An Urchin In The Storm [Audio Cassette]

Stephen Jay Gould (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1990

In this collection of essays, first published in the New York Review of Books, Stephen Jay Gould proves once again why he has been called the finest science essayist of our age. Ranging as far as the fox and as deep as the hedgehog (the urchin of the title), Gould fashions for the reader a coherent and rational world view, the view of an evolutionist committed to understanding the curious pathways of history.

Gould's special gift lies in his ability to answer the question "Why?" Of all the questions man can propound himself, this is surely the most difficult and profound.

"No one knows more about Darwin and evolution than Gould does. No one writes more clearly on these subjects than Gould does. No one is better equipped to deal with fallacies in this field than Gould is. This collection of reviews is the proof." --Isaac Asimov

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

6 1.5-hour cassettes

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape, Inc. (May 1, 1990)
• ISBN-10: 0736617523
• ISBN-13: 978-0736617529
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,507,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good series of essays, December 26, 2003

By 

Avid Reader (Franklin, Tn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Urchin In The Storm (Audio Cassette)

Gould regularly publishes collections of his quirky but erudite essays which he has eiher written for publication or presented to an audience. The topics covered are the ones he always covers but that does not distract from their excellence or interest. There are discussions about life, evolution in all its variations, several storiettes on particular aspects of the biological kingdom - wasps, trees and urchins.

Once he leaves the scientific world and ventures into the cultural wars, the writing becomes murkier. In his efforts to promote a one-size-fits-all human culture, he often ignores specific traits of subcultures. In his belief on the inherent potential quality of all humans, he discounts (and continues to discount) findings that suggest some groups are smarter than others. He often selects easy targest for his disdain: Rural creationists, UFO nuts, believers in Big Foot, etc. where little effort is required to explain the absurdities of such groups.

One point, perhaps the most salient one made in the entire book, is that nature and evolution limited similarity thereby bestowing on us a multitude of species rather than variations of just a few. All in all, a good read.