# Book reccomendations on evolutionary biology wanted **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813 "2003-10-06T03:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/1 "2003-10-06T03:44:28Z")
I am really interested in evolutionary biology, and as I am also trying to read more non fiction books… well, you can see where this is going. I’ve read **Guns, Germs and Steel** and am due to read **The Third Chimpanzee** soon, both by Jared Diamond. Any other recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/2 "2003-10-06T03:49:25Z")
Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins are the big names in popularizing evolutionary theory, but I don’t know that either of them wrote a comprehensive introduction for the layperson. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/3 "2003-10-06T03:50:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\*Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins are the big names in popularizing evolutionary theory, but I don’t know that either of them wrote a comprehensive introduction for the layperson. \*\* I’m not _exactly_ a layperson, I am doing a minor in Biology. Do you think their styles would preclude them being read for amusement, though? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/4 "2003-10-06T03:58:52Z")
No, definitely not. One of Dawkin’s better books, _The Extended Phenotype_, is aimed at biologists but accessible to the layperson. Since you do have some background in the subject, you might want to check out [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0674006135/qid=1065413166/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-5147867-0885740?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), Gould’s magnum opus. Not exactly the sort of thing you’d go through quickly, but very likely worth the effort (I haven’t read it myself due to a lack of time). ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/5 "2003-10-06T04:01:28Z")
Are you interested in something technical, or written for a more general audience? Douglas Futuyma has an excellent textbook if you want to go for “technical”. Gould’s _The Structure of Evolutionary Theory_ is also a pretty thick read (literally and figuratively). Any of Gould’s _Natural History_ essay compilations (e.g., _Hens’ Teeth and Horses’ Toes_, _The Flamingo’s Smile_, _Bully for Brontosaurus_, and so on) are easily accessible to a general audience and provide a good overview on the theories, as well as the history and philosophy, of evolutionary biology. Ernst Mayr has some nice light stuff (_What Evolution Is_), as well. And, of course, if you are really interested in the topic, you should probably start with the “source”, so to speak: _The Origin of Species_. While it _is_ technical, it is also written quite well – assuming you are keen on 19th century prose. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/6 "2003-10-06T04:11:36Z")
**Origin of the Species** is indeed on my bookshelf. I’m going to be reading it with a book club at some point in the future, though, so I’m putting it off. I’m not going to say no to something overly technical, but I would, at this point anyway, prefer something fun to read. I checked out the catalogue for my local library and they have a whole bunch of Gould’s essay compilations, plus some other stuff too. I’ll check those out. The other names are going down on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/7 "2003-10-06T05:04:37Z")
My personal little-known favorite is “At Home in the Universe” by Stuart Kauffman. He uses computer models and analogies to explain how and why abiogenesis and evolution, far from being wildly improbably, are natural and _expected_ consequences from a complex system. In other words, we should be surprised if we had a sufficiently complex soup of molecules and life _didn’t_ show up. Excellent stuff, though he veers a bit off-topic toward the end. And, BTW, I thought _The Third Chimpanzee_ was far inferior to _Guns, Germs, and Steel_. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/8 "2003-10-06T17:23:26Z")
Almost anything by Stephen Jay Gould is fun and a lot about evolutionary biology. I’d also enthusiastically recommend David Quammen, who is a mix of travel/adventure/outdoors writing and solid biological discussions. Fun and enlightening. Neither one requires advanced knowledge, either, and may inform you. I’ve found some good stuff just by finding their books in the library and browsing that shelf (can’t remember any particular ones right now). Oh, wait, I remember one about the evolution of limbs, which did a tremendous job of showing how evolutionary change can only work with what’s available in the process of growth and development (i.e. why an extra toe mutation is easy, but a ‘put wings in the middle of your back’ mutation is impossible). (and I’m not just saying that because I knew the guy who discovered tje ‘sonic’ gene, which is heavily mentioned) Arrgg, can’t remember the name, though. If it comes to me I’ll let you know. Jared Diamond is interesting, though his books tend toward far more speculation and interesting ideas unsupported by real evidence than Gould or Quammen or most serious science writers. There’s nothing wrong with speculation, as long as the reader understands the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/9 "2003-10-06T17:46:02Z")
I just thought of another good work for a general audience: _[Darwin’s Ghost: The Origin of Species Updated](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345422775/qid=1065461945/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-4086460-2409464?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)_, by Steve Jones. It’s pretty much what the title says: a modern update of _The Origin of Species_, in modern prose, using examples that may be a little more familiar to the average reader than, say, pigeon breeding to demonstrate variation and artificial selection. Overall, it’s a decent book, but it isn’t quite as in-depth as the original. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/10 "2003-10-06T19:29:24Z")
While not nearly as dense as the books already mentioned, The Seven Daughters of Eve is an interesting look at the evolution and spread of the humans from a few (seven, even!) specific females. Worth a read. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/11 "2003-10-06T20:26:05Z")
Jonathan Weiner’s _The Beak of the Finch_ is a fascinating study of evolution in our time. It won the 1995 Non-fiction Pulitzer. ---
**Author:** ![konzar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac8455/32.png) [@konzar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/konzar)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/12 "2003-10-06T21:43:43Z")
For another view, try Robert J. Sawyer’s CALCULATING GOD. It’s a novel, but it set forth some interesting points about a higher-being-designed universe. And I’m an atheiest. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/13 "2003-10-06T23:11:53Z")
I would put Gould’s _Wonderful Life_ on the list. It illustrates some points about evolutionary pathways that aren’t often discussed in other books. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/14 "2003-10-06T23:26:11Z")
I’m a social science type, but I found [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312269021/qid=1065483153/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-9800359-5875039?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) extremely interesting and very readable. Basically it’s about why the really big animals on land and in the ocean are mammals, but in freshwater they’re reptiles. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/15 "2003-10-07T00:42:14Z")
**Dawn of Human Culture** by Richard G Klein & Blake Edgar **Extinct Humans** by I an Tattersall & Jeffrey Schwartz **Children of the Ice Age** By Steven M Stanley **The Money in the Mirror** by Ian Tattersall **The Neanderthal’s Necklace** byJuan Luis Arsuaga **Dragons of Eden** by Carl Sagan is also quite interesting even if one of my anthropology professors dismissed it with a laugh. His son Dorion has co wrote a book called **Up From Eden**. Its on my to read this year list. And for good old fashioned controversy read Richard Leakey and Donald Johansons stuff. They don’t collaborate… they try to kill each others theories. Then go read Tattersall where he puts BOTH of them into their place. 😃 I just love the politics of evolution! ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/16 "2003-10-07T00:52:55Z")
Another vote for **The Beak of the Finch** by Jonathan Weiner. Outstanding book. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/17 "2003-10-07T02:31:48Z")
**Extinct Humans**. Very good. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/18 "2003-10-07T13:07:35Z")
Carl Sagan and Ann Druyans [Shadows of forgotten ancestors](http://http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345384725/qid=1065532215/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/102-6313714-3479307?v=glance&s=books) is really good. Calr Sagan’s always been one of my favorites. Edward O Wilsons [On Human Nature](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067463442X/ref=lib_dp_TFCV/102-6313714-3479307?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader#reader-link) , another really cool one. Richard Dawkins [Climbing Mount Improbable](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393316823/ref=lib_dp_TFCV/102-6313714-3479307?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader#reader-link) ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/19 "2003-10-07T15:20:12Z")
Sorry but there are much better choices than _The Origin of Species_. Where science is concerned going to the original source is overrated. I would suggest: _The Selfish Gene_, by Hawkins _Darwin’s Dangerous Idea_, by Daniel Dennett ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813/20 "2003-10-07T15:55:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krisfer the Cat \* > \*\*His son Dorion has co wrote a book called **Up From Eden**. Its on my to read this year list. > \*\* Ooooooookay the book is actually called **Up from Dragons** … I guess I was in a pseudoSteinbeck mode yesterday. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-reccomendations-on-evolutionary-biology-wanted/205813.md?page=2)