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Title: Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory (Modern Library Chronicles)
ISBN: 0812968492
Author:
Edward J. Larson
Publicate Date: 2006-08-08
Publish: 2006-08-08
List Price: $14.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $8.00
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| Customer Review: |
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1: very good, if somewhat light, history of evolution
This is a well written, and relatively brief account of the
history of the theory of evolution. It starts with an overview
of related theories before Darwin. While Darwin certainly
plays a central role, the book quickly moves on to the early
20th century when evolution really became a scientific theory
(this may be incorrect, but it seems to be implied in the
account). While the account up to about the 70s is fascinating,
I think that it petered out after that. The developments
of the last 30 years are probably much harder to give justice in
a popular book, but I still think a better effort could have been
made.
This is certainly an enjoyable book that will give you some insights
on the fascinating history of evolutionary theory. However, you
should plan to complement it with something that provides
a good account of the more recent developments.
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2: Detailed history of an important theory
Larson's book is a thorough survey of the figures of history who contributed to the theory of evolution. From 18th century French naturalist Cuvier to modern British biologist Dawkins, this volume details the story and impact of those men, often delving into the religious implications of scientific findings, but focusing on the concepts of evolution itself. While the description of those concepts are sufficient, they aren't exactly stimulating, but the background anecdotes on each contributor give the book color enough. The book is a fascinating look at psychology and sociology as much as biology and would be a good introduction for even theologists due to its fairly subjective nature.
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3: How Darwinism made headway among Christians
If, as Edward Larson says, Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" "dealt a body blow to traditional Western religious thought," then how in the world did it succeed as quickly as it did in a society that was, to put it mildly, staunchly devoted to Christianity?
Larson, a professor of both law and history at the University of Georgia, has been trying to explain that for years. "Evolution" is the third and last volume of that study. The second volume in his saga, "Summer of the Gods," which covered the Scopes "Monkey Trial," won the Pulitzer Prize.
It may come as a surprise to many Americans, especially anti-evolutionists, who typically treat Darwin as having arisen complete, sort of like Athena rising from the head of Zeus, that Biblical creationism was moribund by the time Darwin wrote.
"By 1859," Larson says, "the idea of evolution did not seem as foreign or threatening as it once did to members of Britain's rising elite."
Yet, "by the end of the 19th century, Darwinism was on the ropes."
Nothing evolves faster than evolutionism, and today Darwinism is all triumphant. Unlike, say, cosmology, where there are research programs that are based on views radically different from the prevalent Big Bang explanation, in biology it is all Darwinism.
There is some political agitation for a form of creationism called Intelligent Design, but there is no research program to explore the implications of Intelligent Design, nor does Intelligent Design propose any testable ideas.
Although antidarwinians often allege that Darwinian evolution is "not science" because it does not make testable predictions, this is incorrect.
The biggest prediction, one that mystified Darwin until his death, was that his theory required inheritance of characters to be particulate rather than blending.
That is, a child with a blue-eyed mother and a brown-eyed father would not (always) have green eyes, but (usually) blue or brown.
The discovery of the gene around 1900 provided the mechanism for particulate inheritance. Until then, doubts about Darwinism had begun to conquer the academy.
By 1942, the "modern synthesis" had solved most of the puzzles of "descent with modification," as Darwin had called his idea.
"The synthesis," Larson writes, "generated a seemingly endless stream of testable deductions about how populations should act under controlled conditions and in the wild. Time and again the theory passed these tests."
Although Darwin said he had difficulty in composing the idea of a benevolent god with the observed cruelty of life, Larson opines that, "In practice, acceptance of the modern synthesis coexisted with all manner of religious faith" by the centenary of "Origin" in 1959.
In the generation since, public opinion in America (though not elsewhere) has become increasingly antagonistic to evolution, though no one has been able to mount a credible challenge to the science of it.
Larson is not a controversialist. His "Evolution" is presented, as the subtitle says, as "the remarkable history of a scientific theory." His tale is an evenhanded account of a "theory that ripped through science and society, leaving little unchanged by its force," with both the ups and the downs given thoughtful attention.
If there's a fault to "Evolution" the book, it is that too much is compressed into a mere, though clear, 300 pages.
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4: A Highly Useful Introduction to Evolution
Edward Larson's book on Evolution I found to be extremely useful and a valuable resource. Larson is the author of a fine study of the Scopes Trial called "Summer for the Gods." This Modern Library book in its 300 pages is chock full of useful information on this topic. This is not a book just about Darwin, though of course he is the central character, but more about what preceded Darwin and what went on after the Darwinian breakthrough, all the way to the present, in Europe and the U.S. In other words, this book places Darwin within a highly useful framework, what occurred before the "Origin of Species" and what transpired thereafter. An initial chapter focuses on pre-Darwinian developments beginning with the Enlightenment in biology and geology among other fields, including individuals such as Lamarck, Agassiz, Lyell, and Hutton. The next several chapters deal with Darwin and his argument, including the later "Descent of Man." A really superb chapter on the "Ascent of Evolutionism" discusses the debates that ensued after Darwin announced his theory, including non-Darwinian theories of evolution. Subsequent chapters deal with the "missing link" problem; the evolution of genetics; the development of eugenics; and the religious opposition (principally in this country) to evolution, including the Scopes trial and "intelligent design." The book concludes with an analysis of the most current theories relating to evolution, including the tremendous impact of DNA technology. Excellent notes, outstanding illustrations, and Larson once again demonstrates his ability to explain complicated scientific concepts to the layperson--a rare talent. A treasure trove of information on this topic presented in a highly attractive format--i.e., it is just fun to read.
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5: Excellent General History of a Great Idea
I can't add a lot to the other reviews here. I encourage you to read some of the other reviews to get a summary of the book's contents - I won't repeat those here. I recommend skipping the couple of reviews that are by people simply pushing an agenda. I applaud the Deacon, who while not believing in evolution, still read the book and gave it a fair and honest review (his review proves that fair-minded people can disagree with an author but still give an intellectually honest evaluation).
I enjoyed the book because it is exactly what it says it is: the history of an idea. It is not a primer on evolution itself. This book would best be read by those who are already familiar with evolution (but not experts) and aware of the broad outlines of the history of the concept of evolution. This book will then provide a concise, enthralling review of the roots of evolution in late 18th, early 19th century thought all the way through to the status of evolutionary thinking today. You don't get an in depth treatment of any one topic, but Larson covers all the major players and sub theories and competing theories in just the right level of detail. If you have read a lot about aspects and episodes in the history of science and evolution, as I have, this book pulls it all together wonderfully.
By comparison, Gould gives a similar "history of evolutionary thinking" in his mammoth _Structure of Evolutionary Theory_. Larson's is far better organized, far clearer, and way more concise than Gould's rambling treatment. Gould's history is interesting and accurate, but much, much harder to get through. The "Notes on Further Reading" at the end of this book is very helpful (though I wish it was even more extensive).
In short, if you are interested in the origins of one of the greatest ideas in human history, or interested in how it battled to preeminence over the last 150 years, this is an excellent choice. Thank you Mr. Larson!
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