Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensize, Beautiful, Informative
Review: This is a beautiful book if one were to judge only by literary measure; the structure, style, prose, approach and illustrations are just superb. But when one includes the scientific qualities what emerges is a real gem. When your dinner party conversation is lagging, place this on the coffee table for some provocative discussions.The subject of evolution, it seems, is destined to stir up deep emotions on both sides. And that is a pity because the essense of evolution is that over long periods of time, living entities adapt and change according to the environment and the living conditions. As a corollary, evolution also posits that some of these organisms successfully change (sometimes into something else entirely) while others fail to adjust and become extinct. Evolution is the clearest explanation of why life on Earth is so interconnected, why reptiles, birds, mammals and fish share many of the same genes and why the Earth is dominated by helpless mammals. The approach to the subject was almost gentle, starting with old ideas, looking at how the first stirrings came about and following the debate up to the present. Most of us never stop to think that evolution has probably been more radical at the cellular level than any other platform. The illustrations are both beautiful and enlightening. This book is such an excellent one for raising discussion points that one could only with every child be allowed to take a course for six weeks with this as their only guide. The book makes an effort not only at informing us about the many misunderstood points but dealing with the sticky ones - how new ideas are adding more depth to the theory, the relationship between religion and science, the future of evolution. All in all this is an excellent companion guide to the PBS series.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!!!!
Review: what an experience... This book has open my mind up to a new world. I feel that I have a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the origins of life and the world around me.
This book is designed for beginners who are new to evolution and the origins of life on earth.
the book walks you through fascinating subjects that you could not think of in your wildest dreams: example, did you know that whales and dolphins were once land mammals. Even Today whales still have remants such as a hip bone and tiny hind legs only a few inches long.
This book is long and very time consuming but if you have a alot of time and a GREAT thrust for knowledge this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!!!!
Review: what an experience... This book has open my mind up to a new world. I feel that I have a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the origins of life and the world around me.
This book is designed for beginners who are new to evolution and the origins of life on earth.
the book walks you through fascinating subjects that you could not think of in your wildest dreams: example, did you know that whales and dolphins were once land mammals. Even Today whales still have remants such as a hip bone and tiny hind legs only a few inches long.
This book is long and very time consuming but if you have a alot of time and a GREAT thrust for knowledge this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Things everyone should know!
Review: What's the one thing that creationists can't stand? FACTS!
And this book is full of them.
A hundred years ago, this book would have been burned. It provides a clear understanding of how natural selection works and gives hundreds of examples. There are many examples of natural selection as it has occurred and how it continues today. It even explains the evolution of evolution and how the church has constantly had to change to keep up with the knowledge we gain.
This book is a must read for everyone! It is a shame that this is not a high-school textbook.
Rating:
Summary: As interesting as evolution itself
Review: Wow, I have to say this is the first book I read of Carl Zimmer, he really impress me. The book is graphically wonderful, it has lots of pictures and some sketches that support the text. You can almost read it as a textbook, but this one is much more interesting. The way Zimmer states the plot (which of course is history, not fiction) and how he explains the current states of affairs (considering herbicides, plaguicides, genetic modified food, etc.) and its impact in ecology is that of a first class novelist. He covers almost every aspect of evolution you can imagine, so he cleverly responds (almost telepathically) to the interior questions nurtured while reading the text. Superb, I love this book.
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