Synopsis
The metaphor of Mount Improbable is represented in the combination of perfection and improbability, which is epitomized in the seemingly 'designed' perfection of living things. Dawkins skillfully guides the reader on a breathtaking journey through the mountain's passes and up its many peaks to demonstrate that following the improbable path to perfection takes time. Evocative illustrations accompany Dawkin's eloquent descriptions of natural perfections such as the teeming populations of figs, the intricate silken world of spiders, and the evolution of wings on the bodies of flightless animals. Through it all runs the thread of DNA, the molecule of life, responsible for its own destiny on an unending pilgrimage through time.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-09-01 | | Illustrator: | Lalla Ward |
| Size | | Height: | 8.3 in | | Width: | 5.8 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 14.4 oz |
Publisher's Note
In a brilliant book that celebrates improbability, the acclaimed author of "The Selfish Gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker" builds a carefully reasoned and lovingly illustrated argument for evolutionary adaptation as the mechanism for life on Earth. "Without question, Richard Dawkins is the most brilliant and compelling propagandist of Darwin today".--"Wired". Photos and drawings.
Industry Reviews
"But Richard Dawkins is, I think, on the whole, a trustworthy and solid writer, and, as far as I know, the subsequent developments of Darwin's theories of evolution have few more persuasive or intelligent advocates."
Spectator - Philip Hensher
"Without question [he] is the most brilliant and compelling propagandist of Darwin today."
Wired - Michael Schrage
"...In reaching out to a broad audience, Mr. Dawkins might help to dispel from receptive minds ignorant criticism of evolution. If so, his book will be of service to science and society."
New York Times Book Review - Valerius Geist (09/29/1996)
"...read 'Climbing Mount Improbable' for the charming natural history, or if you want an introduction to evolutionary landscapes. But be cautious. Avoid the slippery slopes."
Times Literary Supplement - Robert C. Berwick (09/06/1996)
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