An Urchin in the Storm: Essays About Books and Ideas($11.50Value)

Description

Reviews books about pandas, scientific research, evolution, culture, geology, the origin of the mind, testing bias, genetics, and scientific frauds Unlike Gould's previous books of skillfully turned essays, this is a collection of reviews. In some cases, such as the biographies of Just and McClintock, Gould doesn't so much review the books as reflect on their subject matter; it is frequently difficult to tell where Gould ends and the book under review begins. Other reviews, such as those of Kitcher's Vaulting Ambition and Jensen's Bias in Mental Testing, are vigorous critical appraisals using specialized terminology and subtle distinctions to discuss evolutionary theory. Unlike Gould's other essays, these do not stand independent of the books they review and consequently are not as accessible to general readers. A good addition to research collections but not essential for general ones. Susan Klimley, Columbia Univ. Lib . Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.