Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species

... with a robust constitution and a strong streak of curiosity about the natural world - not a gamer or a couch potato - then you couldn't give her or him a better book to read than Sean B Carroll's "Remarkable Creatures." And if you still have inner traces of your own brainy teenagerhood in your seventh decade of life, you'll find plenty to relish as well. The creatures in the title are not dangerous beasts of the jungle or the sea; they're Homo sapiens who have earned their species name (sapiens=knowing) through lifetimes of physical and intellectual adventure. In other words, this is a book in praise of the author's heroes -- Alexander Humboldt, Charles Darwin, Alfred Wallace, Henry Bates, Eugene Dubois, Charles Walcott, Roy Chapman, Luis and Walter Alvarez, John Ostrom, Neil Shubin, Luis and Mary Leakey, Linus Pauling, Svante Pääbo -- all of whom contributed significantly to our knowledge of the evolution of life, and all of whom were "field" adventurers, intrepid in life style. Some of their stories have been told many times - Darwin of course, and Wallace - but some will need to be introduced to most readers. Because this is a book about the spirit that sends people in search of knowledge in outlandish and dangerous places, Carroll focuses on the early development of his heroes - their motivations, their first accomplishments, their adventures outdoors.This is NOT a book defending or explaining the modern Darwinian theory of evolution. It's a chain of capsule biographies linking 200 years of discovery. Each of Carroll's scientific adventurers linked his/her discovery to those previous. You don't need to have a thorough understanding of evolutionary theory, of paleontology or genetics, to appreciate these narratives of derring-do. If you're looking for an explication of our still incomplete knowledge of the evolutionary history of Life, Sean B Carroll's earlier book "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" would be a more appropriate choice. Here the author simply assumes that the reader is rational and sane enough to accept that evolution is an obvious fact and that current understandings of the 'mechanisms' of evolution are at least on the right track. That may be too bold an assumption, of course, for readers in a country where more than half of the population professes not to "believe" in evolution at all.Sean Carroll is not Stephen Jay Gould, though their subjects overlap. He's not as witty or allusive as Gould, which means also that he's not as pretentious and elusive as Gould. His prose is simple and concrete, intended for a general readership. If you actually LIKE Gould, you may find this book light weight. If you detest Gould, as many people do, I promise you'll do better with "Remarkable Creatures."

Remarkable Creatures delves into the beginning of evolution and the explorations of naturalists to find the origin of species. Carroll describes Darwin’s discoveries, Walcott’s uncovering answers and mysteries in the Canadian Rockies, Shubin’s investigation into a transitionary fish and amphibian, and many more. Darwin is often given the credit for making evolution what it is today. He got the ball rolling by his explorations and data in South America and the Galapagos Islands. Throughout his journey he found diverse, but similar organisms, As a results of his observations, he created the hypothesis that these species must have come from one origin but modified as a result of environmental changes. These new findings led to the search for additional evidence to support this theory. Walcott went on explorations and fell upon the Burgess Pass in the Canadian Rockies. This area contained some of the largest amounts of fossils at that time leading evolutionists to define the time period corresponding with these rocks and fossils as the Cambrian Explosion. The Cambrian Explosion is named for the sudden appearance of large, complex animals in that specific period of time. Many questions came out of this discovery, one major being, what are all the connections between these animals and where are they? That question is what drove Shubin on his adventures. He took his investigation to the Arctic where he uncovered the Tiktaalik, “a missing link” between mammals and fish. Scientists used findings like this to encourage their hypothesis that all species changed over time and came from a common ancestor One key scientist for supporting and exploring evolution is Simpson. He was one of the leading vocalists for uniting genetics with past evolutionary endeavors with a new theory, “The Modern Synthesis . . . a harmonious theory that asserted that the variations and small changes observable within populations and species could explain the larger differences that evolved between species and higher taxonomic ranks over long periods of time” (Carroll, 244). These progressions of evolution have come from unique individuals making and interpreting their scientific studies. The advances over the centuries have modified evolution from Darwin’s original theories into what the theory is today and in the future. The book is mainly focused on explaining how evolution, its main points and its findings came to be. But the view is written purely from a naturalist who mostly only discusses the explorations and results of natural scientists. Their beliefs and logic are consistently encouraged throughout the text without allowing for alternative views. Other worldviews are not permitted in the book and most are entirely discouraged. Scientists with varying views have looked at the evidences provided by the investigators in this book such as the Galapagos finches and the fossils in rock strata, and they have come up with different answers and reasons behind the results. Their answers though are rejected by Carroll. It seems that the logic for this book must be from a naturalist perspective, or it is not classified as scientific which is opposite of what scientific arguments truly are. Something that appears like objective science is going to end up interpreted by scientists who will examine their data in light of their worldview. This diversity of worldviews creates variation in analyses of the same evidence. Sean B. Carroll seems to be coming from a materialistic naturalistic view. Throughout the book and his works, he ignores all religious and supernatural views. He sees the world and its changes only through natural laws. Most of the book does not give a strong direct opinion on religious views because it is mainly small biographies of people who shaped the evolutionary view, but he does place some statements about his worldview amidst the bibliographies. His beliefs come through more in the afterword of the book. In the afterword, he states, “humans have no special status other than our definition as a distinct species of animal” (278). Though this is not a direct statement on everything he believes, it gives insight to some of his basic principles. It implies that he believes humans are just a stepping stone to the next, new and improved species and do not have a purpose as some may perceive. Also, it means that morality, good, and evil do not have a place in his world because everything is natural. Things exist because of chance and randomness.Sean Carroll believes that religion is incompatible with science. He does not think a religious person cannot be a good scientist, but he does think their views need to stay out of their scientific work. In one of his blogs, “Science And Religion are Not Compatible, he makes the simple statement, “Different religions make very different claims, but they typically end up saying things like, ‘God made the universe in six days’ or ‘Jesus died and was resurrected.’. . . And science says: none of that is true. So there you go, incompatibility” (par. 6). This statement could be argued in different ways from various worldviews, but basically Carroll does not want religion anywhere near science. Since his life completely consists of investigating the world through a scientific perspective, he removes religion entirely from it. There are several theological implications brought about from this worldview and just from his statement above. The first implication is that creation is fully disregarded as possible. Since no one was there and could not witness it, there is no place for it. Additionally, humans are just another branch in the evolutionary tree and have no true purpose. They are just another animal in the world and morality is not part of that equation. Thus, salvation is no longer needed and is not even an option to be considered since the idea of someone dying and being resurrected is impractical and unnatural. Judgment is then ignored and unnecessary. There will not be a judgement since everything that is done is natural and instinctual. These implications lead to eternal life in damnation. Christians should read this book or books similar to this in order to enhance their knowledge on evolution. Many people have biased opinions about evolution without thoroughly understanding what it is and how it began. This book gives insight to how this worldview came to be. Having a true comprehension can help Christians argue against this view and show the truth to lost people.

Os objetivos do autor ao escrever este livro foram dar vida à busca e ao prazer da descoberta científica, ao mesmo tempo em que capta o significado de cada avanço para a ciência evolutiva.O livro está organizado em três partes, cada uma das quais enfoca um aspecto importante da busca pelas origens – das espécies em geral (Parte I), de tipos particulares de animais (Parte II) e dos humanos (Parte III).Ao mesmo tempo que traça a evolução dos estudos sobre evolução das espécies, o livro conta a história dos cientistas que fizeram as descobertas, com Alexander von Humboldt e Charles Darwin.A leitura é uma jornada pelas aventuras dos naturalistas mais proeminentes por regiões como Amazônia, ilhas do Pacífico, Galápagos e Terra do Fogo. Vale a pena para quem gosta de ciências da natureza e evolução das espécies.

I already read the two other great books by Sean B. Carroll, "Endless forms most beautiful", and "The making of the fittest". So, this was a good bet for a great summer reading. Carroll's writing style is engaging: fluent, simple, and direct. As a good chating with friends. On top of this, what I found remarkable about this book is how the author transmits a good deal of sound knowledge on evolution and its history without you almost to notice. While you think you are reading an adventures novel (a good one), and you are engaged in that, Carroll is making you to "study". Amazing.

livre anglophone broché souple format moyen récent (2009) consacré à la paléonthologie; l'auteur retrace les fantastiques découvertes de cette science durant les deux derniers siècles qui ont mené à la compréhension de l'origine des espèces y compris la nôtre; ce livre de vulgarisation scientifique documenté et passionnant ravira tous les curieux mais rebutera certains par son iconographie décevante

This book is a chronicle of the greatest adventures in natural history in the last 200 years. The author Sean Carroll, a professor of genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, looks at the lives of people who had gone into the wild, with one purpose, to find evidence of evolution. He starts with Darwin and his voyage around the world. Darwin's passion for collecting and for exploring the unknown was remarkable, and helped him endure the loneliness, constant seasickness, discomfort, and dangers of the voyage.Next is Alfred Russell Wallace with his two expeditions. Wallace spent in the Amazon four years and he almost lost his life when the ship that was bringing him in England caught fire and sank along with almost all the specimens he had collected. He was rescued, after ten days in a lifeboat, only to leave again, this time to New Guinea, where he spent eight years collecting. It was there, that he came up with the same idea Darwin did, about the evolution, of species.One of most interesting portraits in the book is the one of Charles Walcott. Despite the fact that he never finished formal education, he developed a passion for fossils and became an expert on trilobites - they are arthropods that went extinct in the Permian. He was the first to explore and survey the rocks and the fossils in the Grand Canyon only with himself, a cook and a mule. The task was enormous, but it didn't deter Walcott to make one of the major discoveries in the field of natural sciences. He found the earliest fossil evidence of life; the simplest form of life, during the Precambrian period. Later, Walcott become director of the U.S. Geological Survey, and a trusted advisor to seven different presidents. He also played and significant role in promoting aviation in the United States, and helped in the creation of a new organisation called NACA which was the civil aviation authority in the US and 50 years later, developed into being NASA.Carroll also talks about Eugene Dubois, who found in Java the missing link between apes and humans. It was a molar skullcap and a thigh bone of what we called today, Homo Erectus. Probably the most exciting portrait is that of Roy Chapman Andrews. He had an intriguing personality; an explorer and adventurer, a spy and gifted scientist. He was captivated by Mongolia and the Gobi desert. With his team he discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs and several new dinosaur species, including Velocipartor and Tarborsaurus.The book is beautifully written. The description of the adventures and struggles of the scientists to discover and fill the gaps in the natural history and human evolution is captivating, and easily grasps the attention of the reader, especially the younger ones. The photographs, maps and charts are useful supplement in the text. The reading list is extensive and comprehensive, and definitely you should go through it. In total, the book is highly recommended.

この本は三部より構成されています。第一部は進化論を考え出すきっかけとなったDarwinのビーグル号の航海。アマゾンやマレー列島を探査したWallaceとアマゾンの蝶の擬態の研究で進化論を補強したBatesについて述べている。第二部は主に化石や古生物について書かれており、ジャワ原人を発見したオランダ人医師Dubois、グランドキャニオンやBurgess Shaleの発掘をしたWalcott、ゴビ砂漠で恐竜の化石を発掘したRoy Chapman Andrews。そして小惑星の衝突による恐竜の絶滅を証明したAlvarez親子（父親のLuisは以前にノーベル物理学賞を受賞しているとは驚き）の話。ほかに恐竜と鳥の関係、北極圏での化石の発掘などが書かれている。第三部は人類の進化について、アフリカで化石の発掘を続けているLeakeyファミリーの話。現代における革命的なDNA分析と、それによるネアンデルタール人のミトコンドリアDNA解析での現代人との関係の研究が書かれている。専門家にとっては新鮮味がないかもしれませんが、私は進化論の概略がわかって面白く読めました。恐竜の卵の化石を発見したレンジャー帽をかぶり腰にピストルのRoy Chapman Andrewsは映画のインディージョーンズのモデルだそうです。