| Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea - from Darwin to DNA | 
 enlarge | Author: Carl Zimmer
Creator: Stephen Jay Gould
Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £12.99
Buy Used: £1.78
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 219470
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.4
ISBN: 0099439824
Dewey Decimal Number: 576
EAN: 9780099439820
ASIN: 0099439824
Publication Date: February 6, 2003
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
While there are countless books on evolution, there are few that have quite the combination of interest for the general reader provided by American science writer Carl Zimmer's Evolution. From the historical genesis of Darwin's idea, born and bred aboard the Beagle and the subsequent furore after its publication in 1859, Zimmer brings us right up to date with an overview of the status of the Darwin/Wallace theory today. Darwin promised his readers "a grandeur in this view of life" and, as Zimmer very ably shows, life now displays far more grandeur than even Darwin appreciated. Zimmer is ideally qualified to do this as he was a senior editor at Discover magazine where he saw much of the new science developing before his eyes. He is also a well-known author of some very successful popular science books such as At the Water's Edge and more recently Parasite Rex. The bare factual bones of the science are deftly interlaced with stories of the individual scientists and their discoveries which normally are hidden from view. Zimmer takes us expertly from the origin of life and its prehistoric evolution as evidenced by fossils, through the genetic evidence and evolution of sex to the question of primate evolution and the problems this still raises for religious fundamentalists. Beautifully illustrated with photos, diagrams and artwork, and supported with an extensive further reading list and index, Evolution is part of a bigger WGBH television and educational project but can stand alone on its own considerable merits. --Douglas Palmer
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| Customer Reviews:
A really good read. September 17, 2008
This book, especially the hardback version is well written and very very interesting. I read a lot of scientific books and this is one of my favourites. The hardback is packed with really good images. Anyway I thoroughly recommend it, its simple enough for begginers to the subject and so well written even post grads will find it interesting.
 dawkins for beginners August 11, 2005
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This would have been a five star book if clarity had been the only consideration. If you a new student of any biological science this is the perfect introductory text. Zimmer explains complex processes in such a simple way yu feel stupid for ever being confused. but, content too has to bejudged and while there's nothing wrong with whats in here, it just isn't quite up to Dawkins 'The Selfish Gene' which is basically the same text but with a little more detail and much more baffaling language (well, if your not used to the concepts...its easy now). i say if your a first year student, read Zimmer, then go on to dawkins to make sure you get the nuts and bolts to add detail to the concepts.
Thoroughly enjoyable book December 31, 2003
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book is difficult to stop reading once you've started - I bought it to refamilarise myself with evolutionary concepts and found myself reading it from cover to cover within a weekend. The author has kept the ideas concise and informative - managing to leap from the Origin of Species right up to date and thread in recent advances from biological science. With such a broad timeframe to cover there isn't a great amount of technical detail and I was left with the feeling that this book could easily have been twice as long again and I would have enjoyed it all the more. That's my only criticism of this extremely well written, enjoyable and informative book.
Highly recommended September 8, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
It is written in a very readable style that covers evolution from the beginnings of life on earth through to human evolution with chapters devoted also to Darwin and the discovery of evolution. The story of evolution is fascinatingly told with explanations of the parts played by extinctions, mutations, natural selection etc. The many vignettes and examples of evolutionary history and complex design in the animal kingdom are amazing and will make you marvel at the miraclulousness of life on Earth. Although it was produced in tandem with a television series, this book easily stands alone as being excellent in its own right.
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