The Discovery of Evolution - Hardcover

'Young's lavishly-illustrated, well-designed, and clearly-written account of evolution deserves wide general readership, and provides a coherent panorama for students.' Arthur Lucas, Journal of Biological Education

'I recommend this fascinating and well-written book, which will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the natural world.' B. J. Hatchwell, IBIS

'Young's The Discovery of Evolution leads the reader into the deep history of evolutionary ideas, from the 17th century through Darwinism, tracking the contributions of geology, natural history, classification, and genetics along the way. It provides students with a rich background to appreciate contemporary biological ideas and disputes in an accessible and beautifully illustrated book.' Sandra D. Mitchell, Professor and Chair Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

'... well written ...' Mammalia

David Young invites his readers on a journey of adventure and discovery; a journey for the mind, and an adventure in the realm of ideas. By retracing the steps of men who developed the theory of biological evolution, we see how scientists came to recognize the nature and importance of natural selection. The journey begins in the seventeenth century, when even the most accomplished naturalists knew next to nothing of biology as we understand it today. Steadily increasing knowledge and the quickening pace of research began to uncover much new evidence, and in the middle of the century Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace incorporated this evidence in a comprehensive theory of evolution. In the twentieth century biology has become steadily more specialized, so the book picks out some of the main developments that bring us to studies of evolution being carried out today.