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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Read the Preface last!, 4 Nov 2003
Gould's passing is a loss to essay writing. No-one ever faulted Gould for the wide reach of his interests. As with most of his previous collections of the columns he wrote for Natural History magazine, the spectrum covered here is spacious in both time and topic. From syphilis to spandrels, he uses his writing talents to reveal, explain, bemuse and provoke the reader. As the final collection of these commentaries, the title is appropriate in many ways. Even here, Gould exhibits his adroit phrasing - some readers thought it was derived from the Apollo 1969 Lunar landing, not the record of an immigrant coming ashore at New York a century ago. Gould touches on this "landing" so often that his reputed bridling at being edited shows as a misplaced conceit. Readers may wander through this collection at random without loss. With eight main divisions, selection should be easy. The topics listed however, are anything but intuitive. Instead, they represent his - part of his - clever language manipulation. Each reader must select preferences - each reviewer will disclose theirs here. Whatever subject is addressed, you are guaranteed to be confronted with new ideas while enhancing your vocabulary. Some of the new ideas may seem arcane, or obscure. Ironies abound in this collection. The essay on J.F Blumenbach, for example, one of the early classifiers of race, follows a twisted path. You are told the origins of "Causcasian" to describe Europeans. At the same time you are given a stern lecture on preconceived notions when reporting data. By the end of the essay you aren't certain whether to admire Blumenbach or revile him. Gould becomes caught up in many ironies of his own making. While promoting his stance as a staunch defender of Darwin, here, as in other collections, he never fails to take a swipe at the naturalist. Darwin is castigated for his racist views, his demeaning of women and his elitist social position. Gould also, predictably, unleashes his well-worn lash to flail that equus mortus - "reductionism". Like the emperor's robe, a close look reveals its absence. These are old themes to the regular Gould reader and we mustn't chasten too harshly. There's comfort in the familiar. The four concluding essays on the World Trade Centre assault reinforce the need for stronger editing. While we in Canada are gratified that Gould found welcome refuge in Halifax, four repetitive essays only dull the impact of the event. These, however, may prepare the reader for that you were advised to bypass - the Preface. Someone who has worked diligently for so many years ceaselessly producing articles of consummate interest with originality and skill deserves a bit of boast. Gould was anything but lazy. Given the vast research and his sharing of interests with us, he deserves our applause. Yet, the Preface to this book, even at the end of a notable career, is more than a little overbearing. That's why it should be saved until last. Readership of this book is split between the long-term Gould fans and the newcomers who are just getting acquainted with this famous essayist. The fan will know what to expect, but the beginner should proceed with caution. As a starting point for novice Gouldians, this is dubious at best. Start with earlier books and work up to this one.
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