Demons in Eden: The Paradox of Plant Diversity

by Jonathan Silvertown

Book Overview

At the heart of evolution lies a bewildering paradox. Natural selection favors above all the individual that leaves the most offspring--a superorganism of sorts that Jonathan Silvertown here calls the "Darwinian demon." But if such a demon existed, this highly successful organism would populate the entire world with its own kind, beating out other species and eventually extinguishing biodiversity as we know it. Why then, if evolution favors this demon,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226757714
• ISBN13: 9780226757711
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Informative and Enjoyable

I learned a lot from this book. There are times when it's difficult to read because I don't know how to pronounce the scientific names of plants, or the names of locations, otherwise much of the book is written very artistically and it was a joy to read. This is one book I will definitely keep.