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The Story of Life Professor Sir Richard Southwood

The Story of Life By Professor Sir Richard Southwood

The Story of Life by Professor Sir Richard Southwood

Reviews:
£3.49
Condition - Like New
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Summary

This title presents a comprehensive and well-illustrated guide to the story of life, from the origin of the earth to the present day, written from a scientific naturalist's viewpoint and set against a background of the world's changing climate and geology. It aims to answer questions such as: how life began and why the dinosaurs went extinct.

The Story of Life Summary

The Story of Life by Professor Sir Richard Southwood

How did life begin? What was 'snowball earth'? Why did the dinosaurs become extinct? Are we all descended from 'African Eve'? Will humans be responsible for the next major extinction? These and many other fundamental questions are addressed in this masterly account of The Story of Life, by eminent biologist and teacher Richard Southwood. The story unfolds with the formation of the earth around four thousand million years ago. Life first emerged a hundred million years later, and it took another fifteen million years for more complex life-forms to appear. Periods of relative calm were punctuated by five major extinctions, with innumerable minor jolts along the way. Then, five million years ago, an able ape evolved that gradually came to dominate and control the other animals and plants. The future now lies in the hands of this single species, Homo sapiens. In this carefully crafted story, Southwood's love of his subject, and for the life he describes, shines through, to engage and inform scientist and general reader alike.

The Story of Life Reviews

This remarkable book succeeds, within less than 300 pages, in summarizing everything essential about all living creatures for more than three billion years. If you are looking for one convenient, reliable, highly readable reference to replace your whole library, this is it. * Professor Jared Diamond *
You will learn more from this book than any number of television programmes, and I hope that, like me, you find the unfashionable approach both refreshing and something of a relief. * British Wildlife *
As scholarly as any textbook, the book would make a ready read on an airplane trip. It can be heartily recommended to the aficionado and the student alike. It should even appeal to that eclectic readership, the general public, so that people can gain an insight into the astonighing abundance and variety, and the pedigree, of our planet's chief feature. * Norman Myers, Bioscience *
Extremely few scientists would be able to cover the entire history of life authoritatively, with wisely chosen examples and principles, presented in lucid prose, and all in fewer than 260 well-illustrated pages. Richard Southwood is one of them, has done so, and I accordingly recommend this book to scientists and public alike. * Professor E O Wilson *
Southwood displays an impressive sweep of knowledge about life . . . a swift, efficient delivery of the most important information we have on how life has blossomed on Earth. * Carl Zimmer, Nature *
This is a lovely book. It is short, nicely presented, authoritative, and friendly. This must find a place in every school library. * Jack Cohen, Biologist *
Besides being a gripping yarn, The Story of Life is an impeccable review of the science. * New Scientist *
We could all benefit from enrolling for his course. * The Scotsman *
an excellent and accessible overview. * BBC Wildlife *
Comprehensive and thorough. * Focus *

About Professor Sir Richard Southwood

Professor Sir Richard Southwood FRS, was head of both Imperial College and Oxford Zoology Departments, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, holder of thirteen honorary degrees and, above all, a life-long natural historian with an enduring curiosity about the lives of the other inhabitants of Earth. As well as writing and researching, he played a major role in public policy related to the environment.

Table of Contents

Introduction ; 1. Special chemistry ; 2. A quick start ; 3. Cells with Nuclei ; 4. Jellyfish, polyps and worms? ; 5. Claws, rasps and shells ; 6. Sand, mud and shallow seas ; 7. The giant continent forms ; 8. A sparse start ; 9. The world of the dinosaurs ; 10. Today's world dawns ; 11. The evolution of the able ape ; 12. Humans - the great modifiers ; Further reading ; Acknowledgements ; Index

Additional information

GOR010551624
9780198607861
0198607865
The Story of Life by Professor Sir Richard Southwood
Professor Sir Richard Southwood
Used - Like New
Paperback
Oxford University Press
2003-09-04
276
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

Customer Reviews - The Story of Life