Macroevolutionaries

Reviews / Votes

Two of Steven Jay Gould's colleagues have written a book that reminds us of his many contributions. They do it with flair, tying evolution to art, music, and plenty of pop culture-much as did Gould. A lively portrayal of recent theory in evolutionary biology and the people who shaped it. -- Eugenie C. Scott, founding executive director, National Center for Science Education It's been fifty years since Stephen Jay Gould and fellow 'musketeers' took on the Darwinian paradigm by proposing new ways of thinking about fossils and evolution. Macroevolutionaries tells the story of their campaign from the inside, illustrating how the scientists and their ideas interacted with wider social developments. If you want to know why the evolution of trilobites and trumpets follow the same pattern, read on. -- Peter J. Bowler, author of <i>Progress Unchained: Ideas of Evolution, Human History, and the Future</i> Two eminent scientists-Bruce S. Lieberman and Niles Eldredge-present their personal journeys through the wondrous land of the history of life. On this journey, they reflect on the themes and works of their late colleague, Stephen Jay Gould, who is still a major inspiration for all scholars and enthusiasts of the natural world. In a series of thirteen entertaining and revealing essays that are accessible for a general reader, they explore the nuances of the evolution of life and culture. -- Andrej Spiridonov, Vilnius University Macroevolutionaries interweaves evolutionary biology, pop culture, and personal narrative in a way only Lieberman and Eldredge can do. Two (r)evolutionary "Musketeers" who've been at the forefront of evolutionary theory themselves, they provide a behind-the-scenes view into the science, the people, and thought processes that have formed the foundation of major theories and concepts like Punctuated Equilibria, historical contingency, and volatility. Anyone interested in biology or the history of science should want to read this book! -- Emily Casanova, Loyola University New Orleans 5/5 stars. An entertaining and intriguing collection of essays. * NHBS Good Reads * Readers who miss Gould's essays or are enthralled by his ideas are warmly recommended to pick up a copy. Lieberman & Eldredge celebrate his legacy while writing fine essays that can stand on their own two feet. * The Inquisitive Biologist * [An] impressive book by impressive people. At once thought-provoking and entertaining, [this work] is for inquiring minds interested in paleontology, evolutionary biology, and Gould's literary and scientific legacy. -- Jodi Summers * Bulletin of the Southern California Paleontology Society * Quite a satisfying read. * Trilobite Tales * If you anxiously awaited the arrival of your monthly Natural History magazine for Stephen Jay Gould's essays, then this book is for you. * Choice Reviews * The writing is lively and entertaining... an enjoyable read as well as informative. Will appeal to professionals in paleontology, biology, and the history of science as well as to natural history buffs. * National Center for Science Education * An arresting, idiosyncratic, and personal introduction to [the] macroevolutionary perspective. . . . Succeeds in introducing readers, in an entertaining, quirky, and readable way, to some of the history and ideas of paleobiology, and to how paleobiologists think. * Quarterly Review of Biology * In threading paleontology, pop culture, and personal anecdotes, the essays are pleasantly sinuous and absorbing. * H-Environment *