The Richness of Life: A Stephen Jay Gould Reader - Brossura

Gould, Stephen Jay

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0099488671 ISBN 13: 9780099488675

Casa editrice: Vintage, 2007

Riassunto

There aren't many scientists famous enough in their lifetime to be canonized by the US Congress as one of America's 'living legends'. Yet few would have grudged this accolade to Stephen Jay Gould, whose writings on history - both of the natural world and of the study of the natural world - had made him a household name by the time of his death in 2002.

A committed Darwinian and robust critic of creationist myths, he nevertheless made major revisions to orthodox Darwinian theory, from his concept of punctuated equilibrium to his insistence on the importance of chance in the history of life on earth. And in addition, his trenchant attacks on scientific racism and the pretensions of sociobiology still resonate, nearly three decades after they were first written.

In The Richness of Life, Steven Rose and Paul McGarr have selected from across the full range of Gould's writing, including some of the most famous of his essays and extracts from his major books. An introduction by Steven Rose sets both the essays, and Gould's life, in context.

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Recensione:

"This "best of Gould" collection leaves two strong impressions. One is that evolution is as proven a fact as gravity but that how it works is an unsolved problem. The other is that, for the practitioners, science is fun" (Brenda Maddox The Times)

"Georgeously crafted essays... entertaining... makes a plausible case for supporting claims that the author was a modern-day Montaigne of science... a rewarding read" (Sunday Telegraph)

"A modern polymath" (John R. G. Turner Times Literary Supplement)

"A great scientist and science writer" (Sunday Times)

"A Western Science phenomenon. His quirkiness, his ability to coalesce seemingly unconnected topics, and his individual passion are qualities that help make him such a powerful writer" (Observer)

Descrizione del libro:

An impressive and generous selection of the best and most representative writing by one of the best loved scientists and science writers.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Vintage
• Data di pubblicazione: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0099488671
• ISBN 13: 9780099488675
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 656
• Redattore: McGarr Paul, Rose Steven