One of the twentieth century's great paleontologists and science writers, Stephen Jay Gould was, for Bruce S. Lieberman and Niles Eldredge, also a close colleague, mentor, and friend. In Macroevolutionaries, they take up the tradition of Gould's acclaimed essays on natural history, offering a series of wry and insightful reflections on the fields to which they have devoted their careers.
Lieberman and Eldredge explore the major features of evolution, or "macroevolution," examining key issues in paleontology and their links to popular culture, philosophy, music, and the history of science. They focus on topics such as punctuated equilibria, mass extinctions, and the history of life—with detours including trilobites, Hollywood stuntmen, coywolves, birdwatching, and New Haven-style pizza. Lieberman and Eldredge's essays showcase their deep knowledge of the fossil record and keen appreciation of the arts and culture while touching on different aspects of Gould's life and work. Ultimately, they show why Gould's writings and perspective are still relevant today, following his lead in using the natural history essay to articulate their view of evolutionary theory and its place in contemporary life. At once thought-provoking and entertaining, Macroevolutionaries is for all readers interested in paleontology, evolutionary biology, and Gould's literary and scientific legacy.
Industry Reviews
Two of Steven Jay Gould's colleagues have written a book that reminds us of his many contributions. They do it with flair, tying evolution to art, music, and plenty of pop culture-much as did Gould. A lively portrayal of recent theory in evolutionary biology and the people who shaped it. -- Eugenie C. Scott, founding executive director, National Center for Science Education
It's been fifty years since Stephen Jay Gould and fellow 'musketeers' took on the Darwinian paradigm by proposing new ways of thinking about fossils and evolution. Macroevolutionaries tells the story of their campaign from the inside, illustrating how the scientists and their ideas interacted with wider social developments. If you want to know why the evolution of trilobites and trumpets follow the same pattern, read on. -- Peter J. Bowler, author of Progress Unchained: Ideas of Evolution, Human History, and the Future
Two eminent scientists-Bruce S. Lieberman and Niles Eldredge-present their personal journeys through the wondrous land of the history of life. On this journey, they reflect on the themes and works of their late colleague, Stephen Jay Gould, who is still a major inspiration for all scholars and enthusiasts of the natural world. In a series of thirteen entertaining and revealing essays that are accessible for a general reader, they explore the nuances of the evolution of life and culture. -- Andrej Spiridonov, Vilnius University
Macroevolutionaries interweaves evolutionary biology, pop culture, and personal narrative in a way only Lieberman and Eldredge can do. Two (r)evolutionary "Musketeers" who've been at the forefront of evolutionary theory themselves, they provide a behind-the-scenes view into the science, the people, and thought processes that have formed the foundation of major theories and concepts like Punctuated Equilibria, historical contingency, and volatility. Anyone interested in biology or the history of science should want to read this book! -- Emily Casanova, Loyola University New Orleans
