An Urchin in the Storm: Essays About Books and Ideas [Hardcover]

Stephen Jay Gould (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1987

Here, Gould revels in life's complexity, attacking as he always has the bitter fruits of biological determinism and praising reason. In doing so, he awakens all of us to the pretty pebbles of evolutionary fact and thought. Illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As a Darwinian biologist, Harvard scientist Gould has waged an ongoing battle with those who oversimplify evolutionary theory. He reminds us that understanding how an organism now functions may not explain why it evolved as it did. And when the organism in question is the human being, Darwin must sometimes yield to Lamarck, Gould freely admits, since we hand down cultural traits directly to our offspring. In this collection of reviews reprinted from the New York Review of Books, the author of Ever Since Darwin takes aim at sociobiology ("cardboard Darwinism") and the racialist theories of Arthur Jensen. He takes shots at Jeremy Rifkin, noted opponent of Darwinism and of genetic engineering. Gould argues that the scientific establishment's rejection of Barbara McClintock, forerunner of molecular genetics, had as much to do with her idiosyncrasies as with the fact that she was a woman.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Unlike Gould's previous books of skillfully turned essays, this is a collection of reviews. In some cases, such as the biographies of Just and McClintock, Gould doesn't so much review the books as reflect on their subject matter; it is frequently difficult to tell where Gould ends and the book under review begins. Other reviews, such as those of Kitcher's Vaulting Ambition and Jensen's Bias in Mental Testing, are vigorous critical appraisals using specialized terminology and subtle distinctions to discuss evolutionary theory. Unlike Gould's other essays, these do not stand independent of the books they review and consequently are not as accessible to general readers. A good addition to research collections but not essential for general ones. Susan Klimley, Columbia Univ. Lib .
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc; 1st edition (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039302492X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393024920
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,683,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002) was the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Professor of Geology at Harvard University. He published over twenty books, received the National Book and National Book Critics Circle Awards, and a MacArthur Fellowship.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Urchin in the Storm, July 23, 2002

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: An Urchin in the Storm: Essays About Books and Ideas (Paperback)

An Urchin in the Storm by Stephen Jay Gould is about books and ideas, but more so about writing, thinking and study in method.

An Urchin in the Storm is divided into five different sections. The first two sections of this book group reviews that discuss the irreductibility of history, along the way the pleasures and challenges of contingency, in its two principle domains of life and the earth. The first section on evolution focuses upon structuralist and hisoricist alternatives. While the second, explains nature's complexity, (Evolutionary Theory, Time and Geology).

The third section of this book explores the theory and consequences, both political and intellectual, of biological determinism. The fourth section deals with "Four Biologists." While the fifth works with "In Praise of Reason." As we read on throughout this book, Gould makes his point and scores, as he exposes fallacies, expands on geology, give thought to biological determinism, and gives the reader a clearer picture of evolutionary theory.

This is a fascinating little book, as Gould works through this little tome, like the urchin, always presenting a tough exterior and continues to prickle the enemy.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars splendid, rich essays full of humanism and depth, July 10, 2005

By 

Robert J. Crawford (Balmette Talloires, France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Urchin in the Storm: Essays About Books and Ideas (Paperback)

These essays, many of which appeared in New York Review of Books, contain some of Gould's finest writing. What makes it very fun is the way he critiques the ideas of others while telling stories and analysing their perspective. If you want a critical vantage on sociobiology, this is a great place to start. You can also read a wonderful review of Turning Point by Frijof Capra, which Gould finds wanting because it is full of assertions that are ultimately unproven. I would agree, but I did see a lot of merit in Capra's ideas of holistic science as well, which represented a precurser to complexity theory. Then there is Gould's trenchent critique of Jeremy Rifkin, whom he says lacks integrity because of his scientific sloppiness and the tendentiousness of his many errors - interesting because one would imagine they would be on the same side on many issues. Through it all, Gould appears as a tolerant spirit, advancing his perspective while respecting that of others with a critical gaze.

Of course, there is Gould's inimitable style: so graceful and flowing that each is like a succulent hors d'oeuvre or some variety of Turkish delight. I honestly think that the quality of this writing is on a par with Emerson or Thoreau. It is the profoundest of literary talents.

Warmly recommended. He was one of our very very best.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Violently Devoted to Good Biology, January 24, 2010

By 

Jedidiah Palosaari "Not My Real Name" (Fes, Morocco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Urchin in the Storm: Essays About Books and Ideas (Paperback)

As I sat down to read this, I was disappointed to discover that it was less a collection of essays than reviews, for Gould is at his best when writing natural history essays. Still, many of the reviews lapsed into essay, as he used the authors' books to free-verse his own thoughts, as well as commenting on their writing abilities.

Gould is consistently suitably humble in his approach to these other authors, knowing that he himself writes and is reviewed. If you weed through the irrelevant data on books written decades ago that no one any longer reads, there are some great gems in Urchin, deep thoughts that reveal the real nature of science, biology, and evolution. I have found it helpful to use certain quotes in the classroom to help my students understand what science truly is. In particular I was pleased to see McPhee's Basin and Range, a book that I fell in love with in Prothero's Geology classes in college, for it was so exquisitely written and accurate in describing the geology of the American Mountain West. I also enjoyed Gould's rightful take-down of Jeremy Rifkin in Algeny. Back in high-school debates on genetic engineering, I often ran into Rifkin's name, used whenever an opponent wanted a quote from someone who opposed biotechnology- whether or not the one quoted had real qualifications. Rifkin is a pseudo-scientific hack who has opposed any advances in biotechnology for decades using populist anti-science sentiments. I am pleased to see Gould pointing out the man's numerous flaws in thinking.

Stephen Jay Gould loved biology. He loved science, and evolution, and logical thinking. This is his unquenchionable pursuit throughout his life, and throughout this book. His joy comes out in his writing. This was perhaps most clear to me in his discussion of a quote by McPhee. "All of geology can be summarized in one sentence. The top of Mount Everest is made of marine limestone."

Take a moment, pause, contemplate what that means, and enjoy the delight of discovery with Gould.