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Turning Points: How Critical Events Have Driven Human Evolution, Life, and Development
Critical historical events–or “turning points”–have shaped evolution and continue to have a decisive effect on individual lives. This theme is explored and explained in this lucid, accessible book for lay readers. The author argues that, although evolution is the result of unpredictable events, these events have profound influences on subsequent developments. Life is thus a continuous interplay between unforeseeable events and their decisive consequences.
As one example, the author cites the fusing of two chromosomes, which differentiated the human species from our closest animal relatives about 4 million years ago. This event was not predictable, but it had a profound effect on the evolution of our species thereafter. By the same token, certain unpredictable circumstances in the past enabled only Homo sapiens to survive to the present day, though we now know that other human-like species also once existed.
The author contrasts such scientific concepts grounded in solid evidence with prevalent misconceptions about life: specifically, the notion that there is a plan and purpose behind life, the widespread perception that intelligent design governs the workings of nature, the persistent belief in destiny and fate, and the attribution of an overly deterministic role to genes.
This excellent introduction for laypersons to core ideas in biology goes a long way toward dispelling such misconceptions and presents current scientific research in clearly understandable, jargon-free terms.
As one example, the author cites the fusing of two chromosomes, which differentiated the human species from our closest animal relatives about 4 million years ago. This event was not predictable, but it had a profound effect on the evolution of our species thereafter. By the same token, certain unpredictable circumstances in the past enabled only Homo sapiens to survive to the present day, though we now know that other human-like species also once existed.
The author contrasts such scientific concepts grounded in solid evidence with prevalent misconceptions about life: specifically, the notion that there is a plan and purpose behind life, the widespread perception that intelligent design governs the workings of nature, the persistent belief in destiny and fate, and the attribution of an overly deterministic role to genes.
This excellent introduction for laypersons to core ideas in biology goes a long way toward dispelling such misconceptions and presents current scientific research in clearly understandable, jargon-free terms.
- GenresEvolution
366 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 13, 2018
3.5 stars.
Why do birds have wings? You’re probably thinking: “So they can fly, obviously.” But what about flightless birds like penguins or ostriches? Kostas Kampourakis provides a simple answer: “Birds have come to possess their features through evolution and are not intelligently designed.”
In his new book Turning Points: How Critical Events Have Driven Human Evolution, Life, and Development, Kampourakis, a researcher in science education at the University of Geneva, dismantles the “design stance” by providing scientific evidence that human beings and human lives are not the products of fate, destiny, or an omniscient God. While Kampourakis spends half of the book railing against creationism, he also provides an excellent introduction to genetics. For curious and open-minded science aficionados, Turning Points provides a roadmap for disentangling evolutionary biology’s most complicated concepts.
Full review located here: http://coopersquarereview.org/review/...
Why do birds have wings? You’re probably thinking: “So they can fly, obviously.” But what about flightless birds like penguins or ostriches? Kostas Kampourakis provides a simple answer: “Birds have come to possess their features through evolution and are not intelligently designed.”
In his new book Turning Points: How Critical Events Have Driven Human Evolution, Life, and Development, Kampourakis, a researcher in science education at the University of Geneva, dismantles the “design stance” by providing scientific evidence that human beings and human lives are not the products of fate, destiny, or an omniscient God. While Kampourakis spends half of the book railing against creationism, he also provides an excellent introduction to genetics. For curious and open-minded science aficionados, Turning Points provides a roadmap for disentangling evolutionary biology’s most complicated concepts.
Full review located here: http://coopersquarereview.org/review/...
September 23, 2019
In this brilliant book, K. Kampourakis points out the unpredictable characteristic of several fundamental biological processes (e.g., fertilization, human development or evolution), which in my opinion is too often underrated in other biological works. The psychological approach is really innovative and stunning, as the author makes us aware through clear, concrete and well-illustrated examples of our intuitive and unconscious habit to see purpose in biological events, as well as our bias to underestimate random causes to make sense of them. I found this consideration extremely useful not only to understand better, but also to remember easily how evolution works (as it involves random mutations). Therefore, other persons eager to learn more about biology & science like me will definitely find this reading accessible, enjoyable and highly instructive.
November 4, 2019
An excellent treatise on how you can be fooled while looking at your past. Every major event seems to be node on straight line, while in fact you are navigating in a mesh of turning points. Focusing on the surviving pathway is a common pitfall and the author provides various counter-intuitive examples to alleviate this way of thinking.
On the other hand, the book is an ode to your own uniqueness. As stated in the text you are the sole survivor of your 70 trillion possible siblings. Me writing these lines and you reading them is indeed an improbable event!
Finally, the author refutes with a plethora of examples the common misconception that our genetic heritage determines our future. The book presents numerous factors that come into play during one’s development process.
A mind-changing book in various ways.
On the other hand, the book is an ode to your own uniqueness. As stated in the text you are the sole survivor of your 70 trillion possible siblings. Me writing these lines and you reading them is indeed an improbable event!
Finally, the author refutes with a plethora of examples the common misconception that our genetic heritage determines our future. The book presents numerous factors that come into play during one’s development process.
A mind-changing book in various ways.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews