Evolution as entropy: Toward a unified theory of biology

by Daniel R. Brooks

"By combining recent advances in the physical sciences with some of the novel ideas, techniques, and data of modern biology, this book attempts to achieve a new and different kind of evolutionary synthesis. I found it to be challenging, fascinating, infuriating, and provocative, but certainly not dull."â James H, Brown, University of New Mexico

"This book is unquestionably mandatory reading not only for every living biologist but for generations of biologists to come."â Jack P. Hailman, Animal Behaviour, review of the first edition

"An important contribution to modern evolutionary thinking. It fortifies the place of Evolutionary Theory among the other well-established natural laws."â R.Gessink,TAXON

Genres: Evolution, Science, Biology

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1986

Reviews

[Stevie Kaschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very academic book. The main thesis is that evolution is driven primarily by entropic processes. The ideas in this book are well ahead of their time. The modern physicist Jeremey England has recently asked similar questions to what this book explores and answered them in more detail, but these authors were the first to see how physics and biology intertwine in this way.

The book is not written or organized well and the authors frustratingly confuse thermodynamic entropy and information entropy throughout the book. But the ideas are amazing and still coherent. 4 stars for the ideas alone.

[Gary Robert Gress · Rating 2 out of 5]

(personal notes: These authors suggest that increasing ontogenetic complexity (fitness) should be thought of as an increase in entropy (of the species)). They do not substantiate their ideas and theories with evidence, anecdotal or otherwise.

[Yanick Punter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not live up its potential but that's due to me. I found it well-written but difficult matter. Most of it went over my head. Deserves another read.

[Sherwin]

A brilliant and provoking proposal to add up second law of termodynamics and evolutionary data.