Long is okay. Actually, given what I want to know, long is unavoidable. I have read here and there in evolution–Dawkins’ Climbing Mount Improbable, Kitcher’s Abusing Science, etc. But I’ve never read very extensively in evolutionary theory. I would like to read a comprehensive book on evolutionary theory–something that tells not just about the evidence for evolution (fossil, DNA, etc.), but about the mechanisms of evolution and speciation and, you know, other evolution-y stuff. Seems appropriate in honor of Chuck’s birthday. Is there such a comprehensive book for the lay person? (Notice I keep emphasizing comprehensive.)
ehh, would it be obvious to refer to Origin of Species?
Actually, I have read that (or much of it, at any rate). But of course it represents evolutionary theory at a very primitive stage. I want to learn about the theory in it’s more [del]evolved state[/del]…uh, sorry, that joke is too lame to make.
I haven’t read it but it sure seems like it would be comprehensive…
That’s the one. Just be careful carrying it around; you do not want it landing on your foot.
I thought Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene did this part well. But I don’t think I’d call the book “comprehensive”. I mean, it almost fits in your pocket…
Can’t offhand think of anything that is both comprehensive and accessible to the layman.
But I would recommend Dawkin’s The Ancestor’s Tale, which does go into some of the genetic stuff (the usual - like Hox genes etc) as well as being, in its way, a nice intro to cladistics.
I would recommend first Dawkin’s “The Blind Watchmaker” for more general evolution theory.
Then I’d recommend Dawkin’s “The Ancestor’s Tale” for sort of a history of speciation.
I too recommend The Ancestor’s Tale. The approach Dawkins takes helps make the relationships easier (and fascinating) to understand.
While it’s not really comprehensive I also recommend Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin. It explains some of the evolutionary reasons for why our bodies are built the way they are and talks about the convergence of different areas of research.
The Triumph of Evolution . . . and the Failure of CReationism, by Niles Eldredge, explains everything from the ground up and concisely.