Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life from Ancient Fossils to DNA

Over billions of years ancient fish evolved to walk on land reptiles transformed into birds that fly and ape-like primates evolved into humans that walk on two legs talk and write. For more than a century paleontologists have travel Ed the globe to find fossils that show how changes such as these have happened. We have now arrived at a remarkable moment-archaicc fossils coupled with new DNA technology have given us the tools to answer some of the basic questions of our existence: how do big changes in evolution happen? Is our presence on Earth the product of mere chance? This new Science reveals a multibillion-year evolutionary history filled with twists and turns trial and error accident and invention. In some assembly required Neil shubin takes readers on a journey of discovery spanning centuries as explorers and scientists seek to understand the origins of lifes immense diversity. Review An engaging must-read for anyone with an interest in evolution.”-Library Journal (starred review)“A rollicking ride . . . It’s light of touch anecdote-rich and funny . . . satisfyingly informative . . . Fossils DNA scientists with a penchant for suits of armour-what’s not to love?”-- BBC Wildlife MagazineAnother winner from Dr. Shubin who skillfully and thoughtfully steers us through the incredibly fascinating world of DNA and fossils.  Dr. Shubin’s clear and engaging writing rewards us with a deeper understanding of how all life on our planet is interconnected.  Steeped in the paradigm of evolutionary theory he inspires us to think more deeply about our connectedness with the natural world.  Charles Darwin would applaud Dr. Shubin’s clear explanations and insightful rendering of the incontrovertible evidence for the evolution of all life on planet Earth.-Donald Johanson director Institute of Human Origins; discoverer of “Lucy”“Neil Shubin shows himself to be a natural storyteller and a gifted scientific communicator.”-Wall Street JournalIntimate and thoughtful . . . Exciting . . . [A] sweeping evolutionary history . . . One of the book’s best features is a 30-page notes section at the end in which each note could be fodder for an entire volume. These notes are separated by chapter and many tell a short engaging story often accompanied by annotated suggestions for further reading. Readers will want to peruse this section and follow up on some of those readings.-Science Neil Shubin has been one of my favorite science communicators ever since I took his undergraduate anatomy course. In this ambitious and readable book Shubin blends his own research epic tales from the history of science and the latest discoveries in paleontology and genetics to tackle some of the biggest mysteries of evolution. This is an engrossing account from a scientific storyteller at the height of his talents.-Steve Brusatte University of Edinburgh paleontologist and author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs“Shubin is a brilliant scientist storyteller-an eloquent narrator who draws you into his rich evolving world of walking fish and mutant flies prehistoric birds and precocious biologists. Part adventure part mystery with twists and turns you couldn’t make up if you triedSome Assembly Required is an irresistible read!-Robert M. Hazen Carnegie Institution for Science and author of Symphony in CThrough tales of remarkable creatures and some even more remarkable people who study them Neil Shubin unravels the mystery at the heart of evolution-how nature invents. From bacteria to brains fish lungs to ballistic salamander tongues Shubin decodes the surprising origins of the marvelous gadgets that have driven the riot of life’s diversity.”-Sean B. Carroll author of The Serengeti Rules and Brave Genius[Shubins] four-billion-year history from ancient fossils to DNA presents the true picture to the general reader with engaging portraits of contributing scientists past and