Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species is probably the best-known, least-read book. One of the most important achievements of the past millennium, it did for biology what Galileo did for astronomy: made it into a single science rather than a collection of unrelated facts. Important though Origin remains, its examples and intricate Victorian prose are now a century and a half old. They are ripe for renewal and reaffirmation. Writing as "Darwin's ghost," eminent geneticist Steve Jones updates this seminal work--and restates evolution's case for the 21st century.

Jones is a writer of engaging wit and dazzling erudition and has been called "the British Carl Sagan." Using modern examples--the AIDS virus, the puzzles of sexual selection, the physiology and psychology of pets, and the unparalleled genetic success of our own species--he shows the power and immediacy of Darwin's great argument and makes us appreciate how it makes life make sense. Eye-opening and entertaining, filled with astonishing facts, amusing anecdotes, and the very latest research, Darwin's Ghost is contemporary science writing at its very best.

Author: Steve Jones
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 04/03/2001
Pages: 416
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.32h x 6.20w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780345422774


Review Citation(s):
New York Times 04/29/2001 pg. 24

About the Author
Steve Jones is Professor of Genetics at University College London and has worked at universities in the U.S., Australia and Africa. His previous books include The Language of the Genes and In the Blood.