by Richard Dawkins, Jana Lenzova
Published
September 17, 2024
Pages
360 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Yale University Press
Kindle
$16.99
Hardcover
$31.50
Audio CD
Not found
From a renowned biologist and best-selling author, a whole new way of looking at living organisms: reading them as documents describing ancient worlds “Richard Dawkins’s new book is a glorious affair. Profusely illustrated in color by Jana Lenzová, it is arguably his most joyous ode to the wonders that evolution has wrought in the animal world.”—Philip Ball, Science An exquisitely camouflaged lizard has a desiccated landscape of sand and stones “painted” on its back. Its skin can be read as a description of an ancient desert, a world in which its ancestors survived.
Such descriptions are more than skin deep, however. They penetrate the very warp and woof of the entire animal. In this groundbreaking exploration of the power of Darwinian evolution and what it can reveal about the past, Richard Dawkins shows how the body, behavior, and genes of every living creature can be read as a book—an archive of the worlds of its ancestors.
In the future, a zoologist presented with a hitherto unknown animal will be able to decode its ancestral history, to read its unique “book of the dead.” Such readings are already uncovering the remarkable ways animals overcome obstacles, adapt to their environments, and, again and again, develop remarkably similar ways of solving life’s problems. From the author of The Selfish Gene comes a revolutionary, richly illustrated book that unlocks the door to a past more vivid, nuanced, and fascinating than anything we have seen.
In a captivating exploration of genetics and evolution, The Genetic Book of the Dead delves into the mysterious language of life, illuminating the intricate ancestral code that defines us all. This compelling book invokes the spirit of Darwinian theory, offering readers a profound reverie that draws connections between ancient secrets written in our genetic material and the evolutionary journey of life forms on Earth. It poses philosophical questions about identity, survival, and what it means to be alive, challenging the reader to ponder the interconnected past and future of all living organisms.
Our genes encode a historical record of evolutionary past. Darwinian principles shape the survival and adaptability of species. Interconnection across generations reveals shared evolutionary journeys.
Dive into a groundbreaking exploration of life's intricate patterns as The Genetic Book of the Dead uncovers the blueprint stored within our genes. The book weaves advanced genetic science with riveting narratives drawing parallels between our DNA and a historical archive. Discover how the story of life is coded in genes offering clues to ancestral struggles and triumphs.
This narrative journeys through epochs revealing how adaptability and survival are etched into the very fabric of our existence. The book transcends scientific boundaries urging readers to reflect on their place in the web of life. It provokes thought on the interdependence of species and generations suggesting that our DNA carries the whispers of distant relatives across eons.
As the story unfolds it challenges conventional perceptions and invites readers into a dialogue with their genetic past. Through a blend of engaging storytelling and scientific inquiry it becomes a testament to the enduring influence of Darwin's vision. The Genetic Book of the Dead is not just a scientific treatise; it is a narrative odyssey that weaves the threads of biology evolution and the enigmatic dance of life's survival across time.
The Genetic Book of the Dead brilliantly merges scientific discovery with narrative storytelling creating a compelling dialogue between past and present The book makes complex genetic concepts accessible to all Its unique blend of evolutionary theory and genetics offers a fresh perspective on life's history pulling readers into a Darwinian reverie that is both enlightening and thought-provoking Readers are engaged not just intellectually but emotionally as the prose elegantly bridges the gap between the technical and the philosophical providing a holistic understanding of nature's grand design.
0300278098
978-0300278095
6.3 x 1.2 x 8.9 inches
2.05 pounds