An award-winning biologist takes us on the dramatic expeditions that unearthed the history of life on our planet. Just 150 years ago; most of our world was an unexplored wilderness. Our sense of its age was vague and vastly off the mark; and much of the knowledge of our own species’ history was a set of fantastic myths and fairy tales. In the tradition of The Microbe Hunters and Gods; Graves; and Scholars; Sean Carroll leads a rousing voyage that recounts the most important discoveries in two centuries of natural history: from Darwin’s trip around the world to Charles Walcott’s discovery of pre-Cambrian life in the Grand Canyon; from Louis and Mary Leakey’s investigation of our deepest past in East Africa to the trailblazers in modern laboratories who have located a time clock in our DNA.
#4719 in Books VINTAGE 2017-02-07 2017-02-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .42 x 5.40l; #File Name: 0525434690118 pagesVINTAGE
Review
73 of 75 people found the following review helpful. A nice companion piece to the filmBy BHodgesImpressionistic. Powerful. This book (and the film on which it is based) seem less intended to educate white people than to emote the perspective of one of the most perceptive and articulate 20th century voices of color.This book is not a primer for people unfamiliar with Baldwin. It's a tribute to a project that Baldwin himself didn't live to see completed. I think it works best as a companion piece to the film rather than a stand-alone book. (For instance; it includes excerpts from transcripts of movies that influenced Baldwin or that Baldwin reviewed; and these work better in their original medium.) I recommend seeing the film first; and then using the book for meditating and revisiting afterward.I'd still like to see the full manuscript of Baldwin's "Remember This House;" in addition to the spliced up version used in this book. I would've liked if the book made it more clear where these particular excerpts are. It will be most successful if it points more and more readers to Baldwin's works.43 of 44 people found the following review helpful. Great bookBy StevieGJDWhat an amazing book. It is kind of the script to the movie; which I loved. Baldwin was an astonishingly intelligent and thoughtful voice in a very troubled period. We need more voices like his now.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Phenomenal companion to the groundbreaking film I'm not your NegroBy Psych_Doc :-)I highly recommend this film as a means to understand the underlying concepts of the film in greater depth. There is simply something special about being able to read and reread the text so poignantly laid out in the field . Baldwin was a master ! This is a fitting tribute to his legacy . I have recommended this book and film to all of my friends; family; and students. I highly recommend it to anyone attempting to navigate the choppy and murky waters of race relations and the significance of having subservient citizens in contemporary 2017 America. This book and its film are exceptionally apropos considering the fascist; racist stranglehold placed upon our sleeping nation by POTUS; Donald Drumpf. Definitely a book and a film to introduce your children to the American Experience through one of its literary masters; James Baldwin :-)
