I'm still puzzling over how this one got through the editors at Columbia. The Ediacaran fauna represents a fascinating piece of evolutionary history, and a popular-press work on it would be a great help for students in understanding how the scientific study of evolution works. It could also give an insight into the mind of a scientist. It's a shame that this book does not fit the bill. Other reviewers have covered most of the shortcomings (although they missed my favourite gem - we now know the name of his parents' realtor), but I think the thrust of several reviews, that there is something worthwhile at the end to reward one's wading through the extraneous filler that comprises the majority of the book, is misleading. The meat of the work alluded to by other reviewers dissolves into a very loose presentation of neovitalism that does little more than take away from the author's credibility. I would like to see his scientific ideas presented lucidly, with better editing this time, and then the book could perhaps be of use. Until then, if you want a look at a quirky (but endearing) scientist doing evolution science, read Darwin's Dreampond. For a good popular look at evolution, try Carl Zimmer's "Evolution" or Mayr's "What Evolution Is."

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