Items related to Written in Stone (Icon Science)
Synopsis
Darwin’s theory of evolution was for more than a century dogged by a major problem: the evidence proving the connections between the main groups of organisms was nowhere to be found.
By the 1970s this absence of ‘transitional fossils’ was hotly debated; some palaeontologists wondered if these ‘missing links’ had been so quick that no trace of them was left. However, during the past three decades fossils of walking whales from Pakistan, feathered dinosaurs from China, fish with feet from the Arctic Circle, ape-like humans from Africa, and many more bizarre creatures that fill in crucial gaps in our understanding of evolution have all been unearthed.
The first account of the hunt for evolution’s ‘missing links’, Written in Stone shows how these discoveries have revolutionised palaeontology, and explores what its findings might mean for our place on earth.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Brian Switek is a science writer and research associate at the New Jersey State Museum who has done fieldwork on fossils in Utah, Montana, and Wyoming. He has been a frequent guest on the BBC and has written about paleontology for the Smithsonian magazine, London Times, Wired Science, Eureka and elsewhere. He is also the author of the acclaimed science blog Laelaps and Smithsonian magazine’s Dinosaur Tracking.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Beginning with a recently discovered 47-million-year-old primate fossil, Switek effectively and eloquently demonstrates the exponential increase in fossils that have been found since Darwin first published On the Origin of Species. In delightful prose, he blends information about fossil evidence with the scientific debates about how that evidence might be best interpreted. Switek, who writes the Smithsonian's Dinosaur Tracking blog, focuses on evidence for the evolution of major lineages, from reptiles to birds and from fish to tetrapods. He also explains at length how whales, horses, and humans evolved, marshaling compelling fossil evidence and combining it with information from molecular biology; at every step, he makes clear what is still unknown. He underscores that life forms have not "progressed" through evolution to end with Homo sapiens as the highest life form; rather, evolution has produced "a wildly branching tree of life with no predetermined path or endpoint." He superbly shows that "f we can let go of our conceit," we will see the preciousness of life in all its forms. 90 b&w illus. (Nov.) (c)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherIcon Books Ltd
- Publication date2017
- ISBN 10 1785782010
- ISBN 13 9781785782015
- BindingPaperback
- Edition number2
- Number of pages320
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 12.55
Shipping:
US$ 3.50
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Written in Stone: The Hidden Secrets of Fossils & the Story of Life on Earth
Seller: Powell's Bookstores Chicago, ABAA, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Used - Very Good. 2017. 2nd. Paperback. Very Good. Seller Inventory # DD0006760
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone (Icon Science)
Published by
Icon Books Ltd 02/03/2017, 2017
ISBN 10: 1785782010
ISBN 13: 9781785782015
Used
Softcover
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9781785782015
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone (Icon Science)
Published by
Icon Books, United Kingdom, Duxford, 2017
ISBN 10: 1785782010
ISBN 13: 9781785782015
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Darwin's theory of evolution was for more than a century dogged by a major problem: the evidence proving the connections between the main groups of organisms was nowhere to be found. By the 1970s this absence of 'transitional fossils' was hotly debated; some palaeontologists wondered if these 'missing links' had been so quick that no trace of them was left. However, during the past three decades fossils of walking whales from Pakistan, feathered dinosaurs from China, fish with feet from the Arctic Circle, ape-like humans from Africa, and many more bizarre creatures that fill in crucial gaps in our understanding of evolution have all been unearthed. The first account of the hunt for evolution's 'missing links', Written in Stone shows how these discoveries have revolutionised palaeontology, and explores what its findings might mean for our place on earth. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR008839072
Quantity: 4 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone (Icon Science)
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner. Seller Inventory # CHL9767201
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone (Icon Science)
Seller: Eagle Eye Books, Decatur, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Paper Back. Condition: Remainder. Seller Inventory # 714536
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone (Icon Science)
Published by
Icon Books Ltd 02/03/2017, 2017
ISBN 10: 1785782010
ISBN 13: 9781785782015
Used
Softcover
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781785782015
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone: The Hidden Secrets of Fossils and the Story of Life on Earth
Published by
Icon Books Ltd, London, England, 2011
ISBN 10: 1785782010
ISBN 13: 9781785782015
Used
Trade Paperback
Seller: Adventures Underground, Richland, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Trade Paperback. Condition: As New. No Jacket. Discount Book. Seller Inventory # 784153
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. 2nd. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 45851637-75
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 2nd. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 40095225-20
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Written in Stone
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. 2nd. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 40086093-6
Quantity: 1 available