Extinction and Evolution: What Fossils Reveal About the History of Life

Author(s): Niles Eldredge

Gemstones/Rocks/Fossils

Extinction and Evolution recounts the work and discoveries of Niles Eldredge, one of the world's most renowned paleontologists, whose research overturned Charles Darwin's theory of evolution as a slow and inevitable process, as published in On the Origin of Species in 1859. Darwin had concluded that evolutionary changes happened very slowly over millions of years. Eldredge's work, however, convinced him that Darwin was wrong and that major evolution of life forms does not happen to any significant degree until after a mass extinction event, thus disproving the traditional view of evolution. Eldredge's groundbreaking work is now accepted as the definitive statement of how life as we know it evolved on Earth. This book chronicles how Eldredge made his discoveries and traces the history of life through the lenses of paleontology, geology, ecology, anthropology, biology, genetics, zoology, mammalogy, herpetology, entomology and botany. While rigorously accurate, the text is accessible, engaging and free of jargon. Extinction and Evolution features 160 beautiful colour plates that bridge the gap between science and art.
More than 200 different fossil specimens are shown, including photographs of some of the most significant fossil discoveries of recent years. This is a book with appeal to a broad general audience, including natural history readers and students.

$49.99 AUD

Stock: 0


Add to Wishlist


Product Information

Niles Eldredge is the world's most easily recognised paleontologist and has served on the staff of the American Museum of Natural History since 1969. His theory of 'punctuated equilibria', developed with Stephen Jay Gould in 1972, was an early milestone. His book Life in the Balance was named the most important science book of 2000 by Publishers Weekly. Carl Zimmer is a distinguished New York Times science writer, and author of seven science-related books.

General Fields

  • : 9781770853591
  • : Firefly Books Ltd
  • : Firefly Books Ltd
  • : 0.001
  • : November 2014
  • : 279mm X 248mm X 25mm
  • : Canada
  • : December 2014
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Niles Eldredge
  • : Hardback
  • : annotated edition
  • : 560
  • : 256
  • : 160 full-colour photos and illustrations