Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more



or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Start reading Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea [Paperback]

Carl Zimmer
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)

List Price: $15.99
Price: $11.98 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $4.01 (25%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 7 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it Thursday, May 23? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Free Two-Day Shipping for College Students with Amazon Student

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $9.78  
Hardcover --  
Paperback $11.98  
Audio, CD, Abridged, Audiobook --  
Rent Your Textbooks
Save up to 70% when you rent your textbooks on Amazon. Keep your textbook rentals for a semester and rental return shipping is free.

Book Description

September 5, 2006 0061138401 978-0061138409

This remarkable book presents a rich and up–to–date view of evolution that explores the far–reaching implications of Darwin's theory and emphasizes the power, significance, and relevance of evolution to our lives today. After all, we ourselves are the product of evolution, and we can tackle many of our gravest challenges –– from lethal resurgence of antiobiotic–resistant diseases to the wave of extinctions that looms before us –– with a sound understanding of the science.


Frequently Bought Together

Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea + At the Water's Edge : Fish with Fingers, Whales with Legs, and How Life Came Ashore but Then Went Back to Sea + Parasite Rex: Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures
Price for all three: $35.44

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

While its opponents may sneer that "it's just a theory," evolution has transcended that label to take its place as one of the most important ideas in human history. Science journalist Carl Zimmer explores its history and future in Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, a companion piece to the epic PBS series of the same name. The book, lavishly illustrated with photos of our distant cousins, anatomical diagrams, and timelines, is as beautiful as it is enlightening. While those closely following the field will find little more here than a well-written summation of the state of the art in 2001, readers who have watched the evolutionary debates from a distance will quickly catch up with the details of the principal arguments.

Zimmer's text is fresh and expansive, explaining both the minutiae of comparative anatomy and the grand scale of geological time with verve and clarity. Following the trend of turn-of-the-century evolution writers, he treats the religious beliefs of creationists with respect, while firmly insisting that the scientific evidence against their position is too compelling to ignore. Touching on biology, philosophy, theology, politics, and nearly every other field of human thought, Evolution will inspire its readers with the elegance and importance of Darwin's simple theory. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

This volume is the companion piece for an eight-hour PBS documentary of the same name, scheduled to be aired in September. Science writer Zimmer (At the Water's Edge) does a superb job of providing a sweeping overview of most of the topics critical to understanding evolution, presenting his material from both a historical and a topical perspective. He summarizes the changing scientific views of geology and genetics, for example, while discussing the implications modern evolutionary theory might have for agriculture and medicine. With chapters dealing with difficult and often controversial subjects including Charles Darwin's life and his struggle to bring his concept of evolution before the public; the evolution of sex; patterns of human evolution and the importance of language in the rise of humans; the role humans have played and continue to play in the extinction of species; and the fallacies of "creation science" it is not surprising that a great deal of information is either glossed over or omitted entirely. Yet the writing is clear and concise, the text is carefully presented (with b&w and color illustrations throughout) and a respectably substantial Stephen Jay Gould introduction starts things off nicely. (Oct.)Forecast: The series should certainly move units on its own, particularly via the PBS Web site. But a seven-city author tour, 25-city radio campaign, display easels and other promotional gambits will help the book and the series considerably. Though it may not be a breakout title, very respectable sales can be expected among PBS regulars.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Perennial (September 5, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061138401
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061138409
  • Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write books about science. Nature fascinates me, as does its history.

So far, I've written twelve books, including Parasite Rex and The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution. In addition to my books, I also write regularly about science for The New York Times, as well as for magazines including National Geographic and Wired. I've won awards for my work from the National Academies of Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. My blog, The Loom, is published by National Geographic Magazine (http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/blog/the-loom).

Customer Reviews

This book is well written and very informative. W. Kline  |  28 reviewers made a similar statement
I am confident the human race will survive bacterial/viral evolution. john robinson  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 90 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb and thorough March 17, 2002
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Evolution the Triumph of an Idea is a superbly written synthesis of the theory of evolution and its history. The author, Carl Zimmer, is a science journalist rather than a professional anthropologist, geologist or historian, which means that the book is eminently readable. It is also well researched with an extensive bibliography for each chapter. While it is clearly enough framed for the average reader without a background in the subject, it also presents enough new information to keep the serious student of the topic interested as well.

Although the volume was intended to accompany a PBS series on evolution, it would make an excellent source text for a high school or college survey course on the subject, as it covers the theory, the data supporting it, the newer thoughts on human evolution, the issues of ecology and conservation, and the character of science. It even touches upon the issue of God and science.

As an overview, Part 1 covers the autobiographical history of Darwin and the metamorphosis of his theory and the intellectual and emotional environment into which it was introduced. Part 2 introduces the actual theory and how the web of life has come to exist as it does. It also discusses the impact of human activity on the natural world and what the likely outcome will be if we persist in pursuing our present behavior with respect to the environment. Part 3 describes the coevolution of species and its impacts on relationships such as those in agriculture: natural plants, bioengineered plants, and insect and microbial pests. It also discusses the probable origin of some of the human diseases, the use and abuse of antibiotics, and the rise of antibiotic resistant superbugs and AIDES. Part 4 contains some of the most pertinent information in that it points out the risks of dropping the subject of evolution from the core curricula of the nation's high schools.

In his defense of evolution, Zimmer points out that it is not simply a theory of biology that is at stake, but the scientific method itself. Some of my favorite quotes from Part 4 are: 1) "The scientific method does not claim that events can have only natural causes but that the only causes that we can understand scientifically are natural ones. As powerful as the scientific method may be, it must be mute about things beyond its scope. Supernatural forces are, by definition, above the laws of nature, and thus beyond the scope of science (p. 332)." And 2) "When microbiologists study an outbreak of resistant tuberculosis, they do not research the possibility that it is an act of God. When astrophysicists try to figure out the sequence of events by which a primordial cloud condensed into our solar system, they do not simply draw a big box between the hazy cloud and the well-formed planets and write inside it, `Here a miracle happened.' When meteorologists fail to predict the path of a hurricane, they do not claim that God's will pushed it off course (p. 333)." And finally 3) "Science cannot simply cede the unknown in nature to the divine. If it did, there would be no science at all. As University of Chicago geneticist Jerry Coyne puts it, `If the history of science shows us anything, it is that we get nowhere by labeling our ignorance `God'`(p. 333)."

As we get closer and closer to bringing about a total collapse of the environment of which we are an integral part, it behooves us to come to a clearer understanding of how our biosphere came to exist, how the various parts of it interrelate, and how our tinkering with it can have disastrous consequences. The teaching and learning of evolutionary theory is an important part of that understanding. This book helps further that goal.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
49 of 52 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Evolution - Review November 10, 2001
Format:Hardcover
I really liked this book. It is written from a perspective that anyone with reasonable intelligence can make sense of (which leaves out the fundamentalists that have reviewed this book). With the possible exception of the detail given about molecular evolution (DNA, RNA, etc), this book is an easy read.

I appreciated the historical perspective regarding Darwin in the first couple chapters. The description of Darwin's own mental evolution was fascinating. As the fact of evolution became evident in the myriad of evidence he was facing, he became conflicted because of the implications involved, but only mildly. He overcame his reservations about the storm of protest he knew was coming and published anyway. Burying the truth is the province of Christian fundamentalists, and as a first-rate scientist, Darwin wanted no part of that.

The book proceeds at a good pace and is generously sprinkled with photographs and diagrams. The book also proceeds in a very logical order that is easy to follow. I found the discussion of bacterial and viral evolution very interesting but also very disturbing. I am confident the human race will survive bacterial/viral evolution. Unfortunately, I suspect Zimmer is correct in being concerned that the effects of this microbial nightmare is going to have a devastating effect on humanity before it is resolved.

The narrative addresses many of the Christian fundamentalist objections to evolution and natural selection throughout the book (whale evolution, Cambrian explosion, radiometric dating, etc.). But Zimmer does not speak to fundamentalist dogma specifically until the very last chapter. The fundamentalists that have reviewed this book and even the leading proponents of intelligent design proceed from a pre-school level understanding of what science is, let alone what evolution and natural selection are.

The reviewer that suggested hank hanegraff's book on evolution betrays her ignorance in suggesting that his book is worth reading at all. It is no more than the rantings of a blatant fundamentalist evangelist who knows nothing of evolution. The reviewer that quoted Gould as having said "Whales and many other large animals appeared suddenly during the Cambrian explosion" is displaying ignorance at best but more likely is deliberately lying. Gould never said such a thing.

I highly recommend reading this book.

Was this review helpful to you?
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Done October 3, 2001
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
There are more technical books out there but this one makes the workings of evolution accessible to everyone. It presents the overwhelming evidence for evolution in simple well written language and is well illustrated. I especially enjoyed the cover photo showing the variety of eyes found in nature, from the simplest to the most complex. The recent discovery of even more transitional whale fossils, adds to those presented in this book and shows how little by little the evidence has amassed over the century. It's tragic that so many people have no idea how well supported evolution is. I hope this book finds its way into every school and helps everyone see the beauty of it and of science.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read if you want to know where we came from
This one is a paperback version without any pictures or illustrations. I would like the hardcover one which no longer available in book stores. Read more
Published 19 days ago by catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book of evolution's history
As you may expect from Carl Zimmer, this is a great book covering the history of evolution from pre-Darwin to our days.
Published 28 days ago by Isidro Rodriguez
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Text on Evolution
This is certainly without a doubt another great book by Carl Zimmer. This is the second book I have read of his; I also read The Water's Edge which is another fantastic book on... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Randolph Eck
5.0 out of 5 stars Very easy to read
This book makes a complex subject very easy to understand. Great read for anyone wanting to understand natural selection and how well substantiated it is in real science. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeff M
5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down
I cannot imagine a more informative, thurough, and complete book on evolution than Carl Zimmer's Triumph of An Idea. Read more
Published 16 months ago by BigBenya
5.0 out of 5 stars my favorite book on the subject
This book is crystal clear even to the novice, it's beautifully written, and maybe the most compelling book on the subject I've read. Read more
Published 17 months ago by R. SAYERS
3.0 out of 5 stars A very good introduction to evolutionary biology
Overall, this book is a very good introduction to evolutionary biology. The book does touch on Richard Dawkins' idea that memes evolve through a natural process, but the book is... Read more
Published 17 months ago by S.E. Estebo
3.0 out of 5 stars ##### *SIGH!!!!!* #####
This was my comment on John Robinson's review of this book.... no offense, John! :) I'm just here like the rest of us, blabbing my brain.. hope life's good on your end!! Read more
Published 21 months ago by S. Farmer
5.0 out of 5 stars "Triumph" is Right!
Filled with enough broad information to make the reader very familiar with the theory of evolution, while written in an easily approachable manner, "Evolution: The Triumph of an... Read more
Published 22 months ago by LeeHoFooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant beginner's guide
A lot went right with this book, but for me its biggest strength (as a science beginner who wants to learn more) is its focus on the actual science, rather than the debate about... Read more
Published on April 5, 2011 by Jacky Chen
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Forums

Topic From this Discussion
Scientific Proofs of God Are Appearing
How are photons proof of God, and what on earth is "the spiritual light of God?" And don't try that tired old argument "This (insert any natural phenomenon here) can't be what scientists say it is, therefore it must be God!" It's OK with me if you believe in God, but don't... Read more
Jan 16, 2008 by M. E. Gladney |  See all 10 posts
Have something you'd like to share about this product?
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions


So You'd Like to...



Look for Similar Items by Category