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Paperback In Search of Deep Time Book

ISBN: 0801487137

ISBN13: 9780801487132

In Search of Deep Time: Beyond the Fossil Record to a New History of Life

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Format: Paperback

Condition: Very Good

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Book Overview

Cladistics--the science of comparison--is transforming the way paleontologists view evolution. In Search of Deep Time strips away conventional assumptions about the evolution of life to reveal a world that may be far stranger and more humbling than had been previously imagined. The concept of deep time was first used by John McPhee to describe intervals of time incomprehensibly greater than our daily experience. Henry Gee explains the rise of cladistics as the best technique for making sense of the organic changes that unfold within deep time.

Customer Reviews

5 customer ratings | 5 reviews

Rated 5 stars
What we can learn from fossils

The title of "Deep Time" refers to the immense gulfs of time that separate the major events in evolution. The best known of these is the gap of 65 million years between the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the present, but this only one of many, and by no means the largest. More important than the size of these gaps for Henry Gee's arguments, however, is their emptiness: there are extremely few fossils to provide landmarks,...

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Rated 5 stars
Pretty Good

This is a good book if for no other reason than its refreshing honesty with respect to paleontology. Gee attempts to pry the facts apart from the evolutionary story telling that plagues this business. On the other hand, he attempts to paint molecular cladistics as a purely objective and scientific alternative. Unfortunately, that is simply not true (not yet at least). Molecular cladistics has problems both in methodology...

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Rated 5 stars
In Search of Deep Time

A must read for anyone interested in the history of life on Earth and evolution research. A fascin-ating, delightful and informative read, highly accessible - the worst moment was three Latin nomenclatures in one sentence. Frequently insightful, occasionally inciteful; an enjoyable sledgehammer tour through the hallowed halls, that turns any number of previously held beliefs on their ears. I've just given it to my conservative...

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Rated 5 stars
Brilliant, scholarly, witty

Who would have thought that an explication of cladistics could be both fascinating and entertaining? This is not a dumbed-down book; yes, it is written for the intelligent lay person, not the specialist, but Gee doesn't simplify just to get the reader through the book. And guess what? A bird IS a dinosaur!

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Rated 5 stars
In praise of cladistics

Henry Gee has produced a very readable book on paleontology and evolution. This is cladistic analysis for beginners, and will interest a wide audience. I read it cover to cover in one day. It will be very interesting to see how paleontology squares off with the genomic sequences that will soon become available. Very well written and enjoyable.

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