Good Intro to Evolution Book?

Jason · Post by **Jason** » 2005-11-15 11:52am

I tried using the search function to see if anything like this was brought up in previous threads, but couldn't really find anything. Can anyone recommend a book that would be a good introduction to evolutionary theory? One that is basically for the general reader, not the biology major.

Also, I already got Ernst Mayr's What Evolution Is and couldn't get too far through - it was simply too poorly written. Any others? Thanks as always.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-11-15 01:12pm

I use Stearns & Hoekstra's: Evolution: An Introduction (like this copy) as my main textbook for the subject. It's quite small, but it covers everything from Darwin's initial thoughts to Fisher's hypothesis and sexual selection and the role of molecular biology in evolution research.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » 2005-11-15 02:45pm

That looks like a good recommendation. Thanks a lot, I'm putting it on my to-buy list.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2005-11-15 02:47pm

I got Orgin of Species on a lark, how easily understandable is it? I'm hoping I can understand it but I'd like to loan it to some people and I want to know how easily readable it is.

Post by **Surlethe** » 2005-11-15 03:05pm

Ace Pace wrote:I got Orgin of Species on a lark, how easily understandable is it? I'm hoping I can understand it but I'd like to loan it to some people and I want to know how easily readable it is.

It's typical Victorian English: highly elaborate, convoluted sentences (though not as much as ... say ... Milton, or Shakespeare); once you get past that, though, and the rather dry style, it's a decent read.