Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea

"This brilliant book is a virtual Voyage of the Beagle! Carl Zimmer shows, with the benefit of a hundred and fifty years of hindsight, how right Darwin was." - Steve Jones, author of Darwin's Ghost. Darwin's The Origin of Species was breathtaking - beautifully written, staunchly defended, defiantly radical. Yet it emerged long before modern genetics, molecular biology, and contemporary findings in paleontology.. In this remarkable book, a rich and up-to-date view of evolution is presented that explores the far-reaching implications of Darwin's theory. At a time when controversies surrounding creationism and education are bursting into public consciousness, this book's emphasis on the power, significance, and relevance of evolution will make it a catalyst for public debate. Evolution marks a turning point in the 150-year debate and will be an indispensable asset to any serious reader with an interest in the life sciences, a passion for truth in education, or a concern for the future of the planet.. "The evolution of life over four billion years is a grand narrative, full of plots, intrigues, surprises and deaths. Carl Zimmer tells the tale with zest and style." - Matt Ridley, New York Times-bestselling author . "Proceeding from the flurry of preparations for Darwin's famous voyage, Carl Zimmer leads us off on a journey of our own, tracking the development - and the implications - of one of the most powerful ideas in the biological sciences." - Scientific American. "Science writer Zimmer does a superb job of providing a sweeping overview of most of the topics critical to understanding evolution, presenting his material from both a historical and a topical perspective." - Publishers Weekly. "Popular science that will truly be popular." - BOOKLIST