The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries

November 2, 2020
Paleontologist Prothero (The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries) introduces the evidence and scientists behind 25 major discoveries in this accessible overview of the history of the idea of evolution. Prothero explains the age of the universe, Darwin’s discoveries, macroevolution in the fossil record, genetics, and ends with a discussion of evolution in humans. He places discoveries in their historical context—for instance, Darwin’s speculation that “species were not fixed and stable” was “considered impossible at the time because most people believed God had created each species,” and Henrietta Swan Leavitt’s 1913 study on stars’ brightness gave scientists “a reliable tool to measure how far away a star or galaxy was from Earth” at a time when “most women were barred from scientific careers completely.” A chapter on horses shows how the animals have contributed to human understanding of evolution, while another shows how the eye—as it evolved from those of light-seeking protozoans to complex vertebrate eyes—is a test case for Darwin’s theory. Prothero is skilled at translating specialist material into entertaining stories. Those well-versed in evolutionary matters will find little new, but curious lay readers will find this to be an engaging introduction. Photos and illus.

November 1, 2020
Nearly 150 years after Charles Darwin's death, Prothero adduces a raft of new reasons to join the great biologist in marveling at how "from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." In 25 freestanding chapters--loosely organized in five thematic sections--Prothero examines fresh evidence of evolutionary theory's power to explain the universe, from the Big Bang in the deep cosmic past to the emergence of post-human species in the future. Some readers may question Prothero's interpretation of astrophysics as an extension of Darwin's evolutionary paradigm. But that paradigm does show why wasps lay eggs in living caterpillars, why the anatomy of giraffes manifests a fishlike nervous system, and why human DNA very closely resembles that of chimpanzees. In arguing for evolutionary theory, Prothero repeatedly takes polemical jabs at religion, portrayed as a superstition preventing acceptance of that theory. But when Prothero emphasizes the complete amorality of evolution, readers may understand--at least partly--why some scientists fully invested in evolutionary theory retain a religious faith.

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