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Product Description
There are few stories more remarkable than the evolution of life on earth. This Very Short Introduction presents a succinct guide to the key episodes in that story - from the very origins of life four million years ago to the extraordinary diversity of species around the globe today. Beginning with an explanation of the controversies surrounding the birth of life itself, each following chapter tells of a major breakthrough that made new forms of life possible: including sex and multicellularity, hard skeletons, and the move to land. Along the way, we witness the greatest mass extinction, the first forests, the rise of modern ecosystems, and, most recently, conscious humans. Introducing ideas from a range of scientific disciplines, from evolutionary biology and earth history, to geochemistry, palaeontology, and systematics, Michael Benton explains how modern science pieces the evidence in this vast evolutionary puzzle together, to build up an accessible and up-to-date picture of the key developments in the history of life on earth.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was very impressed by this book which gave me exactly what I needed from an introductory text.
Covering the four billion year development of life on Earth in 160 pages is, to say the least, no easy task. But Michael Benton succeeds in picking out key themes and milestones without appearing superficial. He is particularly good at highlighting current debates and uncertainties, drawing attention to just how much evidence on the big issues has emerged over the last few years. This helps bring alive what could, in other hands, be a rather dull sequence of distant geological periods and fossils with tongue-twistingly strange names. For those with an eye to the future rather than past, the chapter on the End-Permian Mass Extinction is as chilling an account of climate change as you will find.
I did feel that some of the later parts of the book were a little too compressed, perhaps as a page limit loomed, and the publishers might have chosen more effective illustrations. And a list of further reading would have helped. But these are minor criticisms of a really handy little work that does "exactly what it says on the tin".
Covering the four billion year development of life on Earth in 160 pages is, to say the least, no easy task. But Michael Benton succeeds in picking out key themes and milestones without appearing superficial. He is particularly good at highlighting current debates and uncertainties, drawing attention to just how much evidence on the big issues has emerged over the last few years. This helps bring alive what could, in other hands, be a rather dull sequence of distant geological periods and fossils with tongue-twistingly strange names. For those with an eye to the future rather than past, the chapter on the End-Permian Mass Extinction is as chilling an account of climate change as you will find.
I did feel that some of the later parts of the book were a little too compressed, perhaps as a page limit loomed, and the publishers might have chosen more effective illustrations. And a list of further reading would have helped. But these are minor criticisms of a really handy little work that does "exactly what it says on the tin".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The history of life is a very fascinating subject, with an almost universal appeal. And yet, life itself is scientifically a very complex phenomenon that could fill up libraries worth of books. As such, it is quite remarkable that a succinct book like this one would be even attempted, leave alone published. Michael Benton is commended for accomplishing in this very short introduction to take us along life's evolutionary trajectory and systematize and explain the origins of many major branches in ever changing tree of life. The book is extremely enjoyable to read, and on one level it reads almost as a crime novel: you are constantly wondering what comes next, and what do the clues from paleontology, geology and other disciplines tell us about the particular life forms that arose and perhaps vanished millions or billions of years ago. The view of life that the book presents is the one of progression towards more and more complex life forms, which has fallen out of favor with most evolutionary biologists. It is true that every new life form is just trying to find another suitable niche in the ever-changing ecosystem, but it should also not be overlooked that the complexity of life has increased throughout the history. In a sense Michael Benton is unapologetic in presenting that view, which only adds to the overall readability of this book. Whether you have been studying life for many years or are completely new to the subject, this would be a great book to read. I highly recommend it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've got 40 of these great little books now and they are an excellent way to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. This one is no exception and describes what went before us and how we arrived. We really are insignificant creatures in the great scheme of things!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Makes you start believe in God!
I am more of a science person and I do believe in evolution. But this book puts life in such perspective that it makes you wonder - Wow, this sounds almost impossible :) So... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Casual reader
A useful introduction to current knowledge
The author, Professor Michael Benton (Palaeontologist) does a good job in describing the history of life as currently understood in just 166 fairly short pages. Read more
Published 12 months ago by RMB
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