The Causes of Evolution (Princeton Science Library)

Rating:
Summary: One of the Books that saved Darwinism
Review: Darwinism, early in the 20th century was in a deep crisis: while evolution was widely believed in, Darwinian selection was known not to be compatible with a "blending" model of genetics. Then, a series of works showed that Darwinian selection was compatible with "atomistic" (or Mendelian) genetics.

This was one of the works that helped save Darwinism. It has tremendous historical significance. It is also still well worth reading, because of the author's deep insights. The work is very mathematical, but all the difficult math is in an appendix. The editor of this edition has produced an "Afterword" that gives an updated version of Haldane's math.

The book starts with the still relevant quote: " "Darwinism is dead" - Any sermon", and then it proceeds to resuscitate Darwinism. It was ahead of its time, and maybe it still is. From selfish genes to the anthropic principle, Haldane had already thought of it.

As a younger person, I enjoyed some of Haldane's more popular works: they are priceless. Unfortunately, they all seem to be out of print. This is his most professional and difficult work. Still his writing style is effervescent, even in this rather technical book: better than Dawkins, Gould, or even Darwin, Haldane is the greatest writer on evolution ever.