From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals)

Average customer rating:

Can't Beat It

Four classics

Wonderful writing wrong package

Too big

From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, T

From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals)
Charles Darwin
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0393061345

Book Description

A gorgeous gift and a landmark work that is an essential addition to everyone's personal library.

Never before have the four great works of Charles Darwin—Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle (1845), The Origin of Species (1859), The Descent of Man (1871), and The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)—been collected under one cover. Undertaking this challenging endeavor 123 years after Darwin's death, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson has written an introductory essay for the occasion, while providing new, insightful introductions to each of the four volumes and an afterword that examines the fate of evolutionary theory in an era of religious resistance. In addition, Wilson has crafted a creative new index to accompany these four texts, which links the nineteenth-century, Darwinian evolutionary concepts to contemporary biological thought. Beautifully slipcased, and including restored versions of the original illustrations, From So Simple a Beginning turns our attention to the astounding power of the natural creative process and the magnificence of its products. Slipcased hardcover; 101 illustrations, map.

Customer Reviews:

Can't Beat It.......2007-04-03

I bought this book knowing very little about Darwin or his theories. From So Simple a Beginning was an easy read about a very interesting man. I would hope that not just supporters of evolution would read this book there is more to the man then just one theory.

Four classics.......2007-01-12

Excellent in every particular. Five stars in delivery time, condition, quality of the experience.

Wonderful writing wrong package.......2007-01-10

There is no gainsaying the writings of Darwin or the thinking of my favorite living scientist, E.O.Wilson. But the package is wrong.
Four books in one. Too heavy, too cumbersome. Discouraging.

Too big.......2007-01-05

This book is way too big to hold to read, so it is not useful. From the picture I thought I was ordering 4 different books in a book holder, not one giant book. I recommend buying them separately unless you have very strong arms and wrists.

From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, T.......2006-07-02

Good

Phylogeography: The History and Formation of Species

Average customer rating:

Yes, does accomplish what it sets out to do...
A good overview

Phylogeography: The History and Formation of Species
John C. Avise
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Molecular Markers, Natural History, and Evolution
Speciation
Phylogenetic Trees Made Easy: A How-to Manual, Third Edition
Evolutionary Pathways in Nature: A Phylogenetic Approach
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ASIN: 0674666380

Book Description

Phylogeography is a discipline concerned with various relationships between gene genealogies--phylogenetics--and geography. The word "phylogeography" was coined in 1987, and since then the scientific literature has reflected an exploding interest in the topic. Yet, to date, no book-length treatment of this emerging field has appeared. Phylogeography: The History and Formation of Species fills that gap.

The study of phylogeography grew out of the observation that mitochondrial DNA lineages in natural populations often display distinct geographic orientations. In recent years, the field has expanded to include assessments of nuclear as well as cytoplasmic genomes and the relationships among gene trees, population demography, and organismal history, often formalized as coalescent theory. Phylogeography has connections to molecular evolutionary genetics, natural history, population biology, paleontology, historical geography, and speciation analysis.

Phylogeography captures the conceptual and empirical richness of the field, and also the sense of genuine innovation that phylogeographic perspectives have brought to evolutionary studies.

This book will be essential reading for graduate students and professionals in evolutionary biology and ecology as well as for anyone interested in the emergence of this new and integrative discipline.

Customer Reviews:

Yes, does accomplish what it sets out to do..........2006-03-30

...and for the same reason, I feel deserves 5 stars. This book is on the shelf of all (grad students like myself) who work with phylogeography for a reason: It is complete, and it the first book to grab when starting a project of the sort. Very useful, however lacking in the details one must pick up later to execute analyses.

A good overview.......2001-12-18

This book accomplishes what it sets out to do, synthesize existing material into a simplified text. If you are looking for a good overview, this is a good book. If you are looking for mathmatical detail and methods, this may not be the book for you.

Systematics and the Origin of Species from the Viewpoint of a Zoologist

Average customer rating:

Still and always a key reference

Systematics and the Origin of Species from the Viewpoint of a Zoologist
Ernst Mayr
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Genetics and the Origin of Species (Classics of Modern Evolution Series)
Toward a New Philosophy of Biology: Observations of an Evolutionist
What Evolution Is
Phylogenetic Systematics
Tempo and Mode in Evolution (Columbia Classics in Evolution Series.)

ASIN: 0674862503

Book Description

Ernst Mayr is perhaps the most distinguished biologist of the twentieth century, and Systematics and the Origin of Species may be one of his greatest and most influential books. This classic study, first published in 1942, helped to revolutionize evolutionary biology by offering a new approach to taxonomic principles and correlating the ideas and findings of modern systematics with those of other life science disciplines. This book is one of the foundational documents of the "Evolutionary Synthesis." It is the book in which Mayr pioneered his new concept of species based chiefly on such biological factors as interbreeding and reproductive isolation, taking into account ecology, geography, and life history. In his new introduction for this edition, Mayr reflects on the place of this enduring work in the subsequent history of his field.

Customer Reviews:

Still and always a key reference.......2000-03-31

This book belongs on every serious biologist's bookshelf -when it isn't on your desk, in your easy chair, in the clutches of your students, etc. Not as "easy a read" as Mayr's more "popular" books like the wonderful ONE LONG ARGUMENT, this was and is a definitive statement on key elements of the evolutionary synthesis. Get it & read it!

Deer of the World: Their Evolution, Behaviour, and Ecology

Average customer rating:

The book for people really interested in deer.
Inconsistent, confusing & sloppy
Phenomenal Synthesis, Penetrating Understanding
Best book around about deer

Deer of the World: Their Evolution, Behaviour, and Ecology
Valerius Geist
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Encyclopedia of Deer
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ASIN: 0811704963

Customer Reviews:

The book for people really interested in deer........2007-07-26

Valerius Geist puts just what his title says into understandable language; fascinating and contemplative writing. It's not the "Critt'rspeak or limited jargon study of the 'game manager'; nor a book for the 'hook & bullet crowd'. It's the popular authority for the knowledgeable or just curious and the reference for ungulate watchers. And it makes up for what valerius doen't understand about bison and pronghorn. He also sticks his neck out about human migration, aboriginal habitat manangement and other interesting tidbits.

Inconsistent, confusing & sloppy.......2002-09-14

As a researcher attempting to use this book as a preliminary source of data/information, I have found that Geist throws around numbers without ensuring that they match ones cited earlier or later in the text; Appendix values don't match the text; some are rounded, some not; with the sloppy citations he uses, some even appear to have been plucked out of thin air. The appendix is essentially unreadable: citations, data & notes are presented in the most illogical & unintuitive format possible. Plus there are plenty of typos scattered throughout, making you question the publisher's editing skills. Granted some of the text is very interesting & informative but here again, poor formatting thwarts the reader's efforts to understand.
I was originally thrilled to find this book but now I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Phenomenal Synthesis, Penetrating Understanding.......2001-12-21

Having known Val Geist for 3 decades, and having followed the development of his thinking, I impatiently watched this particular book take shape over a third of that period. A long wait, but well worth it.

Beyond the sheer breadth of this study of all the world's "deer" is the depth of Geists' thinking, which always challenges, intrigues and fascinates the reader. Superb illustrations add aesthetic beauty while greatly facilitating comparisons and contrasts between species and genera.

There has never been such a thorough comparison and contrast between the various species, putting them all into a comprehensive phylogenetic perspective, while contrasting the diverse habitats that shaped their ecological radiation.

Any biologist with an interest in large mammals, from behavioral, ecological or evolutionary standpoints will find this book an exceptional addition to the library.

Yet, as technically valuable as this book is, it is also highly readable. Geist's style is so clear that the main ideas can be followed even by readers who have to skip past the more technical sections.

Stephen F. Stringham, PhD
Director, Bear Communication & Coexistence Research Program

Best book around about deer.......2000-06-18

This is the only book I found that covered all deer, and it was fascinating (although quite technical in places) and well-referenced. I work at a zoo that has several species of deer. This book gave me a deeper understanding of various species, why they are found where they are found, and the impact humans have had on deer populations. It stimulated my curiousity in other areas, and the references are allowing me to dig more deeply into various topics. I will be referring back to this book often and I recommend it highly to anyone interested in deer, evolutionary strategies, or ecology.

Average customer rating:

Just Plain Wonderful!
Informative.
Feline bodybuilders
evolutionary history of big cats, illustrated and explained
Worth the Money!!

The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives
Mauricio Anton , and A Anton
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0231102291

Amazon.com

Here's a book for cat lovers, but those who prefer good hard science to the warm and fuzzy feline tomes. While very readable, not to mention beautifully and lavishly illustrated, The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives is a serious and intelligent look at how today's lions, tigers, and other cat species are linked to their ancient and extinct ancestors. The way cats have evolved over 25 million years, and the descriptions of feline behavior, both ancient and present, will intrigue animal lovers in general, and not just cat people.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Just Plain Wonderful!.......2007-03-24

It's hard to review this book without tossing in a bucketful of giddy superlatives, so I'll stick with WONDERFUL! It contains some of the most strikingly beautiful artwork contained in any scholarly book. Having said that, a potential reader needs to keep in mind that this isn't a "popular science" book. You'll be encountering terms like "Paleocene" and "carnassials", but even though they might be a little confusing, they won't hurt you, either.

Get this book! There may never be another work like this about the ancestral cats in print again.

Informative........2006-04-23

I liked most everything about this book. This is a great natural history of the big cats and their various ancient ancestors going back some 25 million years. I especially enenjoyed chapters 4-Anatomy And Action, and 5-Behavior And Ecology. Also, Mr. Anton is a fine artist. This book should appeal to anyone with even a modest interest in the big cats. Both the color plates and the black and white drawings are lifelike and worth the price of the book.

Feline bodybuilders.......2005-07-28

For the lay reader - such as me - the welter of taxonomical and anatomical details with which this book is filled could perhaps have made it very boring. However, the fine drawing and the speculative detail about reconstrued ecology and behavior made the book a light read, even comic at times, when you discover that sabertoothed cats were a kind of lions and tigers "on steroids", with heavily muscled forelimbs and shoulders allowing them to immobilize the prey to the ground in order to deliver a devastating neck bite that would close a windpipe and sever bloodvessels neatly and quickly. Very funny to think that evolution could have taken this alternative path of turning the gracile feline form into something like a BB contest...

evolutionary history of big cats, illustrated and explained.......2003-11-20

This is a great book on the evolution of the big cats, in fact I think its probably the only book outside of research journals or more technical material. Its wonderfully illustrated with very detailed pencil drawings of skulls, skeletons, musculature, and 'life reconstructions' of exctinct big cats. Also includes color plates with scenes depicting the cats and their habitats. The text is well organized and accesible to the informed layperson and is detailed enough to satisfy those with a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

The illustrations really makes the book stand out: they are detailed and well drawn, and really bring the subject matter to life, as if you were able to examine the museum collection yourself, and then go on a prehistoric safari. An excellent choice for those interested in cat biology, natural history, or paleontology.

Worth the Money!!.......2003-08-20

Anyone interested in Big Cats or Prehistoric cats should have this book as a great reference. It also shows readers how the extinct and living cats are classified. Provides information on individual speicies and has tons of pictures (colored and pencil) that are beautifully illustrated. This is definitly worth the time and money....so hurry and buy it now!

Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon

Average customer rating:

An excellent read
Iconic hardback
The World's Loneliest Bachelor Gets His Time To Shine

Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon
Henry Nicholls
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1403945764
Release Date: 2006-03-30

Book Description

Lonesome George is a five-foot long, 900 pound tortoise aged somewhere between 60 and 200 years. The last of his kind, he was discovered in 1971 on the remote island of Pinta in the Galapagos Islands, from which tortoises had supposedly been extinct for years. Since then, he has lived in the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) on Santa Cruz on the off chance that there is a Pinta female somewhere, or that science will come up with a way of reproducing him, and resurrecting his species and the Pinta population. Today, Lonesome George has come to embody the challenges of conservation. His story captures the mystery, complexity, and fragility of the worlds most biologically diverse placethe Galapagos Islandsa place where sexual dysfunction, Charles Darwin, kidnapping, cloning, DNA fingerprinting, and ecotourism have left a complex web of influences. In the end, Georges story echoes the experience of conservationists world wide.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent read.......2006-11-21

This is a truly wonderful book with a great blend of humor and scientific story-telling. Current issues and historical anecdotes interwine seemlessly as the saga of Lonesome George unfolds. A must for Galapagos travelers past and future.

Iconic hardback.......2006-04-27

If anyone has been to the Galapagos (or is intending to) this is a must-have. In fact, anyone with an interest in Darwinism and environmentalism should also make sure they have a read. Henry Nicholls has done a great job of adding humour and fascinating anecdotes to some very serious topics, notably the human impact on this sensitive archipelago, and our role in protecting endangered species.

But what really makes this such a special read is the insight it gives to the life of poor Lonesome George. If I had to criticise, it would be that the book fails to consider the pressure that a myriad of scentific observers and visitors is piling on to the poor fellow. Its no surprise he feels shy about reproducing when constantly being reminded that he is an 'icon' and 'last of his species' (although the pretty swiss volunteer clearly tried her best to make him relax).

The World's Loneliest Bachelor Gets His Time To Shine.......2006-03-15

Lonesome George is not just the last of his sub-species of Galapagos giant tortoise, he is also an icon for animal conservation. In Henry Nicholls' new book, the very first full book on Lonesome George since his chance discovery 1n 1972, we get a crystal clear picture on what it will take to preserve George's race: the Pinta race of giant Galapagos tortoise. And though, the chances for survival seem slim, Nicholls digs up every conceivable speck of hope and lays it out for us in his own quirky style.

When I'd finished reading the book I was left with a feeling that I knew George intimately and that I understood the hurdles biologists, zoologists, conservationists and tortoise lovers are up against in trying to save the Pinta race.

Not to be missed is the part about George's Swedish human 'girlfriend' and their steamy escapades. The book also features extensive examples of other animals in peril and how they've been saved or lost. A joy of a read packed with hard facts, moving passages and important lessons. Go George!

Last Animals at the Zoo: How Mass Extinction Can Be Stopped

Average customer rating:

Thought-provoking
Conservation Makes Sense
Filled with great information on conservation breeding

Last Animals at the Zoo: How Mass Extinction Can Be Stopped
Colin Tudge
Manufacturer: Island Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Different Nature: The Paradoxical World of Zoos and Their Uncertain Future
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ASIN: 1559631589

Book Description

In Last Animals at theZoo, Colin Tudge argues that zoos have become an essential part of modernconservation strategy, and that the only real hope for saving many endangeredspecies is through creative use of zoos in combination with restoration ofnatural habitats. From the genetics of captive breeding to techniques ofbehavioral enrichment, Tudge examines all aspects of zoo conservation programs and explains how the precarious existence of so many animals can best be protected.

Customer Reviews:

Thought-provoking.......2002-06-18

In addition to providing an excellent overview of the role of modern zoos and of captive breeding programs, Tudge also begins the book with an overview of the ethics of conservation. Unfortunately, I did not find in that discussion an ethos that really worked for me, but the presentation did give me much food for thought - which after all is what I look for in a good book.

Conservation Makes Sense.......2000-11-21

This book showed amazing depth in its amount of pages. The author's ideas simply made sense. Conservation is presented from every angle, never simply glossed over. The topic is made interesting and easy to understand, with explanations simple yet in-depth. All perspectives are shown. While the author makes his views known, he gives you enough room to let you form your own opinion. This book is great!

Filled with great information on conservation breeding.......1996-12-11

If you ever wanted to know more about efforts to save endangered animals, this is the book to start with. It is easy to read, but does not shy away from discussing relevant aspects of genetics. Chapter 4, "The Theory of Conservation Breeding," is especially good in detailing the practical goals conservation breeders hope to achieve and also the many problems they face

Average customer rating:

Extinct Species of the World
Jean-Christophe Balouet , Eric Alibert , and K. J. Hollyman
Manufacturer: Barrons Educational Series Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0812057996

Human Animal, The: A Personal View of the Human Species

Average customer rating:

There is no angels, but simple animals on Earth

Human Animal, The: A Personal View of the Human Species
Desmond Morris
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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The Nature of Happiness
The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal
The Naked Woman: A Study of the Female Body
The Human Zoo: A Zoologist's Study of the Urban Animal (Kodansha Globe)
Intimate Behavior: A Zoologist's Classic Study of Human Intimacy

ASIN: 0517700905
Release Date: 1994-12-20

Book Description

This stunningly illustrated book provides new understanding of human behavior based on our almost identical genetic heritage. However much we may think we have evolved from our animal ancestors, Desmond Morris shows that our instinct and behavior are still rooted in our animal past. 140 full-color and 10 black-and-white photographs.

Customer Reviews:

There is no angels, but simple animals on Earth.......1996-09-18

Desmond Morris' contribution to understand some of the consequences of trying to deny our animal heritage and the duty of facing our actual identity.

Book Description

As a novel endeavour in ecological science, this book focuses on a major issue in organismal life on Earth - species coexistence. The book crosses the usual disciplinary boundaries between palaeobiology, ecology and evolutionary biology and provides a timely overview of the patterns and processes of species diversity and coexistence on a range of spatio-temporal scales. In this unique synthesis, the author offers a critical and penetrating examination of the concepts and models of coexistence and community structure, thus making a valuable contribution to the field of community ecology. There is an emphasis on clarity and accessibility without sacrificing scientific rigour, making this book suitable for both advanced students and individual researchers in ecology, palaeobiology and environmental and evolutionary biology.

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