欧宝娱乐

Here's why this book blew my mind. I remember almost everything I learned in high school biology (more than 20 years ago), and there were some things that no one could then explain. What, for instance, triggers some cells to become liver cells while others become skin cells? And, why, once a cell has become a liver cell, can it not produce skin cells? Why do all vertebrates follow roughly the same sequence of embryonic and fetal development?

Those things were a mystery in the 80s, and they were often (and are often still) cited by opponents of the twin theories of evolution and genetics as evidence for the existence of some divine being - since we had not yet discovered a simple material cause, these mysteries must have been the work of a divine intelligence.

"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" blew my mind because it proposes scientifically sound, empirically supported answers to those questions. The Wow Factor was twofold. I admired the carefully choreographed ballet of embryonic development where causes flowed simply and surely from the effects of prior causes, no intelligent designer required. At the same time, I marvelled at the intricacy and ingenuity of the human minds that managed to figure all this out.

As I read the book, I'd remark to my husband, who had read it right before I did, "So, he's now explained the mystery of x, that we didn't know about when I was in HS. But I'm still wondering about y." Then the next day, I'd say, "He's explained y now, but what about z?" Then the next day, "He got z, too ..."

"Endless Forms" was the first book I read last year, and it was the most memorable and satisfying book of the entire year.