At the Water’s Edge (Carl Zimmer, 1998)

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ISBN 0-684-83490-1

The subtitle – Macroevolution and the Transformation of Life – is perhaps a little too sweeping in scope, but does give a feel for the subject matter. This is a book about some of the important macroevolutionary events in vertebrate evolution: breathing air, adapting limbs to terrestrial life and, unusually, the cetacean transition back to water again. There are diversionary discussions about genetic phylogeny, cladograms, etc. as well as the compulsory hox gene discussion, to bring the lay reader up to speed, but they are well-handled and do not detract too badly from the main thread.

Like most of these lay audience type books, it is all wrapped up with the usual annoying human interest stories about the careers of some of the more notable scientists working in the particular field, and the usual titillating hints about professional rivalries which, in my experience, simply don’t exist (or at least no more than in ordinary life). That said, the book is accessible, well-written and informative: Recommended.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Look and Feel: My edition is the usual matt-finish paperback.

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At the Water’s Edge (Carl Zimmer, 1998)

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