If you want to contemplate your place in the great scheme of things then The Individual in Darwin’s World by Stephen Jay Gould, (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £3.99, ISBN 0 297 81665 9) is an insight into current evolutionary thinking. The book explores “Geology’s frightening fact” – its vast timescale – and contains inspiring analogies which show that we are just part of the world’s haphazard journey through time. There is no room for destiny. Gould takes us through what it means to be an individual, firstly for us humans and, secondly, for the process that control us, evolution.
More from New ¾«¶«´«Ã½
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Mind
The relationship recession is even bigger for Gen Z than we thought
News
Technology
Killer robots are here – we must finally decide whether to accept them
Leader
Technology
Quantum computer quickly mines cryptocurrency while using less energy
News
Mind
How to sparkle in conversation with strangers
Comment
Popular articles
Trending New ¾«¶«´«Ã½ articles
1
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
2
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies
3
Unpicking endometriosis reveals how it affects more than the pelvis
4
Alice Roberts: The forgotten origins of the human body
5
New ¾«¶«´«Ã½ recommends a brilliant take on the evolution of birds
6
Explore the mind-bending and paradoxical art of M C. Escher
7
How to sparkle in conversation with strangers
8
The relationship recession is even bigger for Gen Z than we thought
9
Millions of fossil whale bones found in deep-ocean ‘necropolis’
10
Quantum computer quickly mines cryptocurrency while using less energy
