republic. I would have liked to see more information here, supported perhaps with some maps and further data. The only poor photograph in the entire book resides in the Dominican Republic section with a photograph of apparently blue amber. The piece actually looks black and does not show the fluorescent qualities of this particular type of amber at all.

A separate section introduces the world of inclusions in amber. This is the area most people are fascinated by. This section expands on the concept of insects trapped in resin and leads the reader into a basic understanding of what inclusions can tell us about the ancient world and its ecological checks and balances. As an introduction into what the study of amber is really all about it could not be better.

A section on the current state of play concerning DNA in amber fairly states the case I believe. It would seem that a question mark begins to grow over this entire field of research.

For the collector of amber with inclusions the latter half of this book is an absolute God send. Being able to identify insects trapped in amber is difficult and current reference books often hard to follow. They are frequently aimed at the academic or professional. This book contains the easiest key to identifying insects I have yet come across, rather like a flow chart through which the reader moves. The process of naming an insect could not get any easier. It will be invaluable to both researchers and amateurs alike when it comes to naming insect inclusions in amber. I could easily see these sections being reproduced on a single A1 wall chart for ease of reference and I am certain that in this format it would grace the walls of most schools, insect fossil research units and entomological places of study. Come on NHM, think about it.

Each of the arthropod sections has clear diagrams for identification purposes and a good, succinct description of the insect. This is complimented with photographs of typical insects that have been trapped in amber. In some cases the insect’s frequency of occurrence and geographic location in fossil resin are also referenced.

The only major criticism of this book I have is that it’s too short. I would like to read a lot more of what Mr Ross has to say on the subject of amber. He is gifted with the ability to simplify complex ideas without becoming patronising or misleading. The simple descriptive text, the logical layout and fantastic photographs make this an essential buy for the amber collector or general reader with an interest in amber.

The retail price is GBP 7.95 (plus GBP 1.50 p+p for UK orders, plus GBP 2.50 for mainland Europe orders) The publication date is 8th September.

Orders can be sent to

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