lmsk's review
4.0
Compared to most popular science books (the Sapiens, Cosmos, Short History of Nearly Everything, so on) of the world, The Beak of the Finch's tightness of scope (evolutionary biology) recommends it.
I was also lucky enough to read the book while in the Encantadas - to be reading about Daphne Major and see it outside your cabin window certainly adds to the experience. (Also, wow, Peter & Rosemary Grant! Spending 20 years off and on living on that large rock / small island...)
Unfortunately, the book's topical focus is not matched by concision in editing and structure: parts are repetitive, & could have benefited by reorganization or outright pruning. Still, to balance education, entertainment, and commentary in such fine style is a rarity.
P.S. the penicillin end-note / the general events of '20-21...
I was also lucky enough to read the book while in the Encantadas - to be reading about Daphne Major and see it outside your cabin window certainly adds to the experience. (Also, wow, Peter & Rosemary Grant! Spending 20 years off and on living on that large rock / small island...)
Unfortunately, the book's topical focus is not matched by concision in editing and structure: parts are repetitive, & could have benefited by reorganization or outright pruning. Still, to balance education, entertainment, and commentary in such fine style is a rarity.
P.S. the penicillin end-note / the general events of '20-21...
anitaofplaybooktag's review
4.0
This book was incredibly educational. For those who are super interested in science or biology, it probably will be a five star read. It is very detailed.
Weiner basically follows the work of evolutionary biologists, primarily focusing on the finches in the Galapagos, but also referencing the work of other biologists with other species. What struck me was the speed with which evolution can actually take place and that biologists have figured out experimental methods to track it. What ASTONISHED me was the infinite patience these scientists have for the minutia and tedium of the work it takes to make breakthroughs in this field. Honestly, it is mindblowing. After year one of catching finches, banding finches, measuring each finch body part, watching them mate, recording the results, - all in near isolation - I'd need mental health treatment. And these folks did this for twenty years straight.
My favorite part of the book is about an experiment run with these spotted guppies. The results were so fascinating.
Weiner makes all this material very accessible though some parts were certainly more interesting than others. There's various kinds of selection - natural and sexual - and when he discusses hybridization, he kinda lost me. Probably more out of boredom than him not explaining it well.
But overall, a really excellent read for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of evolution and how it works in the real world.
Weiner basically follows the work of evolutionary biologists, primarily focusing on the finches in the Galapagos, but also referencing the work of other biologists with other species. What struck me was the speed with which evolution can actually take place and that biologists have figured out experimental methods to track it. What ASTONISHED me was the infinite patience these scientists have for the minutia and tedium of the work it takes to make breakthroughs in this field. Honestly, it is mindblowing. After year one of catching finches, banding finches, measuring each finch body part, watching them mate, recording the results, - all in near isolation - I'd need mental health treatment. And these folks did this for twenty years straight.
My favorite part of the book is about an experiment run with these spotted guppies. The results were so fascinating.
Weiner makes all this material very accessible though some parts were certainly more interesting than others. There's various kinds of selection - natural and sexual - and when he discusses hybridization, he kinda lost me. Probably more out of boredom than him not explaining it well.
But overall, a really excellent read for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of evolution and how it works in the real world.
iffer's review
3.0
I thought that this book explained the beautiful complexity of evolutionary biology (which, actually, I think that all science has) and spirit of fieldwork well in layman's terms. I did think that it did become monotonous and that the author's writing style was a little unnecessarily florid and over dramatic in his attempts to communicate the wonder of nature. Some of his metaphors were more suited to a TV PBS special than a book.
rhymeswithjulia's review
5.0
A fascinating and extraordinarily readable account of how evolution went from an abstract concept to an observable process. Having just been to the Galapagos I enjoyed the discussion of the finches, but the book also moves on to discuss how insects and viruses evolve and how that impacts our daily life.