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Evolution and Medicine

edited by Randolph M. Nesse
London: Henry Stewart Talks, 2007. Two CDs, approximately 27.5 hours.

Describing Evolution and Medicine as “a series of talks by leading evolutionary biologists and medical theorists on the relevance of evolution to medical theory and practice” that “constitute a splendid feast of chewable morsels on what is a large and comprehensive smorgasbord of evolutionary ideas,” reviewer Niall Shanks recommended it as “a very well-structured series of talks of use to a variety of educators,” particularly those teaching college students intending to enter medical scho

Proving Darwin: Making Biology Mathematical

by Gregory Chaitin
New York: Pantheon Books, 2012. 144 pages.

“This is an infuriating little book,” writes reviewer Jeffrey Shallit, complaining of its poor writing, its failure to cite relevant literature, and its author’s tendency for self-promotion and exaggeration. “Nevertheless, despite all these flaws … the book is written in an engaging and enthusiastic style, and does contain one rather interesting idea.” Shallit concludes, “So contrary to the title of his book, Chaitin has not proved Darwin mathematically.

Darwin the Writer

by George Levine
New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. 244 pages.

“George Levine’s fine new book … will certainly assist you in recognizing the beauty of Darwin’s language and convince you of the importance of actually reading Darwin before you start conversing in any depth about his ideas,” writes reviewer Michael Roos. “Levine intends to show us how much of Darwin’s enchantment with the world is inherent in the very language of his great texts, especially The Voyage of the Beagle and On the Origin of Species.

Controversy in the Classroom

by Diane E. Hess
New York: Routledge, 2009. 197 pages.

Reviewer Andrew J. Petto writes, “Most of the book deals with controversies that do not have a direct bearing on creation/evolution issues. Furthermore, Hess is clear that there is a different dynamic for engaging concepts that are considered settled by the relevant disciplines but whose closed status is being challenged in public discourse.

Darwin's Disciple

by Joel S. Schwartz
Philadelphia (PA): Lightning Rod Press / American Philosophical Society, 2010. 806 pages.

Darwin’s Disciple tells the story of Darwin’s younger colleague George John Romanes through his correspondence, annotated by Joel S. Schwartz. “While the collection is not exhaustive—though the full Darwin/Romanes correspondence is included—Schwartz has succeeded in his task,” writes reviewer John M. Lynch.

Charlie and Kiwi: An Evolutionary Adventure

by Eileen Campbell
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011. Unpaginated.

The companion volume to the New York Hall of Science’s Charlie and Kiwi’s Evolutionary Adventure exhibit, Charlie and Kiwi seeks “to engage children from seven years old and up in learning about the basics of evolution—variation, inheritance, selection, time, and adaptation—using bird evolution as the main example,” writes reviewer Alan D. Gishlick.

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