Overview

The theory of evolution unites the past, present, and future of living things. It puts humanity's place in the universe into necessary perspective. Despite a history of controversy, the evidence for evolution continues to accumulate as a result of many separate strands of amazing scientific sleuthing. In The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries, Donald R. Prothero explores the most fascinating breakthroughs in piecing together the evidence for evolution. In twenty-five vignettes, he recounts the dramatic stories of the people who made crucial discoveries, placing each moment in the context of what it represented for the progress of science. He tackles topics like what it means to see evolution in action and what the many transitional fossils show us about evolution, following figures from Darwin to lesser-known researchers as they unlock the mysteries of the fossil record, the earth, and the universe. The book also features the stories of animal species strange and familiar, including humans-and our ties to some of our closest relatives and more distant cousins. Prothero's wide-ranging tales showcase awe-inspiring and bizarre aspects of nature and the powerful insights they give us into the way that life works. Brisk and entertaining while firmly grounded in fundamental science, The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a captivating read for anyone curious about the evidence for evolution and what it means for humanity.

Full Product Details

Author:   Donald R. Prothero
Publisher:   Columbia University Press
Imprint:   Columbia University Press
ISBN:  

9780231190367

ISBN 10:   0231190360
Pages:   376
Publication Date:   22 December 2020
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
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Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Part I: In the Beginning: Everything Evolves, and Earth Is Very Old 1. Everything Evolves and Changes: Discovery of the Evolving Universe 2. The Abyss of Time: The Immense Age of the Earth Part II: Darwin's Evidence for Evolution 3. Evolution in Action: Transformation in Real Time 4. Our Common Body Plan: Homology 5. Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny: Evidence in Embryos 6. The Sinking of Noah's Ark: Biogeography 7. The Branching Tree of Life: Phylogeny 8. The Case of the Cruel Wasps: Nature Is Not Moral 9. Jury-Rigged Contrivances: Nature Is Not Optimally Designed Part III: Great Transitions in the History of Life 10. A Whale of a Tale: Vestigial Organs and Walking Whales 11. Invasion of the Land: Amphibians Crawl Out of the Water 12. Missing Links Found: Macroevolution and Transitional Fossils 13. Birds with Teeth: The Dinosaurs Among Us 14. A Horse! A Horse! My Kingdom for a Horse! The Evolution of Equines 15. How the Giraffe Got Its Neck: Lamarck, Darwin, and the Left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve 16. How the Elephant Got Its Trunk: The Evolution of the Proboscideans Part IV: Eyes and Genes 17. A Warm Little Pond: How Did Life Originate? 18. Genetic Junkyard: Most of Our DNA Is Useless 19. Legs on Their Heads: Homeotic Mutants and Evo-Devo 20. The Eyes Have It: The Evolution of Photoreception Part V: Humans and Evolution 21. A Tinkerer, Not an Engineer: Are Humans Well Designed? 22. The Third Chimpanzee: Are We Really 99 Percent the Same? 23. The Ape's Reflection: Are Humans Really That Different from Other Animals? 24. Bones of Our Ancestors: The Human Fossil Record 25. The Once and Future Human: Are Humans Still Evolving? Index

Reviews

Donald Prothero has emerged as our foremost defender of evolutionary theory against creationists and Intelligent Design theorists and our most articulate expositor of the theory to the general public Stephen Jay Gould, his mentor. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is the best single volume I have read that captures the reality and grandeur of this grand theory of who we are, where we came from, and how we know all this about our species. A tour de force of science and reason. -- Michael Shermer, Publisher, <i>Skeptic</i> magazine This is an informative and engaging work about the discovery process, mainly centered around evolution. Readers will be well-informed about why biologists think evolution not only is real, but important for discovering who we are. Prothero provides a useful service in clearing up many misconceptions about evolution. -- Norman Johnson, author of <i>Darwinian Detectives: Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes</i> A hallmark of a truly great scientific insight is its ability to make sense of wildly different kinds of evidence, even kinds undreamed of when the insight first originated. Evolution is such an insight, and Prothero's survey of the field, in 25 short and lively chapters, illustrates the many lines of evidence for evolution from Darwin's day to our own, debunking misconceptions galore along the way. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a fine introduction for any reader who wants to appreciate the evidence behind the science. -- Ann Reid, Executive Director, National Center for Science Education This compelling presentation of the undeniable evidence for evolution offers stunning and engaging reading for the enormous explanatory power of Darwin's great idea. Written by Donald Prothero, a leading paleontologist of our times, this book promises to enlighten even the staunchest skeptics of the theory of evolution. -- Don Johanson, Discoverer of Lucy and Founder of The Institute of Human Origins

This compelling presentation of the undeniable evidence for evolution offers stunning and engaging reading for the enormous explanatory power of Darwin's great idea. Written by Donald R. Prothero, a leading paleontologist of our times, this book promises to enlighten even the staunchest skeptics of the theory of evolution. -- Don Johanson, discoverer of Lucy and founder of the Institute of Human Origins A hallmark of a truly great scientific insight is its ability to make sense of wildly different kinds of evidence, even kinds undreamed of when the insight first originated. Evolution is such an insight, and Prothero's survey of the field, in 25 short and lively chapters, illustrates the many lines of evidence for evolution from Darwin's day to our own, debunking misconceptions galore along the way. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a fine introduction for any reader who wants to appreciate the evidence behind the science. -- Ann Reid, executive director, National Center for Science Education This is an informative and engaging work about the discovery process, mainly centered around evolution. Readers will be well informed about why biologists think evolution is not only real but also important for discovering who we are. Prothero provides a useful service in clearing up many misconceptions about evolution. -- Norman Johnson, author of <i>Darwinian Detectives: Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes</i> Donald Prothero has emerged as our foremost defender of evolutionary theory against creationists and intelligent design theorists and our most articulate expositor of the theory to the general public since Stephen Jay Gould, his mentor. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is the best single volume I have read that captures the reality and grandeur of this grand theory of who we are, where we came from, and how we know all this about our species. A tour de force of science and reason. -- Michael Shermer, publisher, <i>Skeptic</i> magazine An outstanding update on evolution. * Kirkus [Starred Review] * Accessible overview of the history of the idea of evolution. Prothero is skilled at translating specialist material into entertaining stories. * Publishers Weekly * With 'The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries,' Donald Prothero provides a masterful, lively primer on the abundant evidence for evolution, including the latest fossil findings at digging sites and laboratories around the world-all furthering to close this case, once and for all. * Foreword Reviews * Don't Miss 'The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries.' [It] is palaeontologist and geologist Donald Prothero's entertaining guide to the past, present and future of living things - with nature's more bizarre aspects to the fore. * New Scientist * This book accomplishes a nearly impossible double-task: it conveys enough information to serve as an introductory undergraduate text in evolution while also fascinating the general reader. In the light of Mr. Prothero's fine book, the reading public is better equipped than ever before to make sense of evolution itself. * The Wall Street Journal * An engaging style that is accessible to anyone. * Choice *

This is an informative and engaging work about the discovery process, mainly centered around evolution. Readers will be well-informed about why biologists think evolution not only is real, but important for discovering who we are. Prothero provides a useful service in clearing up many misconceptions about evolution. -- Norman Johnson, author of <i>Darwinian Detectives: Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes</i>

With 'The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries,' Donald Prothero provides a masterful, lively primer on the abundant evidence for evolution, including the latest fossil findings at digging sites and laboratories around the world-all furthering to close this case, once and for all. * Foreword Reviews * Accessible overview of the history of the idea of evolution. Prothero is skilled at translating specialist material into entertaining stories. * Publishers Weekly * An outstanding update on evolution. * Kirkus [Starred Review] * Donald Prothero has emerged as our foremost defender of evolutionary theory against creationists and intelligent design theorists and our most articulate expositor of the theory to the general public since Stephen Jay Gould, his mentor. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is the best single volume I have read that captures the reality and grandeur of this grand theory of who we are, where we came from, and how we know all this about our species. A tour de force of science and reason. -- Michael Shermer, publisher, <i>Skeptic</i> magazine This is an informative and engaging work about the discovery process, mainly centered around evolution. Readers will be well informed about why biologists think evolution is not only real but also important for discovering who we are. Prothero provides a useful service in clearing up many misconceptions about evolution. -- Norman Johnson, author of <i>Darwinian Detectives: Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes</i> A hallmark of a truly great scientific insight is its ability to make sense of wildly different kinds of evidence, even kinds undreamed of when the insight first originated. Evolution is such an insight, and Prothero's survey of the field, in 25 short and lively chapters, illustrates the many lines of evidence for evolution from Darwin's day to our own, debunking misconceptions galore along the way. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a fine introduction for any reader who wants to appreciate the evidence behind the science. -- Ann Reid, executive director, National Center for Science Education This compelling presentation of the undeniable evidence for evolution offers stunning and engaging reading for the enormous explanatory power of Darwin's great idea. Written by Donald R. Prothero, a leading paleontologist of our times, this book promises to enlighten even the staunchest skeptics of the theory of evolution. -- Don Johanson, discoverer of Lucy and founder of the Institute of Human Origins

Author Information

Donald R. Prothero is a paleontology and geology researcher, teacher, and author. He is adjunct professor of geological sciences at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and research associate in vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. His Columbia University Press books include The Story of Life in 25 Fossils: Tales of Intrepid Fossil Hunters and the Wonders of Evolution (2015), The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks: Tales of Important Geological Puzzles and the People Who Solved Them (2018), and The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries: Amazing Fossils and the People Who Found Them (2019).

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