Evolution and Extinction

by Stephen Jay Gould, Jeff Riggenbach (Read by)

Essays by Stephen Jay Gould, including "The Episodic Nature of Evolutionary Change," "Natural Selection and the Human Brain," "Our Allotted Lifetimes," "The Wheel of Fortune and the Wedge of Progress," and others.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Evolution, Audiobook

180 pages, Audio Cassette

First published November 9, 1998

About the author

Stephen Jay Gould was a prominent American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science. He was also one of the most influential and widely read writers of popular science of his generation. Gould spent most of his career teaching at Harvard University and working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Most of Gould's empirical research was on land snails. Gould helped develop the theory of punctuated equilibrium, in which evolutionary stability is marked by instances of rapid change. He contributed to evolutionary developmental biology. In evolutionary theory, he opposed strict selectionism, sociobiology as applied to humans, and evolutionary psychology. He campaigned against creationism and proposed that science and religion should be considered two compatible, complementary fields, or "magisteria," whose authority does not overlap.

Many of Gould's essays were reprinted in collected volumes, such as Ever Since Darwin and The Panda's Thumb, while his popular treatises included books such as The Mismeasure of Man, Wonderful Life and Full House.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Max Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget Montaigne and Bacon, in all seriousness: Stephen Jay Gould is the greatest essayist that ever lived. This collection is different from the numerous others available in two respects: first, it's only available on audio cassette, and a long out-of-print one, at that; second, it consists (so far as I can tell) of essays written for this collection, rather than reprints from his column in Natural History magazine, which allows Gould to weave the themed essays in and out of each other magnificently. The theme is in the title: evolution and extinction, that is, development and change and mortality. He muses on how diatoms survived the Cretaceous extinction and the Brothers Grimm's contributions to lexicology, on the development of human consciousness and on Alfred Russell Wallace's slavering, short-sighted commitment to natural selection as the only mechanism of evolution, quotes from the Bible several times, and somehow manages to turn it all into a nice, coherent whole. This is brain food.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blurb - Stephen Jay Gould's essays are well known for their wit and explanatory power. Throughout the years, they have enlightened and entertained readers of Natural History magazine and other publications. The essays presented in this audio programme offer Gould's illuminating perspectives on several different topics dealing with evolution and extinction, including impact theory, punctuated equilibrium, natural selection and evolutionary progress. Essays include: The Wheel of Fortune and the Wedge of Progress; Tires to Sandals; The Episodic Nature of Evolutionary Change; Natural Selection and the Human Brain; The Declining Empire of Apes; Grimm's Greatest Tale; Our Allotted Lifetimes.


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I don't 'get' everything when I listen to these science lectures, as I am not trained in sciences but over the years the ideas have broadened my outlook or way of thinking about things that I persevere and have some enjoyable moments along the way. I hope the professionals forgive the blasphemy.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Jay Gould is Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Professor of Geology at Harvard University, as well as the Curator for Invertebrate Paleontology in the University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. His witty, informative, and insightful essays on evolution are aptly narrated by Jeff Riggenbach in this audiobook format. The essays featured include The Wheel of Fortune and the Wedge of Progress; Tires to Sandals; The Episodic Nature of Evolutionary Change; Natural Selection and the Human Brain; The Declining Empire of Apes; Grimm's Greatest Tale; and Our Allotted Lifetimes. Highly recommended for students and non-specialists alike who have an interest in the various issues and topics arising from the science and development of evolution theories and findings!