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Creatures of Accident : The Rise of the Animal Kingdom by Wallace Arthur (2006,
US $8.99
ApproximatelyS$ 11.43
Condition:
Very Good
A book that has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear.
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US $5.38 (approx S$ 6.84) USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: Fernley, Nevada, United States
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eBay item number:223977808861
Item specifics
- Condition
- Subjects
- Animals & Pets
- Special Attributes
- 1st Edition, Dust Jacket
- Title
- Creatures Of Accidents
- ISBN
- 9780809043217
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
ISBN-10
0809043211
ISBN-13
9780809043217
eBay Product ID (ePID)
50573491
Product Key Features
Book Title
Creatures of Accident : the Rise of the Animal Kingdom
Number of Pages
255 Pages
Language
English
Topic
Life Sciences / Evolution, General, Life Sciences / Biology
Publication Year
2006
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Science
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1 in
Item Weight
15.1 Oz
Item Length
8.4 in
Item Width
5.9 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2005-033540
Dewey Edition
22
Reviews
"Creatures of Accidentrichly deserves to be read widely. With biology teaching becoming increasingly reductionist, it offers the (gloriously coined) "megaevolutionary" perspective. Lay readers will find plenty of surprises, and those with a more scientific background will find Arthur's straightforward and non-posturing style hugely enjoyable." -Matthew A. Willis,Nature "Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." -Carl Zimmer, author ofEvolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh "In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." -Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author ofThe Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form "Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." -Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author ofEarth: An Intimate History "Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read." -Fred Wilt, author ofPrinciples of Developmental Biology , ""Creatures of Accident" richly deserves to be read widely. With biology teaching becoming increasingly reductionist, it offers the (gloriously coined) "megaevolutionary" perspective. Lay readers will find plenty of surprises, and those with a more scientific background will find Arthur's straightforward and non-posturing style hugely enjoyable." -- Matthew A. Willis, "Nature" "Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." -- Carl Zimmer, author of "Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh ""In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." -- Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author of "The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form ""Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." -- Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author of "Earth: AnIntimate History ""Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read." -- Fred Wilt, author of "Principles of Developmental Biology", Praise for "Biased Embryos and Evolution: "This is probably the most accessible, well-written and interesting book on evolution that I've read in a long time . . . It is amusing, it is provocative, it is insightful, but basically it is a terrific read." --Prof. Kenneth McNamara, Western Australian Museum "Extremely well written . . . The author brings his enthusiasm to the pages . . . There is both remarkable historical depth and leading-edge discussion of various interesting concepts." --Prof. David Rollo, McMaster University Praise for "The Origin of Animal Body Plans: A Study in Evolutionary Developmental Biology: "Wallace Arthur is a leading exponent of the growing field of evolutionary developmental biology. His new book demonstrates the huge potential of this approach for throwing new light on well-trodden ground. It is scholarly but readable, well illustrated and well referenced. I strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in where evolutionary biology is going next."--John Lee, "Biologist "Some books . . . must be read from cover to cover because, besides reviewing much information, they express important ideas . . . There are not many books like that, but this is one of them."--Fernando Boero, "Journal of Evolutionary Biology, "Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." --Carl Zimmer, author of "Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh ""In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." --Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author of "The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form ""Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." --Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author of "Earth: An Intimate History ""Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-writtenthat it's fun to read." --Fred Wilt, author of "Principles of Developmental Biology", "Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." -Carl Zimmer, author ofEvolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh "In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." -Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author ofThe Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form "Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." -Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author ofEarth: An Intimate History "Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read." -Fred Wilt, author ofPrinciples of Developmental Biology , Praise for Biased Embryos and Evolution: "This is probably the most accessible, well-written and interesting book on evolution that I've read in a long time . . . It is amusing, it is provocative, it is insightful, but basically it is a terrific read." -Prof. Kenneth McNamara, Western Australian Museum "Extremely well written . . . The author brings his enthusiasm to the pages . . . There is both remarkable historical depth and leading-edge discussion of various interesting concepts." -Prof. David Rollo, McMaster University Praise for The Origin of Animal Body Plans: A Study in Evolutionary Developmental Biology: "Wallace Arthur is a leading exponent of the growing field of evolutionary developmental biology. His new book demonstrates the huge potential of this approach for throwing new light on well-trodden ground. It is scholarly but readable, well illustrated and well referenced. I strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in where evolutionary biology is going next."-John Lee, Biologist "Some books . . . must be read from cover to cover because, besides reviewing much information, they express important ideas . . . There are not many books like that, but this is one of them."-Fernando Boero, Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Dewey Decimal
591.3/8
Synopsis
The most important aspect of evolution, from a philosophical viewpoint, is the rise of complex, advanced creatures from simple, primitive ones. This " vertical" dimension of evolution has been downplayed in both the specialist and popular literature on evolution, in large part because it was in the past associated with unsavory political views. The avoidance of evolution's vertical dimension has, however, left evolutionary biology open to the perception, from outside, that it deals merely with the diversification of rather similar creatures, all at the same level of " advancedness" from a common ancestor-- for example, the classic case studies of finches with different beaks or moths of different colors. The latest incarnation of creationism, dubbed intelligent design (or ID), has taken advantage of this situation. It portrays an evolutionary process that is constantly guided-- especially in its upward direction-- by the hand of an unseen Creator, who is able to ensure that it ends up producing humans. "Creatures of Accident" attacks the antiscience ID worldview, mainly by building a persuasive picture of how " unaided" evolution produces advanced creatures from simple ones by an essentially accidental process. Having built this picture, in the final chapter the book reflects on its religious implications., The most important aspect of evolution, from a philosophical viewpoint, is the rise of complex, advanced creatures from simple, primitive ones. This "vertical" dimension of evolution has been downplayed in both the specialist and popular literature on evolution, in large part because it was in the past associated with unsavory political views. The avoidance of evolution's vertical dimension has, however, left evolutionary biology open to the perception, from outside, that it deals merely with the diversification of rather similar creatures, all at the same level of "advancedness" from a common ancestor-for example, the classic case studies of finches with different beaks or moths of different colors. The latest incarnation of creationism, dubbed intelligent design (or ID), has taken advantage of this situation. It portrays an evolutionary process that is constantly guided-especially in its upward direction-by the hand of an unseen Creator, who is able to ensure that it ends up producing humans.Creatures of Accidentattacks the antiscience ID worldview, mainly by building a persuasive picture of how "unaided" evolution produces advanced creatures from simple ones by an essentially accidental process. Having built this picture, in the final chapter the book reflects on its religious implications.
LC Classification Number
QH375.A78 2006
Item description from the seller
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- s***l (22413)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseNeat card in excellent condition. Thanks!