Myths of Human Evolution

The idea of punctuated equilibrium was one of those theoretical 'bon idees' whose subsequent fate was something like 'dog ate the paper', as it was savaged by excessive misuse and incoherent debate. This book shows one aspect of what must have been some of the original insights on the issue and gives a very plain and unstressed critique of Darwinism applied to the descent of man, by mainstream biologists. Later works here are on the defensive and/or muddled by efforts to defend the idea from the virtual assault and battery of the talk.origns style. Very useful look at the limits of the Darwinian account. Before everyone in the field dived into a foxhole due, among other things, to the Intelligent Design movement, the problems with Darwin on man were coming to a head. Then confusion returned. Worth reading still.