Discovering Life's Story: The Evolution of an Idea - by Joy Hakim (Hardcover)

About the Book

"... author Joy Hakim continues charting the path of human discovery and shows how groundbreaking thinkers began to unlock the biological secrets of our own existence."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

In the second volume of the Discovering Life's Story series by best-selling author Joy Hakim, the theory of evolution takes hold--transforming ideas about survival, extinction, and life itself.

Can species change? Or go extinct? In the eighteenth century, most people answer no to both questions. But in the century that follows, that certainty gets challenged as some people in Europe question the common belief that all creatures are the same as they've been since life's creation. The Evolution of an Idea, the second volume of Discovering Life's Story, opens with the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, who attempts to create an organizing system for the myriad forms of life on earth. It continues into the late 1800s, when two Englishmen--Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace--each develop their own version of a startling new theory of how life-forms change over time. This evolutionary idea will alter the understanding of our place in the great web of life on earth. In this remarkable volume, author Joy Hakim continues charting the path of human discovery and shows how groundbreaking thinkers began to unlock the biological secrets of our own existence.

Review Quotes

The second volume of Hakim's impressive Discovering Life's Story series on the history of life sciences covers the developing understandings of science, especially evolution and natural selection, that arose in the eighteenth century. . . . Written in an engaging manner and with a wealth of helpful context, this extremely informative volume in an exceptionally well-executed series is highly recommended.
--Booklist (starred review )

The second in a series about life sciences, this volume provides a comprehensive history of how the theory of evolution took root, grew, and flourished. . . . While the scientific ideas presented are big, the straightforward prose simplifies the concepts so that the work reads almost like a novel, and the author's use of the present tense lends immediacy. The pleasing layout, with many photos, drawings, etchings, paintings, and textboxes, animates the text even further. . . . A compelling and important history of a seminal idea.
--Kirkus Reviews

This is a thoughtful, engaging read of Western scientific thought that starts with an introduction to the Age of Enlightenment, tracing the momentum of those ideas over time. . . . ­Hakim's writing style is a fresh ­approach, opting for an accessible tone. . . . ­Hakim takes a multidisciplinary approach, and connects the science to the social, political, and cultural environments in which these scientists are working. ­An engaging volume for young readers to use for reference--or, maybe, as their next nonfiction read.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Joy Hakim is the best-selling author of A History of US, a ten-volume history of the United States that has sold more than three million copies, as well as the much-lauded Story of Science series that includes Einstein Adds a New Dimension. Joy Hakim is also the author of the first book in the Discovering Life's Story series, Biology's Beginnings. She has worked as a teacher, newspaper writer, and editor and lives in Maryland.