Overview

Where do turtles hail from? Why and how did they acquire shells? These questions have spurred heated debate and intense research for more than two hundred years. Brilliantly weaving evidence from the latest paleontological discoveries with an accessible, incisive look at different theories of biological evolution and their proponents, Turtles as Hopeful Monsters tells the fascinating evolutionary story of the shelled reptiles. Paleontologist Olivier Rieppel traces the evolution of turtles from over 220 million years ago, examining closely the relationship of turtles to other reptiles and charting the development of the shell. Turtle issues fuel a debate between proponents of gradual evolutionary change and authors favoring change through bursts and leaps of macromutation. The first book-length popular history of its type, this indispensable resource is an engaging read for all those fascinated by this ubiquitous and uniquely shaped reptile.

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9780253024756

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Reviews

This book is a highly enjoyable romp through the intellectual history of evolutionary biology, using turtle evolution as its red thread.  * Natural History Book Service * Ultimately, the book should be read by anyone interested in the history of evolutionary biology, in herpetology and palaeoherpetology, or in turtles specifically. . . . now that we know that Rieppel can produce volumes of this quality and readability, I say: more please. * Palaeontologia Electronica *

This book is a highly enjoyable romp through the intellectual history of evolutionary biology, using turtle evolution as its red thread. * Natural History Book Service * Ultimately, the book should be read by anyone interested in the history of evolutionary biology, in herpetology and palaeoherpetology, or in turtles specifically. . . . now that we know that Rieppel can produce volumes of this quality and readability, I say: more please. * Palaeontologia Electronica *

This book is a highly enjoyable romp through the intellectual history of evolutionary biology, using turtle evolution as its red thread. -Natural History Book Service Here they are still with us, boxed up in a shell, seeming survivors of the distant geological past: prehistoric creatures, which both predated and outlived the dinosaurs. A symbol in Hindu and Chinese mythology, the turtle supports the earth-but what supports the turtle? -Olivier Rieppel, from the introduction Turtles as Hopeful Monsters is a beautifully written and compelling book. Rieppel knows his subject inside out and has produced an authoritative work. But it is so much more than that-it belies a more far-reaching subject area-the practice of evolutionary biology itself.... The interplay of diverse disciplines including genetics, developmental biology, paleontology and, of course philosophy, are all set out alongside delightful personal insights. From Mendel to Hennig, Darwin to Mayr or Goodrich, Goldschmidt and Gould, Rieppel brilliantly analyses the practitioners and the giants of evolutionary theory. -Nick Fraser, National Museum of Scotland

Turtles as Hopeful Monsters is a beautifully written and compelling book. Rieppel knows his subject inside out and has produced an authoritative and scholarly work. But it is so much more than that it belies a more far-reaching subject area: the practice of evolutionary biology itself. As a consequence, this volume will captivate a much wider audience than its title suggests. The interplay of diverse disciplines including genetics, developmental biology, paleontology and, of course philosophy, are all set out alongside delightful personal insights. From Mendel to Hennig, Darwin to Mayr or Goodrich, Goldschmidt and Gould, Rieppel brilliantly analyses the practitioners and the giants of evolutionary theory. Nick Fraser, National Museum of Scotland

Here they are still with us, boxed up in a shell, seeming survivors of the distant geological past: prehistoric creatures, which both predated and outlived the dinosaurs. A symbol in Hindu and Chinese mythology, the turtle supports the earth but what supports the turtle? Olivier Rieppel, from the introduction

This book is a highly enjoyable romp through the intellectual history of evolutionary biology, using turtle evolution as its red thread. * Natural History Book Service *

Turtles as Hopeful Monsters is a beautifully written and compelling book. Rieppel knows his subject inside out and has produced an authoritative and scholarly work. But it is so much more than that it belies a more far-reaching subject area the practice of evolutionary biology itself. As a consequence, this volume will captivate a much wider audience than its title suggests. The interplay of diverse disciplines including genetics, developmental biology, paleontology and, of course philosophy, are all set out alongside delightful personal insights. From Mendel to Hennig, Darwin to Mayr or Goodrich, Goldschmidt and Gould, Rieppel brilliantly analyses the practitioners and the giants of evolutionary theory. Nick Fraser, National Museum of Scotland

Author Information

Olivier Rieppel is Rowe Family Curator of Evolutionary Biology at the Field Museum in Chicago. He is on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed scientific journals, and has himself published more than 350 scientific papers and eight books.

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