Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Norton, 1992, c1991.
Description
In this collection of essays, Gould exposes muddled thinking about matters biological, and makes the point that evolution is not a ladder but a bush ever dividing, branching and making twigs.
User reviews
LibraryThing member chrisadami
If you read only one essay from this volume, read No .14 "Red Wings in the Sunset", p. 209. From the time when a US president wrote 100 page papers in the Natural History literature. You know, once upon a time when US presidents knew how to read and write...
LibraryThing member monado
Outstanding essays about evolution, the fight against creationism, and more.
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
This has several of my favorite essays in it - the title one, Canning's rear end, flamingos in the sunset, copying textbooks (and the fox terrier), and the debunking of the Huxley/Wilberforce story.
LibraryThing member iayork
Bully for Brontosaurus: Stephen Jay Gould writes another volume of essays that are profound in scope. Trying to review essays in book form is difficult, but taking the task at hand, here is what I have to say.These collected essays are enlightening and thought provoking. They vary in scope and
The writing is easily followed and straight forward with a smattering of Gould's wit thrown in for spice. The authou's sense of humor is also apparent. The essays are educational, even as the author brings two apparently different articles and ties them together with a common thread.
I found a cornucopia of disparate objects that fueled my intellectual pleasure, as I read through the book. Anyone interested in Natural History or just curious about life should read this book.
The author's flowing writing style is evident, his teaching skills are there to enjoy and learn from.
Read and enjoy good writing.
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content, but are always stimulating. The author has a knack for making the reader think, as I suppose all good professors should, a task well taken here. The writing is easily followed and straight forward with a smattering of Gould's wit thrown in for spice. The authou's sense of humor is also apparent. The essays are educational, even as the author brings two apparently different articles and ties them together with a common thread.
I found a cornucopia of disparate objects that fueled my intellectual pleasure, as I read through the book. Anyone interested in Natural History or just curious about life should read this book.
The author's flowing writing style is evident, his teaching skills are there to enjoy and learn from.
Read and enjoy good writing.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ShushilaH
At the time of review, I'm still reading through this book, but I can say that it is one of my favorite science books that I've read since Alice in Quantumland. Gould's style is accessible, his essays cover a rnage of topics, and I am inspired to hare off on explorations of my own after each one.
LibraryThing member Devil_llama
A collection of essays by the indomitable Stephen Jay Gould, an intellectual romp through natural history that at once amuses and educates. As with all Gould's books, there are some essays that miss the mark, but overall, this is one of his better.
LibraryThing member JBD1
Volume fifth in Gould's series of essays from Natural History. In some ways what I enjoy most about these tend to be his occasional postscripts where he revisits the essays. But there are some excellent pieces in this one, perhaps even more than in some of the earlier volumes.
Language
Original publication date
1991
Physical description
540 p.; 21 cm
ISBN
039330857X / 9780393308570
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 508 |
Collections
Pages
540
Lexile
1350L