Evolution: Auction Design in Markets with Complex Constraints
By Donald R. Prothero and Carl Buell
4.5/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
Over the past twenty years, paleontologists have made tremendous fossil discoveries, including fossils that mark the growth of whales, manatees, and seals from land mammals and the origins of elephants, horses, and rhinos. Today there exists an amazing diversity of fossil humans, suggesting we walked upright long before we acquired large brains, and new evidence from molecules that enable scientists to decipher the tree of life as never before.
The fossil record is now one of the strongest lines of evidence for evolution. In this engaging and richly illustrated book, Donald R. Prothero weaves an entertaining though intellectually rigorous history out of the transitional forms and series that dot the fossil record. Beginning with a brief discussion of the nature of science and the "monkey business of creationism," Prothero tackles subjects ranging from flood geology and rock dating to neo-Darwinism and macroevolution. He covers the ingredients of the primordial soup, the effects of communal living, invertebrate transitions, the development of the backbone, the reign of the dinosaurs, the mammalian explosion, and the leap from chimpanzee to human. Prothero pays particular attention to the recent discovery of "missing links" that complete the fossil timeline and details the debate between biologists over the mechanisms driving the evolutionary process.
Evolution is an absorbing combination of firsthand observation, scientific discovery, and trenchant analysis. With the teaching of evolution still an issue, there couldn't be a better moment for a book clarifying the nature and value of fossil evidence. Widely recognized as a leading expert in his field, Prothero demonstrates that the transformation of life on this planet is far more awe inspiring than the narrow view of extremists.
Donald R. Prothero
Donald R. Prothero specializes in physics, planetary sciences, astronomy, earth sciences, and vertebrate paleontology. He has taught for more than thirty years at the college level, including at Columbia, Knox, Pierce, Vassar, and the California Institute of Technology. He has authored or edited more than three hundred scientific papers and thirty books, including Giants of the Lost World: Dinosaurs and Other Extinct Monsters of South America.
Read more from Donald R. Prothero
After the Dinosaurs: The Age of Mammals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weird Earth: Debunking Strange Ideas About Our Planet Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Abominable Science!: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Abominable Science!: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reality Check: How Science Deniers Threaten Our Future Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Evolution: Auction Design in Markets with Complex Constraints Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens: What Science Says Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Story of Life in 25 Fossils: Tales of Intrepid Fossil Hunters and the Wonders of Evolution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGreenhouse of the Dinosaurs: Evolution, Extinction, and the Future of Our Planet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bringing Fossils to Life: An Introduction to Paleobiology Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related to Evolution
Related ebooks
Evolution: Auction Design in Markets with Complex Constraints Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Commonsense Darwinism: Evolution, Morality, and the Human Condition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPolitical Descent: Malthus, Mutualism, and the Politics of Evolution in Victorian England Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Emergent God: The Urgent Need for a Science Manifesto Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvolution And God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGalileos Shadow: The Theory Evolution in the United States Courts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEureka Moments in Science and Religion: Stroke of Genius and Leap of Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Three Failures of Creationism: Logic, Rhetoric, and Science Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Evidence of Science Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Collapse of Evolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Origin of Life On the Earth: An Historical Account of Scientific Thought Part I - From the beginning of time until 1900 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvolution: An Investigation and a Critique Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPhilosophy after Darwin: Classic and Contemporary Readings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBones of Contention: A Creationist Assessment of Human Fossils Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Scientific Feuds: From Galileo to the Human Genome Project Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Make the Break: If You Can Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Galileo's Gout: Science in an Age of Endarkenment Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5God's Planet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Truth about Science and Religion: From the Big Bang to Neuroscience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLens to the Natural World: Reflections on Dinosaurs, Galaxies, and God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Efforts of Christian Religious Fundamentalists In Opposing the Teaching of Evolution In American Public Schools Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCreation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnimal Rights: A Historical Anthology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution Is Wrong Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvolution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Restoration of Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStalking the Subject: Modernism and the Animal Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Evolution of Man Scientifically Disproved in 50 Arguments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Technology & Engineering For You
The Art of War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Night to Remember: The Sinking of the Titanic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 48 Laws of Power in Practice: The 3 Most Powerful Laws & The 4 Indispensable Power Principles Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of Hacks: 264 Amazing DIY Tech Projects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Systems Thinker: Essential Thinking Skills For Solving Problems, Managing Chaos, Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Right Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of Maker Skills: Tools & Techniques for Building Great Tech Projects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/580/20 Principle: The Secret to Working Less and Making More Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The CIA Lockpicking Manual Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Disappear and Live Off the Grid: A CIA Insider's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBroken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Total Inventor's Manual: Transform Your Idea into a Top-Selling Product Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The ChatGPT Millionaire Handbook: Make Money Online With the Power of AI Technology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: for Tests Given Between July 2018 and June 2022 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Total Motorcycling Manual: 291 Essential Skills Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Fast Track to Your Technician Class Ham Radio License: For Exams July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2026 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It's Doing to Us Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Logic Pro X For Dummies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wuhan Cover-Up: And the Terrifying Bioweapons Arms Race Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for Evolution
42 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A detailed look at the fossil record, in an attempt to answer the challenge that there are no transitional fossils, or that the fossils show a pattern other than evolution. The author avoids most of the dense jargon that could make such a book inaccessible to the lay audience it is aimed at; he explains the concepts well, and includes a great many drawings, as well as black-and-white and color photos. The focus is on the Animal kingdom; the transitional fossils in plants and other groups are not included. The book loses half a star for the assumptions it makes on religion; assuming that the creationists are "Christians" and not Christians because their theology differs from what you learned in Sunday School as a child is not legitimate; the sneer quotes suggest that the author is competent to determine what proper Christian belief is. To dismiss the creationists as though they are wrong about their Christian belief is to ignore the reality that Christianity is a multi-faceted belief system, and there appears to be no one right way of being a Christian. Other than that, a good outing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I've somewhere between 60-100 books covering the subjects of Evolution and Paleontology, and this is the most comprehensive of the bunch. It veers a little into the technical in the middle sections for a casual read, but is always clear and understandable. This is a great book! Prothero also takes a lot of time to explain, with devastating detail, the fact that evolution occurred, in stark contrast to the fairytale claims of creationists. How in the world anyone could read this book, with its wealth of supporting literature, photographic and analytical evidence, and come away with a creationist viewpoint is beyond me. It happened, folks. Get used to it. :) Evolution? The fossils say YES!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A very rare occurrence, five out of five stars.First of all I like all the small unimportant things about it. It's a hardback, and a good quality one, with heavy paper and a lovely cover, and colour plates, and nice margins for scribbling notes, and a thorough index and bibliography (breathe). Best of all of these things it has a comprehensive further reading list at the end of every chapter. Joy.Second and, of course, far more important than all that stuff, this guy knows his stuff, isn't afraid of saying when he doesn't know stuff, or isn't sure about stuff, and he has actually done the science stuff (ok well not all of it).Comprehensive coverage of the politics and religion behind the creationist agenda methods and arguments and a comprehensive take down of why they are wrong. An understanding of what science is and how it works shows us that creationists are 'not even wrong' in the sense that they aren't even doing science. A brief history of the brief history of creationism (it is very modern). A tour of fossilisation, dating, 'flood geology', the grand canyon and quote mining followed by a potted history of the evolution of evolution and a list of the main kinds of evidence supporting evolution as a fact of history (aside from fossils) and a quick summary of the current understanding out how it works..But this is just a warm up for Prothero, next he brings out the oft neglected big guns and gives us a comprehensive overview of some of the main lines of fossil evidence supporting the modern synthesis. Diagrams, photos, anecdotes and of course plenty of places to go next if you want to dig deeper. I'm doing a couple of talks to BHA folks later in the year on creationism in the UK and I have found a few gems to work into my talk somewhere. Wit and wisdom, hard facts and open acknowledgement of what we don't know makes him my kind of author.Buy it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A detailed look at the fossil record, in an attempt to answer the challenge that there are no transitional fossils, or that the fossils show a pattern other than evolution. The author avoids most of the dense jargon that could make such a book inaccessible to the lay audience it is aimed at; he explains the concepts well, and includes a great many drawings, as well as black-and-white and color photos. The focus is on the Animal kingdom; the transitional fossils in plants and other groups are not included. The book loses half a star for the assumptions it makes on religion; assuming that the creationists are "Christians" and not Christians because their theology differs from what you learned in Sunday School as a child is not legitimate; the sneer quotes suggest that the author is competent to determine what proper Christian belief is. To dismiss the creationists as though they are wrong about their Christian belief is to ignore the reality that Christianity is a multi-faceted belief system, and there appears to be no one right way of being a Christian. Other than that, a good outing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It is the most complete book I've seen on this topic. You get a hardcover fully illustrated book that likes to be shown on your coffee table for a very reasonable price. Also looks very good on your LibraryThing list.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Evolution, by vertebrate paleontologist Donald Prothero, is a mix of fairly technical overview of vertebrate evolution with polemics against creationism and intelligent design. Prothero has made something of a secondary career out of debating creationists – he learned Greek and Hebrew so he could read the Bible in the original – and is known for upstaging his opponents (he has an ongoing battle with Duane Gish) by going to their lectures, noting the slides and powerpoints they use, then setting up specific refutations in advance (Gish apparently facilitates this by seldom changing his presentation). He’s also very accomplished paleontologists, spending years in the Bighorn Basin and the storage cabinets of the American Museum of Natural History to elucidate the taxonomy of ungulate groups.
The problem I see is Prothero never really picks out a target audience. Prothero’s background at the AMNH is obvious; the museum was the forefront of cladistic taxonomy in North America. Unfortunately it also acquired an “attitude” famous in the community; any taxonomist who didn’t fully accept cladistics was treated with thinly disguised contempt. A little of that carries over into this book; for a work presumably aimed at an intelligent lay audience, Prothero doesn’t really do a good job of explaining how cladistics works. There are a couple of paragraphs on shared derived characteristics but more examples would be beneficial.
A secondary consideration is Prothero is sometimes just plain wrong (well, not up to date at least). For example his chart of animal evolution makes the myriapods the sister group of insects, while the most recent molecular data puts the crustaceans in that position. Prothero notes several times how cladistics reordered traditional phyletic taxonomy, but comes across as if he’s saying “We used to wrong but now we fixed it” rather than “science is continuously updating and refining – and much of what we think we know now will probably be refuted in the future”. Ironically Prothero points out the creationists are in the habit of describing the changes in science as a weakness rather than as strength – I had an online discussion with a YEC who kept naïvely citing examples of scientists not being able to assign an animal to a taxonomic group without realizing that was evidence for evolutionary theory, not against it.
Prothero also lets his impatience with creationists and IDers show a little too much, almost to the point of coming across as petulant rather than professional. His final chapter sees creationism as a major threat to the welfare of America, attributing the decline of American science pre-eminence to it (and with a sideways polemic against the Bush Administration and “the flunkies of the oil industry in Congress” for “foot-dragging” on climate change). There’s one final disquieting note; in his chapter on ungulate evolution – his main area of expertise – he refers readers to his book Horns, Tusks and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Animals – coauthored with Robert M. Schoch. Yes, that Robert M. Schoch, the same guy who believes the Great Sphinx was built by a lost civilization. Well, Schoch is a vertebrate paleontologist, and a respected one, but if you’re going to rail against anti-science creationists who have no expertise in paleontologist you might want to be a little bit careful about getting into bed with somebody like Schoch.
Worth reading if you want an introduction to mammalian paleontology, especially ungulate paleontology. Less useful if you want to debate creationists, although the chapter on the history of Biblical fundamentalism is interesting (I didn’t know that the original fundamentalists were concerned with “higher criticism”, not with evolutionary theory). Extensive bibliography with a mix of paleontological, creationist, and creationist debunking books. Well illustrated.