Product Description

A collection of essays written since 1992 introducing the reader to natural science, and to the links between science, history and culture. The essays discuss subjects including New York City, Jurassic Park, the reconstruction of dinosaurs and the tragic myth of Frankenstein.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #200843 in Books
• Published on: 1996-03-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 450 pages

Review
The seventh volume of Gould's collected essays sees him broadening his scope to include literature, astronomy and social issues, as well as the familiar biological themes. The biology is still the best and the reason why most people who buy this book will want it. The rest is, in the nicest possible way, filler material, and overall the book does not match up to the standard of classics such as Ever Since Darwin or The Flamingo's Smile. But Gould past his peak is still better than most science writers can ever aspire to and his fans will enjoy the book. (Kirkus UK)

Thirty-four essays - count 'em - of choice Gouldian prose in this latest collection of his monthly pieces for Natural History magazine. Age has not withered nor custom staled the sharp pen and opinions of our man in Cambridge (Zoology/Harvard Univ.; Eight Little Piggies, 1993, etc.). Indeed, in reading this collection as a whole, representing three years of work, one sees familiar themes emerge with renewed vigor and new evidence. These include the concept that evolution is neither linear nor progressive (man is not the be-all and end-all of life on earth); strong anticreationist and antieugenics stands; the idea that species remain stable over long periods, interrupted by relatively rapid times of change (Gould's and Niles Eldredge's "punctuated equilibria" theory); and the abrupt extinction of dinosaurs wrought by an asteroid collision 65 million years ago (the title essay). As always, there is homage to and defense of Darwin, as well as essays that honor lesser-known figures, such as Victorian Mary Roberts (author of The Conchologist's Companion), or else little-known facts about the famous: Edgar Allen Poe's venture into popular science writing (with a little plagiarism thrown in), for example. Gould's essays on other literary figures are particularly well done. He provides a correction on the movie version of Frankenstein in a wonderful piece on Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. And two essays, on Tennyson (author of the phrase "Nature, red in tooth and claw") and on Swift (who gave us the phrase "sweetness and light" in homage to the bee's contribution of honey and wax), are gems. Since Gould includes autobiographical pieces as well, we are treated to essays on his beloved snails and to the wonderful world of taxonomy and systematics. No better proof can be offered of the importance of Gould's kind of biology than this collection itself. (Kirkus Reviews)

Customer Reviews

Excellent.
I had read some of the earlier works written as disassociated unique ideas. "Oranges" by John A. McPhee is just that way (a little history, a little myth, and maybe some economics.) or a continuing string of thought like "The Ascent of Man" by Jacob Bronowski.

What I found was something surprisingly unique. I never realized how coherent reflections could be. Like the columnist, Dave Berry, Stephen Jay Gould would start out with the most innocent of statements and parlay that into an earth shattering reflection. And just as you think he is going way out in left field, he ties it all together. And each chapter is summed up and is tied to one whole reflection on natural history.

You will never look at snails with the same twist again.

Biology in a merry way!
This book is not just for dino lovers, but it is a good read for anyone who has a quirky interest for biology but no appetite for long-winded, lecture-style explaination. Find out how Edgar Allen Poe actually wrote a paper on shells, a scientific paper! Not a poem! Or how the millenium is calculated (or rather, miscalculated). Mr Gould is no doubt, in biology, like Feynman is in Physics. Make science fun to read.

Punctuate that history
I had read some of the earlier works written as disassociated unique ideas. "Oranges" by John A. McPhee is just that way (a little history, a little myth, and maybe some economics.) or a continuing string of thought like "The Ascent of Man" by Jacob Bronowski.
What I found was something surprisingly unique. I never realized how coherent reflections could be. Like the columnist, Dave Berry, Stephen Jay Gould would start out with the most innocent of statements and parlay that into an earth shattering reflection. And just as you think he is going way out in left field, he ties it all together. And each chapter is summed up and is tied to one whole reflection on natural history.
You will never look at snails with the same twist again.