Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea

From Barnes & Noble

This companion to the groundbreaking PBS series by noted science writer Carl Zimmer covers the full scope of evolution, from its acceptance in the scientific community to the controversies surrounding it today to the wonders evolution has produced in the natural world -- not the least of which is humanity itself.

Scientific American

"In late October 1831 a 90-foot coaster named the HMS Beagle lay docked at Plymouth, England. Its crew scrambled about it like termites in a nest..." Proceeding from the flurry of preparations for Darwin's famous voyage, Carl Zimmer leads us off on a journey of our own, tracking the development--and the implications--of one of the most powerful ideas in the biological sciences. Written as a companion to the WGBH/Nova seven-part television series that aired in late September, the book and the show itself aim to bring the contentious debate about evolution to a wide audience.

"Zimmer, who was an editor at Discover magazine and is the author of At the Water's Edge and Parasite Rex, writes in a gloriously clear and lively style. But don't be misled by the polished prose, the gorgeous illustrations, the elegant design or the book's status as a "companion volume": Zimmer neglects neither underlying biological concepts nor current controversies. His coverage is as thorough as it is graceful. This is as fine a book as one will find on the subject."

Publishers Weekly

This volume is the companion piece for an eight-hour PBS documentary of the same name, scheduled to be aired in September. Science writer Zimmer (At the Water's Edge) does a superb job of providing a sweeping overview of most of the topics critical to understanding evolution, presenting his material from both a historical and a topical perspective. He summarizes the changing scientific views of geology and genetics, for example, while discussing the implications modern evolutionary theory might have for agriculture and medicine. With chapters dealing with difficult and often controversial subjects including Charles Darwin's life and his struggle to bring his concept of evolution before the public; the evolution of sex; patterns of human evolution and the importance of language in the rise of humans; the role humans have played and continue to play in the extinction of species; and the fallacies of "creation science" it is not surprising that a great deal of information is either glossed over or omitted entirely. Yet the writing is clear and concise, the text is carefully presented (with b&w and color illustrations throughout) and a respectably substantial Stephen Jay Gould introduction starts things off nicely. (Oct.) Forecast: The series should certainly move units on its own, particularly via the PBS Web site. But a seven-city author tour, 25-city radio campaign, display easels and other promotional gambits will help the book and the series considerably. Though it may not be a breakout title, very respectable sales can be expected among PBS regulars. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Sneak preview: this work by science journalist Zimmer accompanies a hot new seven-part series on PBS. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.