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Arrival of the Fittest

Solving Evolution's Greatest Puzzle

By (author) Andreas Wagner
Format: Paperback / softback
Publisher: Oneworld Publications, London, United Kingdom
Published: 2nd Jul 2015
Dimensions: w 129mm h 198mm d 22mm
Weight: 246g
ISBN-10: 1780747659
ISBN-13: 9781780747651
Barcode No: 9781780747651
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Synopsis
Darwin's theory of natural selection was a monumental step in our understanding of evolution, explaining how useful adaptations are preserved over generations. However, Darwin's great idea didn't - and couldn't - tell us how those adaptations arise in the first place. On its own, can random mutation really be responsible for all the creative marvels in nature? Renowned evolutionary biologist Andreas Wagner presents the missing piece of Darwin's theory. Using cutting-edge experimental technologies, he has found that adaptations are driven by a set of laws which allow nature to discover new molecules and mechanisms in a fraction of the time that random variation would take. Meticulously researched, carefully argued, and full of fascinating examples from the animal kingdom, Arrival of the Fittest signals an end to the mystery of life's rich diversity.

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'Eminent evolutionary biologist Andreas Wagner fills in the parts of the puzzle even Darwin didn't understand.' * Mail on Sunday * 'Brilliantly polarises scientists' research into the mystery of life itself' * Financial Times, Readers' books of the year * 'A truly revolutionary book' * Independent, best books of the year * 'Elegantly explores the cunning short cuts nature uses to achieve the seemingly impossible' * Sunday Times, a best science book of the year * 'Wagner's book is an eye-opener. As a bonus, his writing is clear and elegant, with vivid analogies and concrete examples to illustrate his key points. You'll never think about evolution in the same way again' * New Scientist * 'Arrival of the Fittest should be mandatory, corrective reading... mind-bending... tremendously exciting' * BBC Focus * 'Quite astounding... The ideas are big, and the numbers hyper-astronomical, but Wagner has a gift for explaining the abstract... elegantly' * THES * 'The author provides a detailed argument in support of the idea that evolutionary adaptations are not random as Darwin originally proposed, but instead, adaptations obey a set of laws that maximise discovery of new molecules and molecular pathways... I already expect I'll see this book on next year's Royal Society Winton Prize shortlist' * Guardian Science blog * 'A book of startling congruencies, insightful flashes and an artful enthusiasm that delivers knowledge from the inorganic page to our organic brains.' -- Kirkus 'Brand new scientific insights told in sparkling literary prose... a landmark book that combines original, perhaps revolutionary, ideas elegantly explained.' -- Matt Ridley, author of <i>Genome</i> 'Arrival of the Fittest reveals the astonishing hidden structure of evolution, long overlooked by biologists, which makes Darwin's grand idea viable after all. At the same time, it makes life seem even richer and more remarkable than you thought. Darwin would surely have loved this book; I think you will too.' -- Philip Ball, author of <i>The Music Instinct</i> and <i>Critical Mass</i> 'Andreas Wagner is one of those rare scientists with the courage and intellect to see the real nature of evolution.' -- Frank Vertosick, author of <i>When the Air Hits Your Brain</i> 'Wagner's engaging and delightful book will open your eyes to the mysteries of innovation. His insights will entertain and astonish you, and they will also change the way you think.' -- Daniel E. Lieberman, Edwin M Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences, Harvard University 'If there is one subject even more controversial than the evolution of intelligence, it is the intelligence of evolution. Andreas Wagner presents a compelling, authoritative, and up-to-date case for bottom-up intelligence in biological evolution, and it sticks.' -- George Dyson, author of <i>Turing's Cathedral</i> 'A radical departure from the mainstream perspective on Darwinian evolution. Andreas Wagner cuts to the core of innovation in living systems. Fundamental. Entertaining. Brilliant.' -- Dr Rolf Dobelli, author of the bestseller <i>The Art of Thinking Clearly</i>