Overview

Tracing the arc of evolutionary history, biologist William C. Burger shows that cooperation and symbiosis have played a critical role in the ever increasing complexity of life on earth. Life may have started from the evolution of cooperating organic molecules, which outpaced their noncooperating neighbors. A prime example of symbiosis was the early incorporation of mitochondria into the eukaryotic cell (through a process called ""endosymbiosis""). This event gave these cells a powerful new source of energy. Later, cooperation was again key when millions to trillions of individual eukaryotic cells eventually came together to build the unitary structures of large plants and animals. And cooperation between individuals of the same species resulted in complex animal societies, such as ant colonies and bee hives. Turning to our own species, the author argues that our ability to cooperate, along with incessant inter-group conflict, has driven the advancement of cultures, the elaboration of our technologies, and made us the most ""invasive"" species on the planet. But our very success has now become a huge problem, as our world dominion threatens the future of the biosphere and confronts us with a very uncertain future. Thought-provoking and full of fascinating detail, this eloquently told story of life on earth and our place within it presents a grand perspective and raises many important questions.

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9781633881938

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Reviews

PRAISE FOR FLOWERS: HOW THEY CHANGED THE WORLD An engaging and beautifully written look at how flowering plants, over more than 100 million years, have 'transformed terrestrial ecosystems, supported the origin of primates, and helped us humans become the masters of our planet.' ...can be enjoyed by laypeople and scientists alike.... Burger convincingly argues that, while plants have changed the world, it's now time for humans, who have gained so much from plants, to protect their future existence. -- Publishers Weekly Combining a botanist's orderly approach with an environmentalist's comprehensive appreciation, Burger traces the evolutionary history of flowering plants, emphasizing the critical importance their biological functions play in the overall health of our planet. Asking--and answering--such basic questions as what is a flower, why are they so varied, and where did they come from, Burger logically guides the reader onto more complex subjects, such as biodiversity, climate change, and agricultural symbiosis. ...written in an appealing, conversational style. -- Booklist PRAISE FOR PERFECT PLANET, CLEVER SPECIES .. .a masterful survey. -- Times Literary Supplement Burger writes with the clarity and humor of one who has had experience communicating complicated ideas to the lay public. -- Boston Globe .. .a sweeping, fascinating look at the history of life on what might be the rarest of planetary jewels. -- Savannah Morning News .. .an excellent reference to the high school biology teacher...an enjoyable read for the evolutionary biologist. -- Science Books & Films .. .highly readable... -- Quarterly Review of Biology .. .interesting read...well documented... -- Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith .. .intriguing story of how humans evolved to rule the Earth, noting the remarkable coincidences that permitted this to occur. -- Bookviews.com .. .a must for undergraduate science students and graduate students of liberal arts. -- Plant Science Bulletin

William C. Burger pours decades of experience into this readable overview of how our complex world came to be. Breezy and engaging all the way, this is a stimulating reflection on what has brought us to the beginning of the twenty-first century, and about what might come next. Sir Peter Crane, FRS, author of Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot A charmingly written, lovely, and informative book that could be profitably read by any educated person, from high-school students on up. In it, Burger deftly outlines the history of our planet and the living organisms that make it what it is. He brings us forward to directly consider the global problem that we have created for ourselves and our common future. Peter H. Raven, president emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Over the course of a career, many scientists become progressively more specialized they focus on a narrow topic of interest and explore its many dimensions. Bill Burger has done precisely the opposite over the course of his career. An acclaimed botanist who is proficient in the arcane arts of botanical nomenclature and still carries a Hastings triplet loupe, Burger has turned his sights on the diversity of life. Non-technical language conveys the patterns and processes associated with life s immense variation, identifying those involved in its generation and extinction. By pulling human evolution into the narrative, Burger provides the perspective needed to appreciate why scientists are convening later this year to formalize a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, the Age of Humans. Bruce D Patterson, zoologist, Field Museum of Natural History

Author Information

William C. Burger is Curator Emeritus of the Department of Botany at The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois, and the author of the highly acclaimed Flowers- How They Changed the World and Perfect Planet, Clever Species.

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