| Date: 28 April 2011, 05:40
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Evolution
By Mark Ridley
* Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
* Number Of Pages: 792
* Publication Date: 2003-11-14
* ISBN-10 / ASIN: 1405103450
* ISBN-13 / EAN: 9781405103459
Product Description:
Text tells the story of evolution, from the history of the study to the most recent developments in evolutionary theory. For undergraduate students. Previous edition: c1996. Softcover. DLC: Evolution (Biology).
Review
This is one of the best and certainly the most complete and up–to–date evolutionary textbooks in the market. This book has undergone extensive and welcome upgrading in the successive editions, since I have seen the earlier editions. Though it is comprehensive, it is easily followable by the students. The author is well known in the field and that is a big plus point.
The pedagogical aids are very good, with chapter opening outlines, summaries and questions, etc. The colour plates are very good, and the associated website is also quite useful. Hence, we are taking this valuable book as additional required reading.–V. Lakshminarayanan
"...this book certainly provides a good solid and up–to–date foundation to the subject of Evolution and one that I think students will find easy to use." Nick Colegrave, University of Edinburgh, in Genetic Research, May 2004
Nick Colegrave, University of Edinburgh, in Genetic Research, May 2004 "Provides a good solid and up-to-date foundation to Evolution and
one that I think students will find easy to use."
Summary: A must read
Rating: 5
I am an amateur (an equity investor by profession) with deep interest in evolutionary biology. I have been doing a lot of reading by Dawkins, Gould, Carroll and others on evolution. But I had always wanted to read a book that encapsulated all the basic principles of evolution, and also laid out various points of view of experts. For example, when one reads Gould and Dawkins on punctuated equilibrium, it is hard to reach a point of view given their extreme positions.
Mark Ridley has done an amazing job of this encapsulation. Apart from being exhaustive and informative, I liked a few other things about the book that seemed insignificant in beginning, but enhanced reading pleasure a lot: (1) its ubiquitous references to specific page numbers and sections when discussing a concept that enables to reader to stay updated and current with the vast range of topics covered. For example, if he discusses postzygotic isolation in Chapter 23, just to remind us what it means, he will make a reference to Chapter 12 (page X, section Y) where it was initially discussed, (2) he discusses many contemporary and interesting issues in a "box" format in various chapters, (3) the chapters are short and one gets a sense of accomplishment after finishing one, (4) there is a great section on conclusion, and another one on summary after each chapter - a great idea that very few authors implement, (5) the reading list at the end of each chapter is very well explained.
Overall, I am very happy that I bought this book, and it is riddled with my notes on the pages (that have ample space for people like me who like to scribble!).
Summary: My opinion about Ridley Evolution
Rating: 4
A great book for Evolution topics. It can be read easily and has good and clear information.
Summary: An absolute inspiration
Rating: 5
I always thought biology was no more than stamp collecting and memorization of names in a dead language. This book changed my mind. The book is thoughtful, full of examples and results from other studies. The writing is smooth and easy to understand. I particularly like the part on evolutionary genetics. Here Ridley made the insights from evolution theory rigorous by introducing some simple models from population genetics. Simple yet rigorous. Anyone with highschool math can understand.
I think it's a very good place to start when you want to learn more beyond those popular science books on evolution.
Summary: Superb
Rating: 5
The price of this book is well worth it -- A book of this nature is no small task to assemble. Broad in scope, Ridley had done a very thorough job on comprehensively covering technical topics, leaving out opinion and covering subjects from multiple perspectives.
However, it is a fairly technical read, and lengthy, which should only be undertaken by those who take the subject seriously. Each topic has a multitude of citations and the chapters end with recommendations for further reading. A true work of scientific literature by an author who cares about educating his reader.
Summary: A thorough and clear book
Rating: 5
I have used this book through my undergraduate and early graduate years and have been very pleased with the layout, the content, and the writing. I would recommend this text to anyone who has taken a first year biology course and wants or needs to learn more on the background for much of the current work in evolutionary science.
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