Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books

Book SynopsisThe idea of a balance of nature has been a dominant part of Western philosophy since before Aristotle, and it persists in the public imagination and even among some ecologists today. This book demonstrates that nature in fact is not in balance, nor has it ever been at any stage in Earth's history.Trade Review"The author conveys his message in a clear writing style without using highly technical concepts or terminology."--B.R. Shmaefsky, Choice "Kricher's book is of interest to environmental historians and historians of science not only on account of the information it contains, but also because within it there is so little of the scholarship of the history of the environmental sciences with which we, in the humanities and social sciences, are familiar."--Jane Carruthers, Environment and History "With The Balance of Nature, John Kricher has done us the favor of producing the book our non-ecological parents should read. In a scant 200 pages of accessible prose, Kricher weaves together three themes about which any literate citizen should be aware... The Balance of Nature hits its mark. Buy a copy for your parents, your students, and your children today."--Aaron M. Ellison, Ecology "The relationship between science and non-science belief systems especially religious belief system has always been an uneasy one. Even though this book clearly sides with science in disclaiming the notion of the 'balance of nature', it is still relevant to people who hold to the Judeo-Christian creation belief and of other religious backgrounds who are interested in the workings of the natural world."--Richard S. Mbatu, International Journal of Environmental StudiesTable of ContentsPreface ix CHAPTER 1: Why It Matters 1 CHAPTER 2: Of What Purpose Are Mosquitoes? 8 CHAPTER 3: Creating Paradigms 20 CHAPTER 4: Ecology B.C. ("Before Charles") 40 CHAPTER 5: Ecology A.D. ("After Darwin") 53 CHAPTER 6: The Twentieth Century: Ecology Comes of Age 67 CHAPTER 7: A Visit to Bodie: Ecological Space and Time 84 CHAPTER 8: Ecology and Evolution: Process and Paradigm 97 CHAPTER 9: Be Glad to Be an Earthling 113 CHAPTER 10: Life Plays the Lottery 128 CHAPTER 11: Why Global Climate Is Like New England Weather 140 CHAPTER 12: Taking It from the Top--or the Bottom 155 CHAPTER 13: F or the Love of Biodiversity (and Stable Ecosystems?) 170 CHAPTER 14: Facing Marley's Ghost 186 Epilogue 203 Acknowledgments 207 Notes 209 Index 229

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Book SynopsisDescribes the five major strategies of growth for terrestrial plants, and details how plants succeed when resources are scarce. This book explains how plants attain available nutrients, withstand the immense stresses of drying soils, and flourish in the race for light.Trade Review"This work would be excellent for a seminar/discussion-style course for undergraduate and especially graduate students."--Choice "Joseph Craine provides an excellent synthesis of current work and a detailed historical perspective... [T]his is a ... very useful resource for anyone interested in the topic... One of the strengths of this book is that ... it also suggests the next crucial steps for fully understanding resource strategies of plants."--Marko Spasojevic, Journal of Vegetation ScienceTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xv Abbreviations xvii CHAPTER 1: The Basis for Plant Strategies 1 Assessing Natural Selection 1 From Single Traits to Multitrait Strategies 5 Quantifying Plant Traits and Strategies 8 Ranking Strategies 9 Synthesis 13 CHAPTER 2: The History of Plant Strategies 15 Nutrients and the History of Plant Strategies 15 Grime 19 Chapin 26 Tilman 33 Laying the Foundation of Plant Strategies 41 CHAPTER 3: Stress and Disturbance 45 Defining Stress and Disturbance 45 Major Causes of Stress and Disturbance 48 How Herbivory Works 50 Growth in the Face of Stress and Disturbance 55 Responding after Stress and Disturbance 61 The Links to Resource Availability 62 Summary 62 CHAPTER 4: Resource Limitation 64 The Concept of Single-Resource limitation 65 History of the Nitrogen Cycle Concept 68 Pulses or Slow Bleeds? 75 Primer on the Phosphorus Cycle 79 Co-limitation in a Post-Liebigian World 80 Evaluating Costs in a Co-limited World 84 Trade-offs in Use Efficiency in a Co-limited World 87 Summary 89 CHAPTER 5: Competition for Nutrients and Light 91 Definitions and Types of Competition 92 Competition for Nutrients under Uniform Supplies 94 How Much Root Length? 104 Interference Competition 106 Competition for Nutrients under Heterogeneous Supplies 107 Competition for Light 109 Synthesis 114 CHAPTER 6: Comparing Negative Effects 119 Comparing Negative Effects 120 How to Measure the Importance of Stress and Disturbance in Environments 122 How to Measure the Importance of Stress and Disturbance in the Natural Selection of a Species 130 Importance of Factors at Low Nutrient Supply 132 Importance of Factors at High Nutrient Supply 139 The Relative Importance of Factors 145 Synthesis 146 CHAPTER 7: The Low-Nutrient Strategy 149 Physiological Traits 151 Whole-Plant Traits 169 Effects on Nitrogen Cycling 171 Revising the Low-Nutrient Strategy 173 Significance of Traits in Strategy 187 Synthesis 199 CHAPTER 8: The High-Resource Strategy 202 The Scope of This Chapter 204 Physiological Traits 205 Whole-Plant Traits 212 Effects on Nutrient Cycling 213 Revising the High-Resource Strategy 213 Significance of Traits in Strategy 217 Why the Race Ends 223 Synthesis 224 CHAPTER 9: The Low-Light Strategy 227 Physiological Traits 229 Whole-Plant Traits 233 Effects on Nutrient Cycling 236 Traits under High Light 236 Why These Patterns 239 The End of the Second Stage of Competition 246 Synthesis 248 CHAPTER 10: The Low-Water and Low-CO2 Strategies 251 Water 251 Carbon Dioxide 268 Summary 279 CHAPTER 11: A Synthesis of Plant Strategies 282 Application and the Way Forward 285 Genetics, Pleiotropy, and Plasticity 286 Limitation 287 Competition 289 Defense and Herbivory 290 Mechanisms of Coexistence 292 Biogeographic Patterns and Invasions 293 Global Change 295 Tree of Life 298 Bibliography 301 Index 327

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Book SynopsisWe know that animals cross miles of water, land, and sky with pinpoint precision on a daily basis. But scientists have learned how these astounding feats of navigation are actually accomplished. This book explores the methods by which animals find their way both near home and around the globe.Trade ReviewLonglisted for the 2013 Society of Biology Book Awards in General Biology "Though animals are the book's stars, animal-navigation scientists come a close second. The innovation and sometimes pure cheek of experiments contrived to learn about nature's compasses are fun to read about."--Barbara J. King, Times Literary Supplement "What the Goulds have written is both an absorbing tale of biological discovery and a tantalizing scientific cliffhanger."--Laurence A. Marschall, Natural History "Nature's Compass provides a wonderful account of efforts to unravel the mysteries of animal migration. Effectively drawing on their own experiences and the extensive scientific literature in the field, the Goulds explain what we currently know about how animals locate their positions. Their survey also offers an accessible starting point for those who might wish to improve our understanding of the topic."--Homare Yamahachi, Science "James L. Gould and science writer Carol Gould explain the amazing ways in which animals orient themselves and make their way through the world. Scientist James details biology experiments that reveal how animals measure time, locate landmarks, and direct themselves across the globe, while writer Carol eloquently shows readers the beauty of the monarch butterfly's trip across the United States and into Mexico, the complex dance of honey bees, and homing pigeons' internal GPS system. Throughout the book, the authors combine their strengths to demonstrate both the scientific wonder and beauty of the internal compasses in animals. With an eye toward larger issues, the Goulds also examine the ways in which global warming and habitat destruction affect and endanger these magnificent and complex animals... Recommended."--Susan E. Brazer, Library Journal "Nature's Compass: The Mystery of Animal Navigation is an excellent resource for interested arm-chair ecologists and also undergraduate students who wish to understand the scientific history of analysis of how animal navigation occurs. At the same time, Nature's Compass: The Mystery of Animal Navigation is also an excellent book describing how sometimes it is difficult for Home sapiens to accept the cognitive intelligence and capacity of others who reside in our animal kingdom even when we are presented with the bare facts supporting these obvious assertions."--Gabriel Thoumi, MongaBay.com "Research on animal navigation sits at the interface of physics, biology, and many different cultures, and has seen many heated debates, past and present. Nature's Compass is an excellent introduction to the field and hopefully will serve as inspiration for new research... I found it enjoyable and would recommended it to anyone interested in the subject."--Anders Hedenstrom, Times Higher Education "This scholarly and engaging book is the first in more than twenty years to summarize for the layman the latest research on the wonders of animal navigation... Comprehensive and fascinating, the book cites extensive research, including a significant amount conducted by the authors themselves. While illuminating, the book also raises many questions that it cannot yet answer. We have much to learn from these wondrous creatures but, as this book makes clear, much of their mystery remains."--Kristen Rabe, Foreword Reviews "Nature's Compass is as much about navigation as it is about animals' abilities to navigate. Biologist James Gould and science writer Carol Gould fully describe the information needed for navigation, accurately pointing out that this applies equally to a diversity of organisms ranging from butterflies to humans. Their description serves the work well since readers gain an appreciation of the challenges and mysteries surrounding animal navigation... Overall, this is a fascinating treatment of animal navigation. Readers will gain insight into how animals manage to navigate in three dimensions, including a profound appreciation of their ability to 'solve' complex problems."--Choice "While this is certainly a book for birders, beekeepers, and lovers of the natural world, it's also a book for sailors, pilots, and anyone who has ever had trouble finding their car in the parking lot."--Susan Meadows, Santa Fe New Mexican "I found this to be an enjoyable and informative read. I would recommend it to any biologist interested in animal navigation and I would make it part of any curious student's reading list."--Verner P. Bingman, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xiii 1 Navigating Problems and Strategies 1 2 When and Where 19 3 A Matter of Time 35 4 Insect Compasses 69 5 Vertebrate Compasses 117 6 Piloting and Inertial Navigation 155 7 The Map Sense 185 8 Migration and the Future: Conservation and Extinction 227 Bibliography 245 Illustration Credits 281 Index 289

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Book SynopsisArguing that the human psyche is at war with itself, that humans are alienated in the cosmos, and that moral societies are necessarily in conflict with the natural conditions of their existence, this title states that moral dictates is the key to future human happiness and success.Trade ReviewPraise for Princeton's previous edition: "For Huxley, natural selection is not to be deemed a mixed blessing; rather, it is a damnable mix."--Arthur Falk, Humanist Praise for Princeton's previous edition: "Reading Huxley's text again is a pleasure and a double reminder ... that we're no closer than the Victorians to a comfortable understanding of our place in nature ... [and] that Huxley ... could contextualize [his] thinking ... with respect to a vast array of cultural and intellectual traditions [he] knew and respected. Few today could do that as Huxley does."--Archie Mancato, Nineteenth-Century Contexts Praise for Princeton's previous edition: "Describing the struggle for existence in nature, Darwin tells us that 'we may console ourselves with the full belief ... that the vigorous, the healthy, and the happy survive and multiply.' Thomas Henry Huxley presents a more pessimistic interpretation."--Allan Larson, TREE "[T]he reissuing of Evolution and Ethics serves as a timely reminder of Huxley's important contribution to debates about evolution more broadly and his ongoing relevance to disciplines from biology to philosophy to psychology."--Brett Bowden, European LegacyTable of ContentsIntroduction vii Acknowledgments xxxvii A Note about the Text xxxix Evolution and Ethics Prolegomena to Evolution and Ethics 1 Evolution and Ethics 46 Notes 87 Editor's Notes 117 Further Reading 121 Index 125

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Book SynopsisHow does cooperation emerge among selfish individuals? This book looks at social dilemmas where cooperative motivations are subverted and self-interest becomes self-defeating. It analyzes to what extent one key facet of human nature - selfishness - can lead to cooperation.Trade Review"With collaborators from Vienna, Sigmund has pioneered the development of evolutionary game dynamics. This thought-provoking book is a distillation of his many influential contributions to the field. It is a showcase of clever models and elegant mathematics, replete with sometimes counterintuitive insights."--Nature "In The Calculus of Selfishness, Karl Sigmund provides a comprehensive and accessible mathematical exposition of the evolutionary game theory of selfishness. The book should prove accessible to natural and social scientists as its mathematical arguments employ intuition, geometry, and simulation with a minimum of axiomatic formality. The demands on the reader typically involve little more than linear algebra and calculus."--David Krakauer, Science "Sigmund's mathematical exposition is exemplary. He starts with the presumption that the reader has only rudimentary linear algebra and some notion of what a differential equation is, and he builds up from there, introducing more advanced concepts and results as needed. He avoids formal proofs and bookkeeping in favor of careful explanations of key points and illustrative calculations. As he teaches evolutionary game theory, Sigmund is also demonstrating how to write about applied mathematics."--Cosma Shalizi, American Scientist "Sigmund's writing is admirably clear and historically grounded and he wisely restricts his coverage primarily to a subset of situations... [Sigmund] makes fascinating reading for the interested general reader and provides a good background in game theory which should inoculate readers from being fooled by sloppy or completely incorrect references in the popular media."--Sarah Boslaugh, MAA Reviews "Sigmund has ... done an admirable job of motivating the material and making it accessible for the non-expert who is interested in theories to explain the evolution of cooperation."--Ross Cressman, Mathematical ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface vii Chapter 1: Introduction: Social Traps and Simple Games 1 Chapter 2: Game Dynamics and Social Learning 25 Chapter 3: Direct Reciprocity: The Role of Repetition 49 Chapter 4: Indirect Reciprocity: The Role of Reputation 82 Chapter 5: Fairness and Trust: The Power of Incentives 104 Chapter 6: Public Goods and Joint Efforts: Between Freedom and Enforcement 123 Chapter 7: Cooperation in Structured Populations 145 References 155 Index 169

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Book SynopsisWhat is ethics? Where do moral standards come from? Are they based on emotions, reason, or some innate sense of right and wrong? This title argues that altruism began as a genetically based drive to protect one's kin and community members but has developed into a consciously chosen ethic with an expanding circle of moral concern.Trade Review"Singer's theory of the expanding circle remains an enormously insightful concept, which reconciles the existence of human nature with political and moral progress. It was also way ahead of its time. . . . It's wonderful to see this insightful book made available to a new generation of readers and scholars."—Steven Pinker, author of The Blank Slate and The Stuff of Thought"The Expanding Circle is a brilliant book whose significance becomes clearer every year. Peter Singer was the first major philosopher to see the importance of the new Darwinian insights into human nature, and in this book he applies them with characteristic power and grace."—Robert Wright, author of The Moral Animal"The Expanding Circle is a great introduction to the whole question of the relationship between evolution and ethics. Looking at it now nearly 30 years after its original publication, I am amazed at how well it has withstood the test of time. This book remains as relevant as ever."—Michael Ruse, editor of Philosophy after Darwin"Since its first publication in 1981, The Expanding Circle has become one of the most widely influential books in ethics. This revised edition could not be more timely. It is vital reading for anyone who has ever wondered about the nature or objectivity of morality—which is to say, for all of us."—Peter Railton, University of MichiganTable of ContentsPreface to the 2011 Edition xi Preface xv 1 The Origins of Altruism 3 2 The Biological Basis of Ethics 23 3 From Evolution to Ethics? 54 4 Reason 87 5 Reason and Genes 125 6 A New Understanding of Ethics 148 Notes on Sources 175 Afterword to the 2011 Edition 187 Index 205

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Book SynopsisMany animals, including humans, acquire valuable skills and knowledge by copying others. Scientists refer to this as social learning. It is one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of behavioral research and sits at the interface of many academic disciplines, including biology, experimental psychology, economics, and cognitive neurosciTrade Review"The pragmatic approach makes the book a great starting point for researchers who wish to plan a study or to look for ways to analyze data. Students will find it accessible, and the analytical tools can be used by anyone having a basic understanding of statistical methods... Hoppitt and Laland's accessible writing and the book's clear graphics support its effectiveness. We predict a long and useful life for this welcome volume."--Dorothy Fragaszy and Yonat Eshchar, Science "This excellent volume provides a thorough introduction to research and issues in this field, and also serves as a handbook of methods and techniques for studying social learning... Detailed tables and figures throughout add to the volume's usefulness. A valuable introductory resource for students and an essential handbook for investigators."--Choice "[R]eaders will find food for thought in this book especially in the ninth chapter, Modeling Social Learning and Culture, which begins by operationalizing culture and establishing parallels between biological and cultural evolution. A complete theoretical approach to social learning and culture is then introduced and the modeling methods are described. I highly recommended this chapter to researchers ... and I also encourage them to take a look at the whole textbook."--Francesc S. Beltran, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation "Social Learning provides the first compelling synthesis of the social-learning literature and is of value not only to newcomers seeking an introduction to a complex, multidisciplinary field, but also to established researchers looking for challenging views on familiar topics. A copy should not only be on the bookshelf of but also read by anyone interested in the study of social learning."--Bennett G. Galef, Quarterly Review of Biology "The field of social learning challenges animal behaviorists to define and distinguish concepts that have been colloquially applied for centuries. Hoppitt and Laland have substantially advanced this field by providing a concise but broadly readable guide for those interested in investigating questions about social learning. Researchers would be wise to recognize the many potential applications of the theoretical and empirical techniques presented therein... Rather than reading about social learning all by oneself though we suggest you and several close colleagues all buy Hoppitt and Laland's fine book, so that together you can socially learn about social learning."--Mark E. Laidre & Thomas S. Kraft, International Journal of PrimatologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix 1Introduction 1 What Is Social Learning? 3 Social transmission 5 Imitation 9 Innovation 9 Why Study Social Learning? 11 Summary of the Book 14 2A Brief History of Social Learning Research 16 The Evolution of Mind 17 Social Learning Mechanisms 20 Animal "Culture" 24 The Diffusion of Innovations 27 Child Development 28 Cultural Evolution 30 Conclusions 31 3Methods for Studying Social Learning in the Laboratory 33 Traditional Social Learning Studies 35 Alternative Experimental Approaches 38 Transmission chain studies 40 Diffusion studies 47 Innovation 50 The Biological Bases of Social Learning 52 Neuroendocrinological studies 53 Social learning of fear 54 Neural mechanisms of observational learning 56 Conclusions 61 4Social Learning Mechanisms 62 A Classification of Social Learning Mechanisms 63 Stimulus enhancement 65 Local enhancement 65 Observational conditioning 68 Response facilitation 69 Social facilitation 70 Imitation 70 Observational R-S learning 77 Emulation 77 Opportunity providing 78 (Inadvertent) coaching 79 Distinguishing Social Learning Mechanisms 80 Stimulus enhancement 80 Local enhancement 81 Observational conditioning 83 Response facilitation 85 Contextual imitation 87 Production imitation 89 Observational R-S learning 92 Emulation 93 Opportunity providing 94 (Inadvertent) coaching 96 A Pragmatic Approach to Characterizing Mechanisms of Social Transmission 96 Teaching 98 Summary 104 5Statistical Methods for Diffusion Data 105 Diffusion Curve Analysis 106 Network-Based Diffusion Analysis (NBDA) 108 Inclusion of individual-level variables 112 Model selection and inference 114 Modeling multiple diffusions 115 Choosing a social network 120 "Untransmitted" social effects 121 Related methods 122 Is NBDA realistic? 123 Examples 125 Spatial Spread of a Behavioral Trait 125 Wave of advance models 125 Other approaches for spatial data 127 Summary 128 6Repertoire-Based Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Social Transmission 129 The Group-Contrasts Approach 130 The Method of Exclusion 133 Basic and advanced methods of exclusion 133 Methods for assessing the genetic hypothesis 134 Methods for assessing the ecological hypothesis 143 Further problems with the method of exclusion 149 A Model-Fitting Approach 150 A matrix regression approach 150 Examples 151 A return to group comparisons 154 A Causal Modeling Framework 155 Relationship to the matrix regression approach 164 Ruling out homophily 164 Ruling out unknown ecological variables 167 Relationship to the method of exclusion 168 Conclusions 168 7Developmental Methods for Studying Social Learning 172 Observational Data 173 Describing the developmental process 173 Modeling probability of acquisition 177 Modeling time of acquisition 179 Modeling proficiency of trait performance 184 Modeling option choice 185 Limitations of observational data 188 Experimental Manipulations 188 Diffusion experiments 189 Manipulation of social experience 191 Translocation studies 193 Conclusions 195 8Social Learning Strategies 196 Why Social Learning Is Strategic 196 "When" Strategies 203 Copy when established behavior is unproductive 203 Copy when asocial learning is costly 205 Copy when uncertain 210 Copy when prior information is outdated 212 Copy when dissatisfied 213 Is copying a first or last resort? 214 "Who" Strategies 215 Frequency-dependent biases 216 Success biases 221 Kin and age biases 225 "What" Strategies 226 Random Copying 227 Statistical Methods for Detecting Social Learning Strategies 229 Meta-strategies, Best Strategies, and Hierarchical Control 232 9Modeling Social Learning and Culture 235 Introduction 235 Why model? 235 Operationalizing the culture concept 237 Parallels between biological and cultural evolution 238 Theoretical Approaches to Social Learning and Cultural Evolution 239 Population-genetic style models of cultural evolution 239 Population-genetic style models of gene-culture coevolution 241 Neutral models and random copying 246 Social foraging theory 250 Spatially explicit models 251 Reaction-diffusion models 253 Agent-based models 254 Phylogenetic models 255 Conclusions 258 10Conclusions 260 References 265 Index 301

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Overall, the book succeeds in its goal of providing a mechanistic interpretation for the distribution of species richness around the globe based on a first-principles approach which utilizes raw empirical data and a process-based simulation model."---Alexis D. Synodinos, Basic and Applied Ecology"This accessible volume should be essential reading for conservation policymakers as well as academics working in this field."---Dr Alexander Waller, The Biologist

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Book SynopsisBegins with a look at the ideas of Mancur Olson and George Williams, who shifted the question of why cooperation happens from an emphasis on group benefits to individual costs. This book then explores how these ideas have influenced our thinking about cooperation, coordination, and collective action.Trade Review"The study of cooperation is a multifield behemoth, and Meeting at Grand Central admirably covers considerable ground. Importantly, it does this in an accessible way, by describing select theories and concepts with clear and vivid examples. Seeing the current fragmented state of scholarship on cooperation as a coordination problem, and thus a problem of common knowledge, the authors also devote considerable time to developing a common set of definitions and concepts."--Daniel J. Hruschka, Current Anthropology "Better understanding how cooperation emerges from the behavior of interacting individuals represents a crucial endeavor that can only benefit from a multifaceted approach... I am hence confident that ... readers, independent of their disciplinary background, will not only enjoy the reading, but also find it useful for their work and research."--Giangiacomo Bravo, International Journal of the Commons "[T]he major strength of the book clearly lies in its ability to stimulate curiosity for further research... [R]eaders who like to read scientific content in an easily accessible way and become inspired to read more will not be disappointed."--Julia Schindler, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation "Cronk and Leech have provided a solid platform for taking the analysis of social cooperation and coordination in a variety of directions."--Richard E. Wagner, Review of Austrian Economics "The sheer breadth of cases addressed in this book makes it an exhilarating read... Cronk and Leech provide a wonderfully comprehensive reference for those interested in co-operation, accessible and engaging enough for an upper-level undergraduate course on the subject. It sets the groundwork to think carefully about how we should model the world, opening the door for future research to develop prescriptive as well as descriptive models, allowing social scientists the ability to rigorously confront this diverse space of problems."--William J. Berger, Journal of Politics "Meeting at Grand Central would make a great text for an advanced undergraduate or graduate course on cooperation in anthropology, economics, sociology, or political science. There is something for everybody in this challenging and enlightening read."--James L. Boone, Journal of Anthropological ResearchTable of ContentsPreface ix Chapter 1 Cooperation, Coordination, and Collective Action 1 * Box 1.1 Experimental Economic Games 15 Chapter 2 Adaptation: A Special and Onerous Concept 18 Chapter 3 The Logic of Logic, and Beyond 47 * Box 3.1 * Types of Groups 49 * Box 3.2 * Types of Goods 53 Chapter 4 Cooperation and the Individual 72 * Box 4.1 * The Reciprocity Bandwagon 75 * Box 4.2 * The Prisoner's Dilemma Game 79 Chapter 5 Cooperation and Organizations 101 Chapter 6 Meeting at Penn Station: Coordination Problems and Cooperation 124 * Box 6.1 * Coordination Games 150 Chapter 7 Cooperation Emergent 151 Chapter 8 Meeting at Grand Central 169 Notes 189 References 207 Index 23

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Book SynopsisWhat's so special about music? We experience it internally, yet at the same time it is highly social. Music engages our cognitive/affective and sensory systems. We use music to communicate with one another--and even with other species--the things that we cannot express through language. Music is both ancient and ever evolving. Without music, our woTrade Review"Complex though the subject is, Schulkin writes with the general reader in mind, balancing and contextualizing scientific particularities with cross-disciplinary discussions of musicology, wider aesthetics and philosophy in an accessible, highly readable style. At 178 pages, it is a compact book, but a wise and welcome one too, on every page a fresh line of enquiry and a reaching towards an understanding of the importance of the brain to our appreciation of music and of music to our sense of ourselves."--Michael Quinn, Classical Music "For neuroscientist Jay Schulkin, music provides an enjoyable but at times testing workout for the brain, much as sport does for the body. Indeed, for him, listening to music is a microcosm of living one's life. In Reflections on the Musical Mind, he reminds us that we live in a world of uncertainty, always needing to predict the future with imprecise, or absent, information. So evolution has honed us to make judgments based on aesthetics, and to find slight deviations from the familiar--especially in music--both interesting and attractive."--New Scientist "This book presents an enormous amount of information about music and biology in a concise, well ordered, and readable manner... [H]e has produced a detailed picture of what functions enable music to have the powerful role it has in our lives both individually and socially. His love of music and the science behind it jumps from the pages and should be read by anyone interested in where the field currently stands."--Jeff Gottlieb, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsForeword vii Preface xi Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Music and the Brain An Evolutionary Context 18 Chapter 2 Bird Brains, Social Contact, and Song 37 Chapter 3 Human Song Dopamine, Syntax, and Morphology 62 Chapter 4 Musical Expectations, Probability, and Aesthetics 87 Chapter 5 Musical Expression, Memory, and the Brain 119 Chapter 6 Development, Music, and Social Contact 140 Chapter 7 Music and Dance 156 Conclusion Music and Well-Being 172 Notes 179 References 201 Index 249

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“This book demonstrates how viruses, besides being fascinating organisms, can provide experimental tests and case studies for many of the evolutionary processes that are important to biologists.”—Lin Chao, University of California, San Diego “This stimulating and timely book addresses questions central to virus population dynamics from the conceptual framework of complex systems theory. Clearly structured and easy to read, it fills a gap and will appeal to scientists in a diversity of fields, from virology to mathematical biology.”—Fernando García-Arenal, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid“Viruses as Complex Adaptive Systems covers the evolution, diversity, and behavior of viruses from a mathematical perspective, providing a broad range of vignettes on the subject that are clear and engagingly written. The book also serves as a useful introduction to some aspects of theoretical biology.”—Oliver Pybus, University of Oxford“Solé and Elena bring together in one place a variety of different concepts and approaches that are normally treated separately, offering detailed discussions of the rapid contemporary variation of some viruses along with the medium and long-term evolution of others. I know of no other book like this one.”—Colin R. Parrish, Cornell University

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Book SynopsisOffers an evolutionary history of Darwin's finches since their origin almost 3 million years ago. By continuously tracking finch populations over a period of four decades, this title uncovers the causes and consequences of significant events leading to evolutionary changes in species.Trade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 2015 PROSE Award in Biological Sciences, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "For the Grants, Daphne Major has been a magic well. With their four decades of work on the island, they've made it a magnificent microcosm, a model of life on Earth."--Jonathan Weiner, New York Times "For the Grants, evolution isn't a theoretical abstraction. It's gritty and real and immediate and stunningly fast... Most of all, the book is an affirmation of the importance of long-term fieldwork as a way of capturing the true dynamism of evolution."--Joel Achenbach, Princeton Alumni Weekly "The study described here is truly exceptional. Peter and Rosemary Grant ... have devoted their careers to the study of the group of birds known as Darwin's finches on the Galapagos archipelago, one of the most isolated and inhospitable places on Earth. But the payoff is that their research furnishes some of the most compelling evidence for natural selection and the origin of species... The Grants' achievement is monumental."--Tim Birkhead, Times Higher Education "[O]ne of the most intriguing books I have ever read... Read it for yourself. You'll be glad you did!"--Allan Archer, BTO News "This volume not only provides detailed evidence of the evolution of a specific group of animals, but also offers an overall perspective on how and in what ways bird species have changed in this rather isolated locality."--Choice "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and 'best' is often a subjective term. In the case of the Grant's work on Galapagos finches, I think it is possible to argue objectively that it really is the best by some measures because of its design, sustained execution, and continual incorporation of new methods and ideas. This book contributes to the status of their research program because it makes this body of work readily accessible to a much larger audience."--David Reznick, Ecology "40 Years of Evolution offers readers numerous opportunities for inspiration at how the study of ecology, evolution, and natural history of finches on a small island reflects the forces at work in the Galapagos and throughout life."--Frederick R. Davis, Quarterly Review of Biology "This book uses hard won data ... to draw insightful conclusions about the messy, dynamic, and creative processes of evolutionary change and lineage divergence. It would make an excellent ... textbook for a college-level course in evolution because it has it all: natural selection, sexual selection, heritability, competition, character displacement, speciation, and extinction... This book is a tribute to the authors themselves."--Michael S. Webster, EvolutionTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. ix*Illustrations, pg. xvii*Tables, pg. xxiii*Boxes, pg. xxv*Preface, pg. xxvii*1. Speciation, Adaptive Radiation, And Evolution, pg. 3*2. Daphne Finches: A Question of Size, pg. 17*3. Heritable Variation, pg. 41*4. Natural Selection And Evolution, pg. 55*5. Breeding Ecology And Fitness, pg. 77*6. A Potential Competitor Arrives on Daphne, pg. 103*7. Competition and Character Displacement, pg. 122*8. Hybridization, pg. 138*9. Variation and Introgression, pg. 166*10. Long-Term Trends in Hybridization, pg. 183*11. Long-Term Trends in Natural Selection, pg. 205*12. Speciation, pg. 229*13. Speciation by Introgressive Hybridization, pg. 245*14. The Future of Finches on Daphne, pg. 271*15. Themes and Issues, pg. 287*16. Generalization, pg. 300*17. Epilogue, pg. 310*Coda, pg. 319*Appendixes, pg. 321*Abbreviations, pg. 341*Glossary, pg. 343*References, pg. 353*Subject Index, pg. 389

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Book SynopsisSocial behavior has long puzzled evolutionary biologists, since the classical theory of natural selection maintains that individuals should not sacrifice their own fitness to affect that of others. Social Evolution and Inclusive Fitness Theory argues that a theory first presented in 1963 by William D. Hamilton--inclusive fitness theory--provides thTrade Review"Overall, this useful little book provides a superlative introduction to the core mathematics one needs to understand the quantitative basis of sociobiology."--ChoiceTable of ContentsList of Figures xi List of Tables xii Preface xiii Acknowlegments xvii 1 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT 1 1.1 Explanations for Apparent Design 1 1.2 Natural Selection and Social Behavior 3 1.3 Arguments for Group Benefit 7 1.4 Enter Hamilton 11 1.5 Multilevel Selection Theory 13 1.6 The Generality of Inclusive Fitness Theory 14 2 MODELS OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 16 2.1 Introduction 16 2.2 The Donation Game 18 2.3 The Nonadditive Donation Game 22 2.4 Other Social Interactions 25 2.5 Public Goods Games 28 2.6 Threshold Public Goods Games 29 2.7 Interactions in Structured Populations 32 2.8 Summary 32 3 THE PRICE EQUATION 34 3.1 A General Description of Selection 34 3.2 Genetic Selection 36 3.3 Illustrative Applications of the Price Equation 39 3.4 Important Caveats 43 3.5 Summary 45 4 INCLUSIVE FITNESS AND HAMILTON'S RULE 46 4.1 Inclusive Fitness Extends Classical Darwinian Fitness 46 4.2 Fitness Effects as Regression on Genes 47 4.3 Deriving Hamilton's Rule in the Simplest Case 51 4.4 Perceived Limitations of Inclusive Fitness Theory 54 4.5 Summary 58 5 NONADDITIVE INTERACTIONS AND HAMILTON'S RULE 59 5.1 Replicator Dynamics for Interactions between Relatives 59 5.2 Extending Hamilton's Rule to Deal with Nonadditivity 65 5.3 The Price Equation and Levels of Causal Analysis 69 5.4 Summary 70 6 CONDITIONAL BEHAVIORS AND INCLUSIVE FITNESS 71 6.1 Implicit and Explicit Conditionality 71 6.2 Modeling Conditional Behavior 73 6.3 Claims That Assortment Is More Fundamental Than Relatedness 76 6.4 Summary 77 7 VARIANTS OF HAMILTON'S RULE AND EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS 78 7.1 Variants of Hamilton's Rule 78 7.2 Geometric Relatedness Underlies Phenotypic Assortment 83 7.3 Explanations for Greenbeards 86 7.4 Different Viewpoints on Conditional Traits 88 7.5 Summary 89 8 HERITABILITY, MAXIMIZATION, AND EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS 90 8.1 What Drives Social Evolution? 90 8.2 Selection and Heritability 90 8.3 Do Individuals Act to Maximize Their Inclusive Fitness? 95 8.4 Ultimate Causes and Social Evolution 97 8.5 Summary 103 9 WHAT IS FITNESS? 105 9.1 Introduction 105 9.2 Haldane's Dilemma 105 9.3 Reproductive Value and Class Structure 107 9.4 Fitness, Fecundity, and Payoffs 109 9.5 Summary 114 10 EVIDENCE, OTHER APPROACHES, AND FURTHER TOPICS 115 10.1 Introduction 115 10.2 Empirical Support for Inclusive Fitness Theory 115 10.3 Some Further Topics in Social Evolution Theory 127 10.4 Other Theoretical Approaches 129 10.5 Conclusion 132 Glossary 135 Notes 139 Bibliography 175 Index 187

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Aktipis takes an evolutionary approach to cancer, tracing the ways cells ‘cheat’ natural selection and showing how the human body evolved to outsmart many of those threats. She invites readers to put themselves in the role of a cancer cell and learn about the ways in which the disease and the history of human existence are intertangled."---Erin Blakemore, Washington Post"Darwinian approach to evolution of cancer and cancer-resistance. Brilliant book, up there with Nesse & Williams."---Richard Dawkins on Twitter"The Cheating Cell reads like a deep and personal hypothesis coming from a researcher who has spent over a decade studying the evolutionary foundations of cancer."---David C. S. Filice, Evolution"The Cheating Cell makes for fascinating reading and forces a radical reconsideration of what cancer is and how we should deal with it."---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist

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Book SynopsisWhen a chimpanzee stockpiles rocks as weapons or when a frog sends out mating calls, we might easily assume these animals know their own motivations--that they use the same psychological mechanisms that we do. But as Beyond the Brain indicates, this is a dangerous assumption because animals have different evolutionary trajectories, ecological nicheTrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2012 "Beyond the Brain is an astonishingly good book, both substantive and fun to read... Barrett re-centres the field on the study of animal cognition. I think this is an excellent decision, and not just because it allows her to tell some great animal stories. The main advantage is not narrative but substantive: her careful reconstruction of the grounds of natural cognition is simply more convincing and more relevant than even the best discussion of artificial intelligence could ever be... Beyond the Brain is full of ... interesting and heterodox discussions, and is sure to engage, enrage, and inspire in differential measure depending on the reader's theoretical proclivities."--Michael L. Anderson, Journal of Consciousness Studies "[T]his book provides an excellent synthesis of psychology, philosophy, robotics and biology on the topic of animal and human cognition. The prose is accessible and easy to read, and Barrett effectively uses everyday examples to make theoretical and technical points clear... [T]his book ... gave me a lot of new insights. I highly recommend it to scientists and students interested in understanding animal and human minds."--Sabine Tebbich, Animal Behaviour "Barrett's book is a superb and unique bit of thinking, and so eminently readable and enticing that it will appeal to the mainstream... It is so rare to find a richly scientific and philosophical book that the reader will find hard to put down, as if it were a bestselling novel, and I hope this book actually reaches a bestseller list, it is that good, and has that wide an audience, from layman to cognitive scientist. I recommend it to any university under or post-graduate course, as one of the most intriguing and compelling works I have ever read or reviewed. This is not due alone to the startling facts, or her humor, or any other single facet, but owes much to her integration of so many aspects of argument, philosophy, science, anthropology, ecological psychology and others, that it teaches the student, in passing, to think outside of the umwelt. A great contribution."--Roy Sugarman, Metapsychology "Beyond the Brain is indeed an amusing and entertaining read, but one with an extraordinary analytical rigor and eloquence of argument. Very accessible, enticing, and lucidly written, it can be enjoyed both by professional academics and laypeople. Readers--be they novice or seasoned--will certainly find the volume uplifting and inspirational, Barrett's style brisk and delightful and her intellectual playfulness quite solacing... A must read for the next generations of cognitive scientists and for all those who are interested in the study of comparative cognition."--Mirko Farina, Phenomenology and Cognitive Sciences "[W]e can see Barrett's brave new book as a beacon to future generations of scientists who wish to investigate the particularly human niche in cognitive evolution."--Daniel J. Povinelli, Human Ethology Bulletin "[I]f you are new to the area of embodied cognition, read this book. If you're familiar with the literature but want a clear, well-structured presentation of many of the key ideas, then read this book. If you're bored with the same old examples and want some new, perhaps more convincing examples of embodied cognition in action, read this book. And if you have heard some of the arguments but still think behaviour really comes from the computational activity of our complex brains, then, for the love of science, read this book."--Andrew Wilson, Notes from Two Scientific Psychologists "I am jealous of this book, especially of the first half. It is so well written. Barrett picks exactly the right examples and weaves them together in exactly the right ways. It is clear that Barrett has put great care into the construction of Beyond the Brain, and her success should be rewarded by a wide readership."--Eric P. Charles, PsycCRITIQUES "Beyond the Brain explores the emerging field of embedded cognition, in which the mind is seen as more than a product of brain mechanisms... Barrett provides a thorough, well-written introduction to the disparate schools of thought on embedded cognition, starting with a discussion of what human brains really do and the ways in which brainpower is adaptive."--Choice "Drawing on examples from animal behavior, comparative psychology, robotics, artificial life, developmental psychology, and cognitive science, Barrett provides remarkable new insights into how animals and humans depend on their bodies and environment--not just their brains--to behave intelligently."--Daniel J. Povinelli, Leonardo Reviews "Barrett's book contains many bold ideas, expressed in a lively and engaging style; with nice touches of humor, it is both thought provoking and entertaining. Her relational, environment-based, action-oriented perspective is deeply compatible with behavior analysis, and I suspect many behavior analysts will be nodding in agreement with many of the thoughtful and well developed arguments put forth in the book."--Timothy D. Hackenberg, Behaviour AnalystTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Chapter 1: Removing Ourselves from the Picture 1 Chapter 2: The Anthropomorphic Animal 20 Chapter 3: Small Brains, Smart Behavior 39 Chapter 4: The Implausible Nature of Portia 57 Chapter 5: When Do You Need a Big Brain? 71 Chapter 6: The Ecology of Psychology 94 Chapter 7: Metaphorical Mind Fields 112 Chapter 8: There Is No Such Thing as a Naked Brain 135 Chapter 9: World in Action 152 Chapter 10: Babies and Bodies 175 Chapter 11: Wider than the Sky 197 Epilogue 223 Notes 225 References 251 Index 269

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A lively, highly informative introduction to significant research in ecology that highlights the importance of conserving our natural habitats."--Kirkus "This comprehensive and colorful illustrated study of monarch biology and behavior ... offers another reason to admire the versatile insect: its long and successful symbiotic relationship with the otherwise toxic milkweed plant... Agrawal's book will appeal not only to butterfly enthusiasts but also to the environmentally aware and all readers who appreciate solidly written and accessible popular science."--Booklist "Epic is the only word to describe the annual journey of monarch butterflies... Agrawal's splendid book is no less epic, taking us from heart toxins and sodium pumps to climate change and illegal logging. This is important science about an iconic and sadly declining insect, made readable by enthusiastic, personal prose."--Richard Jones, BBC Wildlife Magazine "[Anurag Agrawal's] book is a minutely detailed exploration of just about everything about [monarchs]: sex lives, dining habits, internal flight guidance and, in particular, their coevolving-but-competitive relationship with milkweed."--Nancy Szokan, Washington Post "Fantastic, readable, scientifically rich, detailed... Monarchs and Milkweed is to date the coolest nature or science book I've seen so far this year."--Greg Laden's BlogTable of ContentsList of Illustrations vii 1 Welcome to the Monarchy 1 2 The Arms Race 22 3 The Chemistry of Medicine and Poison 43 4 Waiting, Mating, and Migrating 63 5 Hatching and Defending 90 6 Saving Up to Raise a Family 119 7 The Milkweed Village 148 8 The Autumn Migration 178 9 Long Live the Monarchy! 210 Acknowledgments 243 Notes 249 Image Credits 271 Index 275

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisCan virtuous behavior be explained by nature, and not by human rational choice? "It's the animal in us," we often hear when we've been bad. But why not when we're good? Primates and Philosophers tackles this question by exploring the biological foundations of one of humanity's most valued traits: morality. In this provocative book, renowned primatoTrade Review"Frans de Waal defends against philosopher critics his view that the roots of morality can be seen in the social behavior of monkeys and apes... [H]e argues that human morality would be impossible without certain emotional buildings blocks that are clearly at work in chimps and monkey societies... Dr. de Waal sees human morality as having grown out of primate sociality, but with two extra levels of sophistication. People enforce their society's moral codes much more rigorously with rewards, punishments and reputation building. They also apply a degree of judgment and reason, for which there are no parallels in animals."--Nicholas Wade, The New York Times "De Waal is one of the world's foremost authorities on nonhuman primates, and his thoughtful contribution to Primates and Philosophers is enriched by decades of close observation of their behavior... He argues that humans are like their closest evolutionary kin in being moral by nature... [A]n impressively well-focused collection of essays."--John Gray, New York Review of Books "Celebrated primatologist Frans de Waal ... demonstrates through his empirical work with primates the evolutionary basis for ethics."--Publishers Weekly "Frans de Waal ... argues that ... morality is actually a gift from animal ancestors and that people are good not by choice but by nature... He argues that ... critics fail to recognize that while animals are not human, humans are animals."--Science News "Dutch-born psychologist, ethologist and primatologist Frans de Waal has spent his career watching the behavior of apes and monkeys, mostly captive troupes in zoos... His work ... has helped lift Darwin's conjectures about the evolution of morality to a new level... [De Waal argues that] sympathy, empathy, right and wrong are feelings that we share with other animals; even the best part of human nature, the part that cares about ethics and justice, is also part of nature."--Jonathan Weiner, Scientific American "Frans de Waal ... show[s] how elements of morality such as empathy, sympathy, community concern and a sense of fairness also exist in our closest primate relatives."--David Sloan Wilson, American Scientist "Exceptionally rich but always lucid... Intellectual soul food for biology-minded ethicists."--Ray Olsen, Booklist "In his new book, Primates and Philosophers, Frans de Waal argues that the origins of human goodness can be seen in apes and monkeys. He claims that we have evolved from a long line of social animals for whom close co-operation is 'not an option but a survival strategy'. Not only are we nice by nature, but our ancestors were too, ever since they came down from the proverbial trees."--Stephen Cave, Financial Times "Frans de Waal, an acclaimed primatologist, has much to say about what he considers the biological origins of morality. Unlike many recent antireligion writers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett, who use the latest socio-biological research to campaign against religion, de Waal has no antireligious agenda. This both keeps his writing more focused and helps him avoid many of the argumentative errors of Dawkins and company...De Waal is a keen social observer, but he focuses mostly on what we can learn from what he knows best-the study of primates, including the human variety."--Joe Pettit, Commonweal "[A] remarkably interesting and rich set of reflections about the nature of morality, the social experiences of nonhuman primates, and the continuities and differences between the social experiences of human and nonhuman primates. The book can be read both as discussion on the nature of evolution and as a primer on ethical theory... All in all this is an extremely interesting book on a central human preoccupation-the question of our relationship with Nature-and is a demonstration that the collaboration of sympathetic points of view can produce a wider and wiser whole."--Eric Dayton, The StructuristTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction by Josiah Ober and Stephen Macedo ix PART I: Morally Evolved: Primate Social Instincts,Human Morality, and the Rise and Fall of "Veneer Theory" by Frans de Waal 1 Appendix A: Anthropomorphism and Anthropodenial 59 Appendix B: Do Apes Have a Theory of Mind? 69 Appendix C: Animal Rights 75 PART II: Comments: The Uses of Anthropomorphism by Robert Wright 83 Morality and the Distinctiveness of Human Action by Christine M. Korsgaard 98 Ethics and Evolution: How to Get Here from There by Philip Kitcher 120 Morality, Reason, and the Rights of Animals by Peter Singer 140 PART III: Response to Commentators: The Tower of Morality by Frans de Waal 161 References 183 Contributors 197 Index 201

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Suzanne J. Levinson Prize, History of Science Society""Shortlisted for the Pickstone Prize, British Society for the History of Science""A multifaced and original discussion of the curious life of the 'killer ape' theory within American culture."---Marcia Holmes, Times Higher Education"Coupling her study with research shifting from humankind’s inclination for violence to their more destructive treatment of the environment will reveal that those same factors will continue to remain progressive."---G. Donato, Choice Reviews"[A] fascinating and very well-documented account of disputes about human nature. . . . A major work like Creatures of Cain: The Hunt for Human Nature in Cold War America informs and intrigues, it raises questions, and points to avenues of more research. [Erika] Milam is to be congratulated."---Michael Ruse, The Quarterly Review of Biology"Milam’s book . . . is deeply researched as well as lucidly written. . . . Historians will find much to reward them in Creatures of Cain. . . . Historians broadly interested in the social and political landscapes of mid-century U.S. intellectual life will value Milam’s book for its deft interweaving of science, public intellectualism, and American social and political anxieties"---Joy Rohde, American Historical Review"Milam has made a significant and innovative contribution to the historiography of anthropology . . . . A novel perspective on anthropology’s impact and influence."---Robert Hancock, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute"A tour de force, a historical study that offers a well-researched, meticulous examination of how a diverse community of scientists debated the meaning of human nature in the United States after World War II."---Michal Shapira, Isis"Creatures of Cain brings to light the ways in which the circulation of knowledge actually took place."---Marianne Sommer, Journal of the History of Biology"Erika Lorraine Milam’s Creatures of Cain is an exemplary work in the cultural history of modern science. The research is thorough, the material fascinating, the writing lucid and, at times, gripping."---Alex Aylward, Birkhauser (N.T.M)"Creatures of Cain is likely to become a classic in history of science studies. The work is beautifully written and has layers of rich detail, much of which could be mined for gaining insights on contemporary debates."---Roger Chapman, Cercles

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Book SynopsisOriginally published: 1966. With new foreword. [First] Princeton science library edition, with new preface by the author, A1996.Trade Review“A beautifully written and excellently reasoned essay in defense of Darwinian selection as a sufficient theory to explain evolution without the necessity of group selection, population adaptation, or progress.”—R. C. Lewontin, Science“This is an exciting, significant, and important work…. On the whole it will have a very beneficial influence on biology with a rich supply of subjects and targets for some years to come…. This is a carefully constructed, carefully written scholarly work, in the best sense of these words.”—L. B. Slobodkin, Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books for Young Adults""The irresistible enthusiasm of Great Adaptations couldn’t come at a better time—science is under assault not merely by know-nothing deniers but in how it is taught and presented to the general public. It’s dispensed as a collection of facts, recitations of what past research has uncovered, findings to be understood, which all too often means just 'memorized.' By contrast, as Mr. Catania clearly understands, and demonstrates beautifully in his book, science offers adventures in trying to decode the mysteries of the natural world."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"This engrossing read walks readers through Catania’s life as a scientist. Key discoveries are juxtaposed with lessons about the scientific method, and QR codes sprinkled throughout the book link to short, engrossing movies highlighting some of the author’s fascinating work."---Laura M. Zahn, Science"In page after page, Catania’s enthusiasm and awe for the animals shine through. . . . Some of that enthusiasm will likely rub off on readers and spark a sense of wonder. Great Adaptations packs in plenty of astounding details about some remarkable creatures."---Erin Garcia de Jesus, Science News"[Catania] is as keen that we learn about the process of discovery as about animals themselves. . . . The realms he studies may be on the small scale, but the implications are enormous."---Bill Thompson, The Post and Courier"Casual science readers will be hooked from page one; for those contemplating careers in the sciences, this should be required reading." * Library Journal, starred review *"By blending accessible writing with cutting-edge science, Catania . . . demonstrates how exciting the process of scientific investigation can be in his invigorating debut. . . . The joy Catania takes in the process of exploring the natural world will delight readers." * Publishers Weekly, starred review *"With its combination of clearly explained science and vivid tales from the road, this is a book for anyone who is interested in the natural world and the interesting people who study it."---Linda Lombardi, Shelf Awareness, starred review"Using a variety of visual aids to good effect, Catania explores how the humblest species may have developed their remarkable abilities. . . . It’s clear that being a scientist has only magnified the author’s sense of wonder, and he notes how chance, failure, an open mind, and tirelessly methodical experimentation are as much natural parts of science as breakthroughs. . . . His delight is contagious." * Kirkus Reviews *"This book is a delightful series of ‘aha!’ moments. After doing impressive biological detective work, Kenneth Catania theorizes why some of the most fascinating animal qualities wound up evolving into existence. Tons of fun."---Olivia Rutigliano, LitHub"From mapping the sensory cortex of the star-nosed mole’s brain to tactile receptors in its fleshy tentacles, to illustrating the unique behavioral capabilities of the electric eel, tentacled snake, water shrew, and jewel wasp, each species description reveals a compelling story of evolutionary adaptations in anatomy, physiology, and/or behavior. Catania aptly conveys his wonderment at finding out how an organism interacts with its environment, a project that became his life's work."---J. Burger, Choice"Explaining the needed scientific background at the right level for all likely readers is a particularly hard task, and here Catania does better than some of my favorite scientists and science writers. By focusing on what he, as an experienced instructor of undergraduates, assumes will confuse novice readers, the author covers the necessary background with just enough detail and without being pedantic."---Philip K. Stoddard, Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The volume can be a provocative focus for a graduate reading group. ... Best of all, the essays show all of us that there is an enormous amount of good ecology to be done."---Joseph Travis, The Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book gives comprehensive coverage, including classical (selection, adaptation, divergence), basic (gene flow, plasticity, ecosystem functions), and some recent (genomics) issues that are richly illustrated by simple, clear tables, and figures." * Conservation Biology *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book will surely fuel further conceptual unification by inspiring future generations of scientists."---Mark E. Laidre, The Quarterly Review of Biology"The book abounds with new ideas and is a must read for anyone starting out on a career in field entomology."---John Badmin, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A very well-constructed reference book."---April Marie Wright, Trends in Ecology & Evolution"A very good and thorough overview of methods and applications to infer evolutionary relationship between recently diverged taxa." * Conservation Biology *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Aktipis takes an evolutionary approach to cancer, tracing the ways cells ‘cheat’ natural selection and showing how the human body evolved to outsmart many of those threats. She invites readers to put themselves in the role of a cancer cell and learn about the ways in which the disease and the history of human existence are intertangled."---Erin Blakemore, Washington Post"Darwinian approach to evolution of cancer and cancer-resistance. Brilliant book, up there with Nesse & Williams."---Richard Dawkins on Twitter"The Cheating Cell reads like a deep and personal hypothesis coming from a researcher who has spent over a decade studying the evolutionary foundations of cancer."---David C. S. Filice, Evolution"The Cheating Cell makes for fascinating reading and forces a radical reconsideration of what cancer is and how we should deal with it."---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The name Annalisa Berta is synonymous with expertise in, and deep knowledge of, sea mammals and their role in our oceans. . . . In this book [Berta] projects facts, informed science and connects cetaceans and other sea mammals to the entire oceanic ecosystem in which they exist, yet she wears her heart on her sleeve too."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"I came away from reading this book with a better understanding of marine events and a deeper feeling that it would be good to know even more."---Mark Avery, Mark Avery blog"An enjoyable and informative read."---Steve Weinman, Divernet"There is plenty to enjoy in this delightful book. Plenty to learn too. As the cold dark nights draw in, I can see myself delving into this book time and time again. This is a perfect gift for anyone that loves the ocean and its inhabitants."---Caroline Robertson-Brown, Scubaverse"This is a great book to own to augment your more typical field guides as it goes way beyond."---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature Newsletter

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Book SynopsisFollowing centuries of debate about "nature and nurture" the discovery of DNA established the idea that nature (genes) determines who we are, relegating nurture (environment) to icing on the cake.Trade Review“We know that nature and nurture are entwined, but we often overlook the fact that neither science nor the humanities alone can resolve the nature/nurture debate. This accessible and clever book introduces the reader to recent discoveries in epigenetics and shows how the new horizons and hopes opened up by this field entail new responsibilities and new types of vigilance.”Eva Jablonka, Tel Aviv University“A cool appraisal of a turbulent field, this fine book exposes an unfolding saga of interdisciplinary dimensions. A radical shift is emerging in the conceptualization of the human body and its environment: the authors’ state-of-the-art climax is a message for everyone.”Marilyn Strathern, Girton College, Cambridge “Lock and Palsson reaffirm their critique of the dualistic thinking that has prevailed in the past two hundred years. The reader is left with the firm understanding that the biochemical promise of gene therapy is empty if it is not undertaken in tandem with measures to improve the nurturing role of the social and physical environment. […] It offers an all too brief but wonderful historical and contemporary overview of the nature/nurture debate from both perspectives and touches on some other interesting topics in the history of science.”Anthropological Forum “Beautifully written and elegantly argued, Margaret Lock and Gísli Pálsson’s reconstruction of the nature/nurture debate is a bright, very accessible introduction to a much-discussed topic.”Journal of the Royal Anthropological InstituteTable of ContentsPreamble: Beyond the Molecular Vision of Life 1. Moveable Concepts: Nature and Nurture 2. Promotion and Demotion of the Gene 3. Reinstating Nurture: From Opposition to Commingling 4. Accruing Biosocial Momentum 5. Biopolitics for the Future

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Book SynopsisFollowing centuries of debate about nature and nurture the discovery of DNA established the idea that nature (genes) determines who we are, relegating nurture (environment) to icing on the cake. Since the 1950s, the new science of epigenetics has demonstrated how cellular environments and certain experiences and behaviors influence gene expression at the molecular level, with significant implications for health and wellbeing. To the amazement of scientists, mapping the human genome indirectly supported these insights. Anthropologists Margaret Lock and Gisli Palsson outline vituperative arguments from Classical times about the relationship between nature and nurture, furthered today by epigenetic findings and the demonstration of a reactive genome. The nature/nurture debate, they show, can never be put to rest, because these concepts are in constant flux in response to the new insights science continually offers.Trade Review“We know that nature and nurture are entwined, but we often overlook the fact that neither science nor the humanities alone can resolve the nature/nurture debate. This accessible and clever book introduces the reader to recent discoveries in epigenetics and shows how the new horizons and hopes opened up by this field entail new responsibilities and new types of vigilance.”Eva Jablonka, Tel Aviv University“A cool appraisal of a turbulent field, this fine book exposes an unfolding saga of interdisciplinary dimensions. A radical shift is emerging in the conceptualization of the human body and its environment: the authors’ state-of-the-art climax is a message for everyone.”Marilyn Strathern, Girton College, Cambridge “Lock and Palsson reaffirm their critique of the dualistic thinking that has prevailed in the past two hundred years. The reader is left with the firm understanding that the biochemical promise of gene therapy is empty if it is not undertaken in tandem with measures to improve the nurturing role of the social and physical environment. […] It offers an all too brief but wonderful historical and contemporary overview of the nature/nurture debate from both perspectives and touches on some other interesting topics in the history of science.”Anthropological Forum “Beautifully written and elegantly argued, Margaret Lock and Gísli Pálsson’s reconstruction of the nature/nurture debate is a bright, very accessible introduction to a much-discussed topic.”Journal of the Royal Anthropological InstituteTable of ContentsPreamble: Beyond the Molecular Vision of Life 1. Moveable Concepts: Nature and Nurture 2. Promotion and Demotion of the Gene 3. Reinstating Nurture: From Opposition to Commingling 4. Accruing Biosocial Momentum 5. Biopolitics for the Future

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Book SynopsisLife scientists are increasingly drawn to the study of comparative evolutionary biology. Insect Development and Evolution is the first synthesis of knowledge of insect development within an evolutionary framework and the first to survey the genetic...Trade ReviewA fine reference that focuses on recent discoveries regarding Drosophila and Manduca development. Written for students and scientists working in the field of insect structure, evolution, paleontology, pathology, function, behavior, and systematics, as well as those investigating other organisms. This study can be used as a one or two semester course in insect development. Causal analysis is thoroughly covered in the text, which could lead to an experimental component for students and researchers. * Northeastern Naturalist *This book provides a wealth of information on insect development with chapters on empryogenesis, evolution of larval forms, wing formation and pattern differentiation in butterflies, polymorphism in eusocial insects.... The final chapter is devoted to ontogeny and hexapod evolution and provides an excellent summary account of the evolution of the various orders of insects that we know today. This is a worthy successor to The Biology of Drosophila, my treasured bible for many years. -- John Badmin * British Journal of Entomology and Natural History *We wholeheartedly congratulate Bruce Heming for this excellent book, by far the best comprehensive survey of insect development biology available to date. -- Alessandro Minelli * Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research *Heming (Univ. of Alberta) has prepared an exceptional book using a comparative phylogenetic approach that synthesizes classical works of ontogney and development with modern molecular studies using Drosophila and Manduca as models.... For research scientists in entomology and developmental biology it will also serve as an excellent reference, the utility of which is enhanced by an extensive reference list and index. Highly recommended. * Choice *Through their application to model organisms, development genetics and molecular biology have fueled an explosive growth in our understanding of insect ontogeny. Heming draws on these recent findings and a synthesis of earlier descriptive, comparative, and experimental studies to produce a detailed introduction to insect development within an evolutionary framework. * Science *

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Book SynopsisHaber, and Jane Oppenheimer.

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Book SynopsisTimely and cogent in its aims and arguments, it should prompt debate and discussion leading to fresh critical and historiographical insights concerning all those topics that historians of science, of society, and of culture associate with 'Darwinism' and 'evolutionism.'British Journal of the History of ScienceTrade ReviewTimely and cogent in its aims and arguments, it should prompt debate and discussion leading to fresh critical and historiographical insights concerning all those topics that historians of science, of society, and of culture associate with 'Darwinism' and 'evolutionism.'. British Journal of the History of ScienceTable of ContentsList of FiguresPrefaceChapter 1. The Myth of the Darwinan RevolutionChapter 2. Darwin's OriginalityChapter 3. The Impact of the OriginChapter 4. Evolutionism TriumphantChapter 5. From Darwin to Modern DarwinismChapter 6. Human EvolutionChapter 7. Social DarwinismChapter 8. A Cultural Revolution?Chapter 9. Toward a New Historiography of EvolutionismRefencesIndex

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Book SynopsisEngagingly written and deftly argued, God-or Gorilla offers original insights into the role of images in communicating-and miscommunicating-scientific ideas to the lay public.Trade ReviewThis highly readable book is valuable as it stands. It is also timely. -- Nick Hopwood Nature 2009 Engagingly written, well illustrated, and refreshingly free of the theory-driven jargon that often diverts attention from the task at hand, God-or Gorilla is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Scopes trial, the continuing controversy over the teaching of evolution, and the role of expertise in American society. -- George E. Webb Journal of American History 2009 A shining example of interdisciplinary American Studies at its very best. Choice 2009 Clark's investigation of the images of evolution in the 1920s is a wonderful window into the place of science in the United States and how the cultural concerns of an era can shape scientific activity. -- Charles A. Israel American Historical Review 2009 Perceptive and enjoyable book. -- Warren D. Allmon American Paleontologist 2009 Significant contribution[s] to this broad interdisciplinary area, illuminating the ways in which ideas about organic evolution were contested, and charting the processes by which eugenics acquired an established place in American political and social life. -- Robin Vandome Journal of American Studies 2011Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. The Caveman and the Strenuous Life2. The Museum in the Modern Babylon3. Nineteen Twenty-two or Thereabouts4. Saving the Phenomena5. Unlikely Infidels6. Stooping to Conquer, and a Hall Full of Elephants7. The Pictures in Our Heads8. Scientists and the Monkey Trial9. Redeeming the Caveman, and the Irreverent Funny PagesConclusionNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisBuild the foundation you need to understand the science of genetics and its role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders. Confidently tackle the basics of genetic inheritance, the influence of somatic and germline mutations, the multifactorial relationship of gene-environment interactions, and the foundation of ethical behaviour.Table of Contents I. Basic Concepts from Molecular Genetics 1. DNA Structure and Function 2. Protein Synthesis 3. Genetic Influences on Cell Division, Cell Differentiation, and Gametogenesis II. Gene Expression 4. Patterns of Inheritance 5. Epigenetic Influences on Gene Expression (NEW) 6. Autosomal Inheritance and Disorders (NEW) 7. Sex Chromosome and Mitochondrial Inheritance and Disorders 8. Family History and Pedigree Construction 9. Congenital Anomalies, Basic Dysmorphology, and Genetic Assessment III. Genomic Health Problems Across the Life Span 10. Enzyme and Collagen Disorders 11. Common Childhood-Onset Genetic Disorders 12. Common Adult-Onset Genetic Disorders IV. Genomic Influences on Selected Common Health Problems 13. Cardiovascular Disorders 14. The Genetics of Cancer 15. Genetic Contributions to Psychiatric and Behavioral Disorders V. Genomics and Disease Management 16. Genetic and Genomic Testing 17. Assessing Genomic Variation in Drug Response 18. Health Professionals and Genomic Care VI. Global Genomic Issues 19. Financial, Ethical, Legal, and Social Considerations 20. Genetic and Genomic Variation Appendices A. Genetic Organizations and Support Groups B. Selected Educational Websites Glossary

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Book SynopsisThis work explains how science proceeds, what evolution is, how science knows that it has occurred and continues to occur, and what biologists can point to, in fossils and in the living world, as hard evidence of evolution.Trade Review'Berra's brilliant exposition offers a refreshing, lucid, and insightful view of one of the most important ideas in the history of science. After readingthis superb book, anyone with prior qualms about the scientific validity of evolution should be convinced that evolution is the explanation for the diversity of life on the planet. This is not an anti-religion book, but a very successful attempt to assist us all in understanding the scientific basis for evolution.' Donald C. Johanson, Institute of Human OriginsTable of Contents1. What is evolution?; 2. Geologic time and the fossil record; 3. The explanatory power of evolution; 4. The evolution of life and the rise of humans; 5. Science, religion, politics, law, and education; Appendices; Glossary; Further reading; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis volume facilitates an understanding of the evolution of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution over the six versions of The Origin of Species published during his lifetime.Trade Review"Darwin produced six editions [of The Origin of Species] during his lifetime and, as Peckham demonstrated nearly fifty years ago, he tinkered constantly with the text, adding and amending, revising and rethinking and, above all, responding to criticism." * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisDean Falk re-examines her theories about the evolution of the human brain, in this revised edition of 'Braindance'. She argues that the human brain expanded suddenly about two million years ago, a development she connects to the human colonisation of hot savannah lands.

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Book SynopsisDistinguishing between evolutionary theory properly speaking and the materialist attitude that is often conflated with it, Matthew Ramage's work meets the challenge of evolutionary science to Catholic teaching on human origins, guided by Joseph Ratzinger's conviction that faith and evolutionary theory mutually enrich one another.

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Book SynopsisThis volume explores various aspects of behaviour that are endemic to contemporary Western society, and proposes ways of understanding and addressing them. Many of our behaviours are played out in an arena that is far different from that in which they evolved.

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Book SynopsisIn this groundbreaking book, Joseph Graves traces the development of biological thought about human genetic diversity. Greek philosophy, social Darwinism, New World colonialism, the eugenics movement, intelligence testing biases, and racial health fallacies are just a few of the topics he addresses. Graves argues that racism has persisted in our society because adequate scientific reasoning has not entered into the equation. He champions the scientific method and explains how we may properly ask scientific questions about the nature of population differentiation and how (if at all) we may correlate that diversity to observed human behavior. He also cautions us to think critically about scientific findings that have historically been misused in controversies over racial differences in intelligence heritability, criminal behavior, disease predisposition, and other traits. According to Graves, this country cannot truly address its racial problems untilTrade ReviewThe author's main purpose is to show that the concept of race is a social construct that has no scientific basis. This is apparently now generally understood by the scientific community, but has not yet properly penetrated the understanding of the general public. This is the fundamental moral challenge that Graves put to the U.S. as its prime task in the millennium. His book is clear, readable, and ideal for first-year students. * Quarterly Review of Biology *Intellectually delightful, and at times deeply moving, this book's fundamental thesis is of outstanding importance. The biological non-existence of race is one of the most liberating messages that the American public will hear in a long time. It should be read by anybody who is a registered voter in the United States. -- Michael R. Rose * author of Darwin's Spectre: Evolutionary Biology in the Modern World *Evolutionary biologist Joseph Graves Jr. sets out to show that scientific, not political, correctness underlies the critique of the race concept, and argues that æthere is no biological basis for separation of human beings into race.' . . . The Emperor's New Clothes is a valuable study, and critique, of the concept of race. It is a pity that such books remain necessary. * Times Literary Supplement *What is the basis for separation of humans into races? Is it biological (i.e., genetic), or is it physical (i.e., phenotypic) and sociological? Depending on the answers, can racism be supported biologically? Graves has posed answers to these questions that could revise the ways in which humans interact with one another. With scientific training in genetics and the molecular biology of evolution, Graves has the background to speak meaningfuly to these questions. . . . For anyone interested in human interaction. All levels. * Choice *A concise history of the origin and evolution of the idea of race, the development of the science of classification and ranking of human types/races, and the persistence of racial ideology and science. Graves concludes that race is a social construct that was given power by science. When the myth of biological races is smashed, biological differences cease to be an excuse for inequality, and racism is exposed. * Journal of the American Medical Association *A book declaring that biological races do not exist and that the concept of race æwas socially constructed, arising from the colonization of the New World and the importation of slaves, mainly from western Africa' merits a salute right off the bat. . . . Joseph L. Graves Jr., is a laboratory geneticist, and he has made his case based on solid science, not on feel-good social motivations. . . . Graves is a laboratory scientist. His grasp of science and use of up-to-date sources put his presentation on a rock-solid basis. . . . The Emperor's New Clothes is a fine start for thinking about race at the dawn of the new millennium. * American Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1 The Origin of the Race Concept Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Part 2 Darwin and the Survival of Scientific Racism Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Part 3 Applications and Misapplications of Darwinism Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Part 4 Biological Theories of Race at Millennium Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Conclusion Appendices Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisEarly humans did not drift north from Africa as their ability to cope with cooler climates evolved. Settlement of Europe and northern Asia occurred in relatively rapid bursts of expansion. This study tells the complex story, spanning almost two million years, of how humans inhabited some of the coldest places on earth.Table of ContentsVikings in the Arctic Out of Africa The first Europeans Cold weather people Modern humans in the north Into the Arctic Peoples of the circumpolar zone

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Book SynopsisFocusing on how science works and how pseudoscience works, this work demonstrates the futility of 'scientific' creationism. It debunks the notion of intelligent design and other arguments that show evolution could not have produced life in its present form. It concludes with a frank discussion of science and religion.Trade Review"In this superb overview, Young and Strode tackle the most vexing issues in the public's understanding of biological evolution and earth history. With clear, readable text, Young and Strode detail requisite concepts while providing a conversational response to creationists' objections to evolution, which are frequently based on profound misunderstandings of how science works. Young and Strode provide a thorough explanation of the concept of biological fitness, showing that evolution, hardly random, is a process of interaction between organisms and the environment. They also take a good look at creationism, using the publications of prominent believers to show that it's a movement divided against itself. Much of this work developed from Strode's teaching experience, and it may be the best book yet written for teaching citizens what science really does, and what religion really is in relation." * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *"This work carefully explains the difference between science and pseudoscience, and how the so-called alternative theories fail to be scientific. Young and Strode additionally argue about the compatibility of science and religion. This work attempts to make an argument to those who have not accepted the facts of evolution and to those who may not possess a more general understanding of the science. Highly recommended." * Choice *"This book provides compelling examples of how science works. With any luck, it will entice its readers to delve further into these impossible, yet compelling and empirically-based, ideas, and help them to recognize what distinguishes the 'impossible' ideas of science from the impossible ideas of religion and other ideologies." * Reports of the National Center for Science Education *"Of similar books I have seen on this subject, this one is the best. Its discussions of evolution and refutation of creationism are clear, concise, and powerful. Matt Young and Paul Strode offer a unique, introductory-level book for students, scientists, or anyone who is open to thinking about the topic." -- Alan D. Gishlick * Gustavus Adolphus College *"Strictly following facts and applying impeccable logic, Young and Strode lead the reader, step by step, through a variety of topics, from evolution theory to cosmology and from psychology to medicine, convincingly demonstrating the power of genuine science versus the fallacies of pseudo-science. An excellent addition to every school library." -- Mark Perakh * author of Unintelligent Design *"A passionate argument for the importance of evolution both in nature and in the classroom." * Daily Kos *"This is not just another book on the evolution-creation controversy. This is actually a book on the Nature of Science, which aims to explain what counts as science and what does not. It is a valuable resource and deserves to be widely read." * Science and Education *"In this superb overview, Young and Strode tackle the most vexing issues in the public's understanding of biological evolution and earth history. With clear, readable text, Young and Strode detail requisite concepts while providing a conversational response to creationists' objections to evolution, which are frequently based on profound misunderstandings of how science works. Young and Strode provide a thorough explanation of the concept of biological fitness, showing that evolution, hardly random, is a process of interaction between organisms and the environment. They also take a good look at creationism, using the publications of prominent believers to show that it's a movement divided against itself. Much of this work developed from Strode's teaching experience, and it may be the best book yet written for teaching citizens what science really does, and what religion really is in relation." * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *"This work carefully explains the difference between science and pseudoscience, and how the so-called alternative theories fail to be scientific. Young and Strode additionally argue about the compatibility of science and religion. This work attempts to make an argument to those who have not accepted the facts of evolution and to those who may not possess a more general understanding of the science. Highly recommended." * Choice *"This book provides compelling examples of how science works. With any luck, it will entice its readers to delve further into these impossible, yet compelling and empirically-based, ideas, and help them to recognize what distinguishes the 'impossible' ideas of science from the impossible ideas of religion and other ideologies." * Reports of the National Center for Science Education *"Of similar books I have seen on this subject, this one is the best. Its discussions of evolution and refutation of creationism are clear, concise, and powerful. Matt Young and Paul Strode offer a unique, introductory-level book for students, scientists, or anyone who is open to thinking about the topic." -- Alan D. Gishlick * Gustavus Adolphus College *"Strictly following facts and applying impeccable logic, Young and Strode lead the reader, step by step, through a variety of topics, from evolution theory to cosmology and from psychology to medicine, convincingly demonstrating the power of genuine science versus the fallacies of pseudo-science. An excellent addition to every school library." -- Mark Perakh * author of Unintelligent Design *"A passionate argument for the importance of evolution both in nature and in the classroom." * Daily Kos *"This is not just another book on the evolution-creation controversy. This is actually a book on the Nature of Science, which aims to explain what counts as science and what does not. It is a valuable resource and deserves to be widely read." * Science and Education *Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes Foreword Preface AcknowledgmentsPart I. Introduction The Structure of This Book History of Creationism and Evolutionary Science in the United StatesPart II. How Science Works How Pseudoscience Works Why Creationism Fails The Argument from Design Why Intelligent-Design Creationism FailsPart III. The Father of Evolution How Evolution Works Recapitulation Evo Devo: How Evolution Constantly Remodels Phylogenetics Design by Committee: The Twists, Turns, and Flips of Human AnatomyPart IV. How We Know the Age of the Earth Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Life?Part V. Evolution and Ethics Why Science and Religion Are Compatible Summary and Conclusion Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisProminent feminist theorist rethinks the relationship between evolution and the biological body through the study of three key figures--Darwin, Nietzsche, and Bergson.Trade Review“Elizabeth Grosz traces a timely path through the work of three major thinkers. Darwin, Nietzsche, and Bergson, each in his own way, force a rethinking of duration and transformation at the interchange between nature and culture. The Nick of Time suggestively connects their trajectories, drawing them together into a contemporary dialogue on the politics and philosophy of change.”—Brian Massumi, author of Parables for the Virtual: Movement, Affect, Sensation“Elizabeth Grosz’s The Nick of Time: Politics, Evolution and the Untimely is a major work. It achieves a richly nuanced and sweeping reconsideration of temporality in the context of contemporary feminist theory, critical theory, and theories of evolution. The considerations of Darwin, Nietzsche, Bergson, Deleuze, and Irigaray are especially impressive. The Nick of Time is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how memory, historicity, and politics connect to and are reconfigured by temporality.”—N. Katherine Hayles, author of How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics, Literature, and Informatics“Superbly written, deftly executed, and wonderfully instructive, The Nick of Time is a first-class piece of writing and thinking. It is unique in that it is interested in ‘philosophy of life’ issues not only for their own sake but also because of Elizabeth Grosz’s wider theoretical and practical commitments, such as feminism and a radical cultural politics.”—Keith Ansell Pearson, author of Germinal Life: The Difference and Repetition of DeleuzeTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Abbreviations ix Introduction: To the Untimely 1 Part I. Darwin and Evolution 1. Darwinian Matters: Life, Force, and Change 17 2. Biological Difference 40 3. The Evolution of Sex and Race 64 Part II. Nietzsche and Overcoming 4. Nietzsche's Darwin 95 5. History and the Untimely 113 6. The Eternal Return and the Overman 135 Part III: Bergson and Becoming 7. Bergsonian Difference 155 8. The Philosophy of Life 185 9. Intuition and the Virtual 215 Conclusion: The Future 244 Notes 263 References 297 Index 309

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Book SynopsisElizabeth Grosz addresses three related concepts—life, politics, and art—by exploring the implications of Charles Darwins account of the evolution of species.Trade Review“Becoming Undone allows us to hear with new ears the words of Bergson, Irigaray, Uexküll, Deleuze and Guattari, and especially Darwin. The result is a surprising and exciting feminism in conversation with biophilosophy and art practice. Elizabeth Grosz offers a rich, provocative, not-quite-materialist philosophy of life, matter, and the creative cosmos.”—Jane Bennett, author of Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things“With a passionate call for philosophy and feminism to embrace the transformative power of life as difference, Becoming Undone describes with elegant arguments the unexpected legacy of Darwin in the ontology of Bergson, Deleuze, and Irigaray, as well as their promise for an as yet unforeseeable future.”—Paola Marrati, author of Gilles Deleuze: Cinema and Philosophy"[A] provocative, thoroughly researched, and beautifully written exploration of the question of difference in its material, political, and aestheticdimensions. . . . Becoming Undone is a fascinating project, not only because of its invaluable contribution to the discourses of posthumanism and material feminism, but also due to its convincing interpretation of Darwinian theory as an intricate philosophical worldview." -- Vera Coleman * Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature *“Grosz’s book is well written and easily accessible even for someone who does not know a great deal about the theorists with whom she engages.” -- Lasse Thomassen * Perspectives on Politics *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction Part 1. Life: Human and Inhuman Becomings 1. The Inhuman in the Humanities: Darwin and the Ends of Man 2. Deleuze, Bergson, and the Concept of Life 3. Bergson, Deleuze, and Difference Part 2. Disturbing Differences: A New Kind of Feminism 4. Feminism, Materialism, and Freedom 5. The Future of Feminist Theory: Dreams for New Knowledges 6. Differences Disturbing Identity: Deleuze and Feminism 7. Irigaray and the Ontology of Sexual Difference Part 3. Animals, Sex, and Art 8. Darwin and the Split between Natural and Sexual Selection 9. Sexual Differences as Sexual Selection: Irigarayan Reflections on Darwin 10. Art and the Animal 11. Living Art and the Art of Life: Women's Painting from the Western Desert Notes Bibliography Index

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