Darwin's Ghost: The Origin of Species Updated

I have not read the original work by Charles Darwin, the famous "The Origin of Species" - but this book "Almost Like a Whale" (it's title in its native English and the Australian market) not only introduces Darwin's main lines of argument and examples, it also brings many of them up to date. It uses Darwin's original chapter structure and organization to do so, bringing into modern illustrations of examples, better cases, and modernized arguments - and current scientific questions. It is very well written, good for reading a chapter at a time to allow for reflection between groups of ideas.

A wonderfully well written book that is accessible for everyone- I'm no biologist but I could understand everything about. The book deals with evolutionary biology and Darwin's theory of evolution. A must for anyone interested in where they and the world around them are from or linked to one another.

"Darwin's Ghost" by Steve Jones, a professor of Genetics at Univesity College London, is the best statement of the theory of evolution I've read. Jones reweaves Darwin's "One Long Arguement" into a format that's easy to understand for non-biologists and lay people. He uses the new science of genetics and examples from DNA evidence to demonstrate the proof of evolution: It's in the genes! From the evolution of HIV into a species that attacks humans, to that virus splitting off into two species, HIV-1 and HIV-2, each species genetically modified to different human populations, to the constant evolutionary change of HIV-1 and -2 as we fight back with anti-viral drugs. Natural Selection never stops. Thanks to the drugs we use against HIV (and bacteriological infections), we can see evolution in action, which creationists used to get away with claiming was impossible. Jones makes us aware of that simple proof: Once again, it's in the genes. Professor Jones has written a modern version of "The Origin of Species," and Jones' work is easier to understand (for most people) than Darwin's texts. This book is a must for people who want to understand evolution, which is nothing more than descent with modification due to Natural Selection.Simple, eloquent proof: "Darwin's Ghost." Thank you Steve Jones.

Regardless of your interest in or knowledge of science, Jones' work is captivating. Equally important, for the general reader, it is not hard work. Using modern scientific advances including work on diseases (such as AIDS and sickle cell anemia), primate research and genetics, Jones sets out to prove Darwin's theory of "descent by modification" all over again. He succeeds both in supporting Darwin's theory and holding the reader's interest with a sharp writing style and a gift for applying useful analogies and metaphors that make his subject accessible. Some of Jones' sidebar comments will make you laugh out loud and some of his more profound conclusions will have you thinking about and recommending this book long after you have finished it.

I picked this up because of the great NY Times Book Review review--I'm not a science buff in particular, but it just sounded like a good, intelligent read. Just want to say how glad I am I took the plunge, because this book is so wide-ranging, it's about everything. It's fantastic--I've never read anything quite like it. Animals, life, AIDS, history, geography, God--you name it, Jones talks about it, and he weaves it all together into an incredibly readable book. So here's from one satisfied reader--I couldn't recommend this book more.