The Panda's Thumb by Stephen Jay Gould
More Reflections in Natural History
"The Panda's Thumb" is a collection of essays that delve into the peculiarities and wonders of natural history, emphasizing the concept of evolution through natural selection. The book explores a range of topics, from the title essay which discusses the evolutionary function of the giant panda's unique thumb as a specialized adaptation, to broader themes involving the imperfections that characterize evolutionary processes. The author uses these discussions to argue against the notion of a perfectly created world, instead presenting a perspective of life as a series of historical contingencies that produce the diverse and sometimes bizarre organisms observed in nature.
The 17120th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1980
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 343
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
- No ratings yet
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 1 lists:
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))