"To earn the title of distinguished professor of geology at the University of California, Vermeij had to be an astute and careful observer, an original thinker and analyst, and a skilled teacher and communicator. All of these qualities are on display in his new book ... This naturalistic bent is coupled with literary flair."
—The Dallas Morning News
"A transcendent view of evolution as adaptation, not only accounting for the origin of species but as the force that can explain the accumulation of knowledge, economies and civilization itself."
—Kirkus Reviews
"An absorbing joy to read."
—Booklist
"A marvel ... Vermeij writes personably, and his arguments are detailed but free of jargon.... The Evolutionary World is very accessible even to rigorously non-scientific readers like this reviewer. Such attention is richly rewarded."
—Bookpage
“Outstanding theoretical biologists are rare, but Geerat Vermeij is more than “just” a superb theoretician. His writing combines impressive rhetorical skills, deep insights into evolutionary theory and ecology, encyclopedic breadth and depth of knowledge in contemporary natural history and paleontology, and a welcome absence of ego. He fills The Evolutionary World with delights for the mind ranging from astute observations of morphological minutiae to intriguing hypotheses and syntheses—all selected to show how an evolutionary perspective can yield “an emotionally satisfying, aesthetically pleasing, and deeply meaningful worldview in which the human condition is bathed in a new light.” The book is a joy to read, both for its often lyrical prose, and for its provocative hypotheses.”
—Reports of the National Center for Science Education
“A bold, brash, and magisterial account of the fundamental mechanisms that built our bodies, our genes, and our society. A culmination of decades of thinking by one of our leading scientists, this is a book that is sure to stir the pot.”
---Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish
“From why grass evolved to why insects do not inhabit the sea, Geerat Vermeij answers questions that most of us have forgotten even to ask. He does so in a style of such warm humanity and light informality that the reader can find himself grappling with great evolutionary conundrums without discernible effort.”
---Matt Ridley, author of Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
“In Vermeij’s hands, a seashell is not merely a pretty thing, but an object of wonder that speaks of nature's secrets and even the human condition. A wise and luminous book.”
---Armand Marie Leroi, author of Mutants: On Genetic Variety and the Human Body
“Geerat Vermeij’s wonderful new book, The Evolutionary World, will be read with delight by all who love science and should be read for instruction by those who think that an evolutionary world picture in any way detracts from our true understanding of ourselves and the planet on which we all live. It is simply a testament to the powers of the human mind.”
---Michael Ruse, author of Defining Darwin
“A wonderfully rich and wise book. Combining an exhilarating zest for life with unusual and acute powers of observation, Geerat Vermeij is also a refreshingly original thinker. His insights into the processes of evolution and their relevance to science and society are striking and thought-provoking. An illuminating book.”
---Nick Lane, author of Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution
