So they were so focused on whether they can do something. They never stop to ask if they should do something.

Jurassic Park defined my childhood and introduced me to Michael Crichton. I was an avid reader of all of Crichton's works and followed him to TV and movies. The impact this story had on my life cannot be overstated.

The cover for my 25th anniversary Kindle version of this book says "read the book that started it all" and that's true in more ways than one for me and millions of others around the world. This story is iconic.

I love Spielberg's adaptation and watched it as nearly many times as I watched Tremors. Unfortunately the book hasn't received the same airtime and I was happy to correct that with this re-read. I would have read the book several times in the 90's, to the point where the paperback copy I own needed to be taped together to hold its form. Twenty years later I am going back to a classic and enjoying the similarities, and differences, between the print and movie forms.

Let's be clear. The planet is not in jeopardy. We are in jeopardy. We haven't got the power to destroy the planet-or to save it. But we might have the power to save ourselves.

I was surprised how scary the book is. I did not remember that level of dismemberment and death from my original reads, so either I suppressed those horrors or just plain forgot. Whatever the reason, the book is rated R while the movie dabbles in light PG-13.

I enjoy re-reading Lord of the Rings because I can see the movies play out in my head, and I loved that aspect with Jurassic Park. And when there is a deviation or different character from the movie adaptation, it felt exciting because I didn't know what was going to happen next. I agree with all of the modifications Spielberg did to the source material and I'm glad Cricthon's story will stay as the OG that was grittier and more destruction.

It's unfair to rate this book because I love it. Any flaws that may exist or with characters (Lex Murphy, please head this way to the Velociraptor paddock for their midday snack, please and thank you) I will overlook. I am biased on the book and it gets a pass on everything, and it deserves five stars for its significance in my life and others around the world.