Two Great Darwin Books

by tristero

Scientist, Interrupted reviews Niles Eldredge’s Darwin: Discovering the Tree of Life so I don’t have to. Basically, I agree, there was a sense of it being rushed but it’s still very, very good. What wasn’t mentioned in the review was that while Eldredge uses the opportunity to push his and Gould’s “punctuated equilibrium” theory at various times, he doesn’t mention recent criticism of the idea. As I understand it, the strong case for punctuated equilibrium – that all or nearly all evolution occurs more rapidly than Darwin imagined and it seems to group around, among other things, evironmental disuptions – is still controversial. However, the weaker case – that instances of evolution proceed at different rates, some of them quite fast in geological terms – has been pretty much accepted. (Knowledgeable scientists: please correct the above if there are any misconceptions and I’ll change it.)

However, what makes the book remarkable is the description of Darwin’s notebooks which are so fascinating that I went and bought the scholarly transcription of them. For containing a great discussion of the Darwin notebooks, and for the beautiful layout of the book, I would reccommend it. (And the exhibit at the Natural History Museum is a joy and a wonder, complete with live iquana and tortoises.)

Another book, one which I can’t rave enough about is Jay Hosler’s Sandwalk Adventures which you can get a taste of by clicking the above link. It’s a graphic novel – not a comic book – about Darwin’s discussions about evolution with “a follicle mite named Mara livining in his left eyebrow.” But that grossly misrepresents the book. First and foremost, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable work of fiction, not explicitly in the Lewis Carroll mode, but certainly with an Alice-like whimsy. This means it’s a book for grownups that kids will thoroughly adore. The ending I found quite touching.

But then the book is also an example of how true historical events and ideas are transformed into myth and epic. This is all done in such a humorous and convincing fashion that you are often hardly aware of it.

There’s also a terrific introduction to Darwin’s theories and reasoning – it has to be introductory, because, after all, Darwin is trying to persuade a mite, which doesn’t have the intelligence of a fly. Simple it is, but as far as I can tell – Hosler’s an experimental biologist – it’s accurate.

Finally, Hosler manages to debunk the standard “intelligent design” creationism nonsense, refuting their arguments in a cartoon panel or two – yep, that’s about all it takes.

I just love this book. No matter how old you are, please get a copy and read it. I think I first heard of it on Pharyngula but I haven’t been able to find any reference to it there when I looked recently so whomever first told me about Sandwalk Adventures, thanks!