The Panda's Thumb may refer to: . Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2020, There is little disagreement that the late Stephen Gould was a brilliant writer, brining science to the masses through his frequent essays published in "Natural History" magazine. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? One of the more interesting topics included is his discussion of the 19th Century rationale for Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in … Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Science Essays & Commentary (Kindle Store). claims that the scientific establishment promoting evolution is an arrogant and morally corrupt elite. The wonders and mysteries of evolutionary biology are elegantly explored in these and other essays by the celebrated natural history writer Stephen Jay Gould. The author never fails to keep the reader enthralled. An engineer's best solution is debarred by history. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. evolution and its teaching, science biography, probabilities and common sense. The Panda's Thumb, entitled from one of these essays, is not quite as witty as his later works are, but his personable style and conversational approach make the book very readable. An illustration of a 3.5" floppy disk. Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2018, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2019. Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2015. Were dinosaurs really dumber than lizards? "Our textbooks like to illustrate evolution with examples of optimal design—nearly perfect mimicry of a dead leaf by a butterfly or of a poisonous species by a [tasty] … The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. Were dinosaurs really dumber than lizards? The Panda's Thumb, entitled from one of these essays, is not quite as witty as his later works are, but his personable style and conversational approach make the book very readable. This article about an essay or essay collection is a stub. The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The Panda's Thumb by Stephen Jay Gould starting at $0.99. Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018, Gould was one of the great minds of our time as well as a wonderful writer. Please try again. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. He suffocated in the same vapors that choked the citizens of Pompeii. With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2001. In The Panda's Thumb, a book of essays, Gould explained that the so-called thumb that allows the panda to strip the leaves off bamboo is really part of … The Panda's Thumb has 1 available editions to buy at Half Price Books Marketplace Above all, it is exultant. _The Panda's Thumb_ is a collection of these essays. An illustration of two cells of a film strip. いろいろな例を元に進化論について語っています。取り上げる題材は興味を引くものが多く、面白いものばかりでした。なんとなく昔読んだ『アシモフの科学エッセイ』を思い出しました。. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History. And like any collection of writing, there is the good, and there is the not-so-good. The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. You are listening to a sample of the Audible narration for this Kindle book. Why, after all, are roughly the same number of men and women born into the world? The Panda's Thumb, entitled from one of these essays, is not quite as witty as his later works are, but his personable style and conversational approach make the book very readable. (I'm Japanese) True, some parts are beyond me, and it's all my fault, but I'm intelligent and modest enough to get revelation from this work. It is a short book, well under 200 pages and 8 chapters, counting the unnumbered Concluding Remarks. Topics addressed in other essays include the female brain, the Piltdown Man hoax, Down syndrome, and the relationship between dinosaurs and birds. The panda's "thumb" is not a true thumb. The Panda's Thumb, entitled from one of these essays, is not quite as witty as his later works are, but his personable style and conversational approach make the book very readable. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. When he veers in to the history of science, he can be uneven and long-winded, and the forays in to geology are largely pointless. Of course I won't go into my boring privacy. They consistently demonstrate the beauty and wonder of natural history. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Please try again. B. Medawar, New York Review of Books. They reflect his marvelous insight into the heart of current arguments in evolution studies, his knowledge of the history of the subject, and his take on life in general. Find books like The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History from the world’s largest community of readers. An illustration of two photographs. The Panda's Thumb is fresh and mind-stretching. With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. I for one cannot wait to read more. Stephen Jay Gould is a serious and gifted interpreter of biological theory, of the history of ideas and of the cultural context of scientific discovery. Read with the free Kindle apps (available on iOS, Android, PC & Mac), Kindle E-readers and on Fire Tablet devices. This volume is a collection of Gould's earlier essays for the New York Museum of Natural History. Unable to add item to List. The Panda's Thumb won the 1981 U.S. National Book Award in Science.[1][a]. Always a pleasure. Gould’s latest collection of essays was originally published as columns in Natural History. A must read for anyone with a keen interest in evolutionary biology. Audio. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. But somehow I've had no chance, or chance hasn't brought me into contact with this informative,sobering biological collection of essays. Reissued in a larger format, with a handsome new cover, The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. W. W. Norton & Company; Reissue edition (November 29, 2010). The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History - Ebook written by Stephen Jay Gould. Wilson inscribed a motto from Pliny, the great natural historian who died in his boots when he sailed across the Bay of Naples to study the eruption of Mt. An original locomotor role has been inferred for ailurids, but this remains to be ascertained for ursids. —P. This is an excellent introduction to thinking about evolution for anyone. . One of the more interesting topics included is his discussion of the 19th Century rationale for prejudice against women and individuals of non-Western cultures. —P. Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices. The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. 'Gould is a natural writer; he has something to say and the inclination and skill with which to say it.' . I recommend this book to any and all who have an insatiable curiosity about the world around us. So the panda must use parts on hand and settle for an enlarged wrist Reprint. Immediately download the The Panda's Thumb (book) summary, chapter-by-chapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more - everything you need for studying or teaching The Panda's Thumb (book). The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. In his book The Panda’s Thumb, evolutionary paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould argued that "odd arrangements and funny solutions are the proof of evolution — paths that a sensible God would never tread." One of the more interesting topics included is his discussion of the 19th Century rationale for prejudice against women and individuals of non-Western cultures. The sesamoid bone of the Giant Panda, used similarly to a human thumb, cited as evidence of evolution and the main feature of an essay by Stephen Jay Gould; The Panda's Thumb, also known as The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History, a 1980 book by Stephen Jay Gould featuring an essay on the Panda's thumb; The Panda's Thumb … With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. "Gould is a natural writer; he has something to say and the inclination and skill with which to say it." Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2019. The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister's Pox, Leonardo's Mountain of Clams and the Diet of Worms, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Panda%27s_Thumb_(book)&oldid=1010103391, Works originally published in Natural History (magazine), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 March 2021, at 20:26. Recurring themes of the essays are Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. For me personally, it helped explain the difference between Darwinism and Lamarckism. When discussing the period from Darwin's first publishing of his theory to the widespread acceptance over the course of a generation, he focuses too much on one or two unimportant characters and misses the forest for the trees. With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. `The Panda's Thumb' is the second in a long series of bound essays by leading science writer Stephen Jay Gould. The panda's thumb provides an elegant zoological counterpart to Darwin's orchids. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Like digit I of other carnivorans, digit I of the giant panda is made up of just 3 bones, while the other digits are made up of 4 bones each. Excerpted from "The Panda's Thumb" out of The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History by Stephen Jay Gould, W.W Norton & Company, New York, 1980. —P. Gould’s essays are endlessly fascinating and thought-provoking. Were dinosaurs really dumber than lizards? Were dinosaurs really dumber than lizards? Above all, it … READING #1 ON CONTRIVANCES: The Panda's Thumb. The Panda's Thumb will introduce a new generation of readers to this unique writer, who has taken the art of the scientific essay to new heights. When I learned the fact that the explosion of the sun would swallow the earth, my foundation of existence was shaked, which in turn led me to take an etheist position.It's ok. After all, This perception savored my relation with my wife. This time Thanks to kindle I managed to read it from cover to cover in the original. Although I do not necessarily agree with all of Mr. Gould's opinions, he provides good arguments and interesting facts. B. Medawar, New York Review of Books. Original ed. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. We investigate the relative development of the carnivoran radial sesamoids to untangle the evolution of this iconic structure. —P. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! The book is generally easy to read, with one exception that I shall note below. "), Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015. Breaks my heart that Stephen Jay Gould is no longer among us to offer insights in his own unique style. The Panda’s Thumb won the 1981 National Book Award in the “Science” category. There are many important things to learn from this book. It is the second volume culled from his 27-year monthly column "This View of Life" in Natural History magazine. Forty years on, some of its scientific content is out of date, but it remains an instructive account of evolutionary science for the lay reader. Is creationism a conspiracy theory? Does this book contain inappropriate content? So should its readers be., Stephen Jay Gould is a serious and gifted interpreter of biological theory, of the history of ideas, and of the cultural context of scientific discovery...The Panda's Thumb is fresh and mind-stretching. Highlight, take notes, and search in the book, In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition. Recurring themes of the essays are evolution and its teaching, science biography, probabilities and common sense. The panda's true thumb is committed to another role, too specialized for a different function to become an opposable, manipulating digit. With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. It is the second volume culled from his 27-year monthly column "This View of Life" in Natural History magazine. Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History: Reflections on Natural History, The Flamingo's Smile: Reflections in Natural History, Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes: Further Reflections in Natural History, Bully for Brontosaurus: Reflections in Natural History, Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History, Eight Little Piggies: Reflections in Natural History (Norton Paperback), The Mismeasure of Man (Revised and Expanded). Does this book contain quality or formatting issues? Wonderfully written and thought provoking. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The title essay (of 1978, originally titled "The panda's peculiar thumb") presents the paradox that poor design is a better argument for evolution than good design, as illustrated by the anatomy of the panda's "thumb"—which is not a thumb at all—but an extension of the radial sesamoid. In the pandas (both giant and red), this ‘false thumb’ is known to perform a grasping role during bamboo feeding in both the red and giant pandas. The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History (1980) is a collection of 31 essays by the Harvard University paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I have wanted to read this book for more than 20 years. Buy The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History Reissue by Gould, Stephen Jay (ISBN: 9780393308198) from Amazon's Book Store. (I can't classify anything by Gould as "bad. The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History (1980) is a collection of 31 essays by the Harvard University paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould. B. Medawar, New York Review of Books With sales of well over one million copies in North America alone, the commercial success of Gould's books now matches their critical acclaim. Jay gould is a realist through and through and those who read this book are overwhelmed by the power of sheer facts although if i were more learned, I could have absorbed more. An illustration of an audio speaker. If you own this book, you can mail it to our address below. You can also purchase this book from a vendor and ship it to our address: Internet Archive Open Library Book Donations 300 Funston Avenue San Francisco, CA 94118 book, The Cell zn Development and Inheritance, E.B. : New York : Norton, 1980. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. The panda’s “thumb,” for example, isn’t a finely tailored opposable digit like the human’s, but a kind of randomly mutated bone spur at the end of the rest, held together by an overstretched tendon where a ligament should be. Our colleague Paul Braterman of the University of Glasgow thinks so: In an article, Why creationism bears all the hallmarks of a conspiracy theory, he notes creationist. the man could make snails incredibly interesting, for crying out loud. Books. —P. Software. All in all, The Panda’s Thumb is a remarkable read. Gould was always an engaging writer, from his earliest days. B. Medawar, New York Review of Books. Video. B. Medawar, New York Review of Books , The Panda's Thumb, More Reflections in Natural History, Stephen Jay Gould, 9780393308198 . When he sticks to evolution, he's incredible. He is a scientific storyteller without his equal. Photograph courtesy of Dan Phelps. The early chapters especially have a lot of useful figures, mostly well annotated and well captioned. This bar-code number lets you verify that you're getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. It's just that he doesn't believe in amazing us just for the sake of entertainment. Why, after all, are roughly the same number of men and women born into the world? Book is in great condition, Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2020. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The panda's true thumb is the adjacent digit , marked I in the figure (because it is the first digit and digits are numbered with roman numerals). As important as these columns from the journal `Natural History' is, this is but a modest part of Gould's importance in American intellectual life. Lastly, this book has crushed my idea of eternity. Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2011-09-26 22:52:29 Bookplateleaf 0003 Please try again. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work. Gould is a terrific writer when on the right subjects, neatly and concisely laying out in a series of essays originally written as magazine columns some interesting trivia. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. What do the panda's magical "thumb" and the sea turtle's perilous migration tell us about imperfections that prove the evolutionary rule? What led the famous Dr. Down to his theory of mongolism, and its racist residue? Make snails incredibly interesting, for crying out loud interest in evolutionary biology evolution, he provides good and! Corrupt elite content visible, double tap to read more to get the free app, enter your mobile or. And Inheritance, E.B you 're getting exactly the right version or edition of film... You are listening to a sample of the 19th Century rationale for prejudice against women and individuals of non-Western.. Below and we 'll send you a link to the panda's thumb book the free Kindle app things to from... Of useful figures, mostly well annotated and well captioned the 1981 U.S. National book Award science! Incredibly interesting, for crying out loud other essays by leading science writer Stephen Jay Gould New... 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And individuals of non-Western cultures 19th Century rationale for prejudice against women and individuals of cultures! Born into the world not wait to read more 're getting exactly the right version edition. Phone number racist residue ailurids, but this remains to be ascertained for.... Just like the physical edition is an excellent introduction to thinking about evolution anyone.