Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History by Stephen Jay Gould (EPUB)

Description

More than any other modern scientists, Stephen Jay Gould has opened up to millions the wonders of evolutionary biology. His genius as an essayist lies in his unmatched ability to use his knowledge of the world, including popular culture, to illuminate the realm of science.Ever Since Darwin, Stephen Jay Gould’s first book, has sold more than a quarter of a million copies. Like all succeeding collections by this unique writer, it brings the art of the scientific essay to unparalleled heights.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐About 75% of the way through and have found many “essays” (chapters) provide background I use in everyday action as a zoo docent… and some of it even informs my conversations with other gym rats. Of course, the straight biology-genetics can be a bit dated, but the essence holds up amazingly well. Bonus: Gould is a delight to read and he pulls material not only from biology but also from geology (and theology, and philosophy, and more). He’s definitely got a ‘point of view’ but he also finds it possible to praise those he disagrees with. Just last night I read the chapter on the why-all of size and structure, and Gould not only discussed things like bone cross-sections, but also explained tape-worms, brainpower limits, and the construction of cathedrals. A delight on every page!

⭐When it comes to popular writings on Evolution, the two names I most often hear are Dawkins and Gould. While I’ve read several books from Dawkins, this is my first one from Gould. This one is in the essay format which it seems is the norm for Gould’s books. Overall the essays vary in quality but for the most part they’re good, although some are a little dated (which happens with any science books published 35-40 years ago). My favorite ones were the first section over Darwin and a section which looks at odd organisms. In this later section, you get some interesting essays such as one over the Irish Elk and my favorite essay about the lampsilis mussel, which makes itself look like a swimming fish in order to get attacked by larger fish, then it shoots spores into the larger fish. This book makes me want to read more of his works.

⭐In January, I reviewed, the Sixth Extinction (by the journalist, Elizabeth Kolbert) and, like others, found it wanting. I thought it better to read books by scientists with good editors. So I tried to find such a book structured as Kolbert’s, i.e. short treatments of disparate matters touching upon evolution and extinction. This 1977 collection of essays fit the bill. Even now, Gould’s work stands up and provides the depth lacking in Kolbert’s. If this format appeals to you, I recommend this book.

⭐I’ve always had a general understanding of evolution and natural selection but Gould’s explanations make it much more understandable. It’s a shame that he died so young. I plan on reading some of his books written just before his death, and I plan on reading some of Dawkins’ books at the same time. Interesting, to me, at least, how two men who agreed on so much could have had such a battle.

⭐I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is a series of essays by Gould, on a variety of topics in evolution, from the history of Darwinism, to the political and social ramifications of biological determinism. Insightful and eloquent, Dr Gould never makes the reader bored nor encumbered them with jargon too complex to understand. A truly well written book.

⭐Received the book, but the signed bookplate was invisible.

⭐I used this collection as a choice* for students in ENG 101 at a community college. How better to teach writing than to use the masterful essays of an accomplished prose stylist who is respected in both among scientists and educated general readers? After all, Gould’s books were best sellers when published. My sons read them as high school students.I am concerned about the poor quality of science teaching in the United States. I also recognize that there is scientific and mathematical intelligence and there is literary intelligence. While high school English departments are mistakenly abandoning the teaching of fiction, replacing it with essays, perhaps, at the college level, essays written by a scientist are appropriate.Gould’s book, his first to be presented as a separate volume, is challenging reading. However, it provides an over view of both Darwin’s findings and the history of the hornet nest he stirred. I feel this book is valuable as a source to help readers wade through the challenge of ID proponents.Unfortunately, those who selected the book found it too challenging.*Others included Nineteen Eighty-Four; Brave New World; the Ramona Quimby novels of Beverly Cleary; Twelfth Night; the short stories of Eudora Welty; The Narrative of Frederick A. Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. The idea was to select a book and use it as the basis for a compare and contrast essay and the springboard for a research project.

⭐Ever Since Darwin is a good book for those who already have a substantial knowledge regarding evolutionary theory. Gould does not offer any detailed explanations on the mechanisms of evolution. However, if you like to learn about the author’s perspective on science and sociobiology in general, then this book is for you. He mostly discusses the history behind the theory and adds in how scientists, mostly in the past, were influenced by the society in which they lived in. Overall it is a well-written book with humour and witt.

⭐This is the first book of Gould’s I’ve read, as many people have noted, his prose is a real pleasure to read. As a layperson without a background in the natural sciences, I also found that the essays in this book struck just the right understanding between being informative and easy for someone without a graduate degree in paleontology, geology etc. to enjoy.Since the essays in this book were written in the 70s, please note that some of the details might be a little out of date. Worth keeping wikipedia handy while you read to check if some of the stuff he talks about hasn’t been superseded in the 50 odd years of scientific research since this book was published! I personally only noticed a few examples of this.

⭐Good reading. Shame he died so young.

⭐This is a collection of Essays covering a wide expanse of evolutionary theory and its implications. As often with SJG his knowledge of early theory is staggering as is the clarity with which he writes about it.The great overall impression is of humaine tolerance both for ill framed ideas and of the people who produced them. In other works of his one encounters hints of the horrors of the American High School System and its treatment of Dweebs Nerds and outsiders which must have shaped such an abiding combination of sympathy and revulsion for those who pervert science to an illiberal social goal.

⭐A key book in the debates over evolution how could someone like me who is no scientist find anything to criticise in a work which is written so clearly for the non=specialist.

⭐I love Gould and his knowledge of nearly everything, he will talk you through geology, paleontology, botany, zoology and much much more. He’s also an incredible narrator, which I think makes this book accessible to non-biologists too.Most of all though I love Gould’s political and sociological views: he speaks with frankness about the insidiousness of biological determinism and of all the times white men used science to justify their racism and sexism.He refutes the biological determinism that underlies Sociobiology and he does it brilliantly, the man is spot on: sociobiology is a great book up until we start applying it to humans.

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