Evolution

by Jean-Baptiste de Panafieu, Linda Asher (Translator), Patrick Gries (Photographer)

Unprecedented in its approach, the number and diversity of the species presented, and the quality of the photographs, Evolution is the book on how we came to be what we are. Spectacular, mysterious, elegant, or grotesque, the skeletons of the vertebrates that inhabit the earth today carry within them the imprint of an evolutionary process that has lasted several billion years. This book is the result of a dual approach, scientific as well as aesthetic, rigorous yet accessible. Each chapter is made up of a short text that illuminates one theme of the evolutionary process—repetition, adaptation, polymorphism, sexual selection, and more—and a series of exquisitely composed photographs of skeletons against a black background. Approximately three hundred photographs of whole skeletons or their details have been made possible by the French National Museum of Natural History. The reader learns, by experiencing each text and photograph together, how the structure of every creature has been shaped by its environmental and genetic inheritance.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Palaeontology, Natural History, Photography, Reference, Evolution

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jean-Baptiste de Panafieu, né le 11 juin 1955, est agrégé de sciences naturelles et docteur en océanologie biologique. Il a publié de nombreux ouvrages de vulgarisation scientifique (Gallimard Jeunesse, Milan, Gulf Stream, Casterman, Plume de Carotte, Xavier Barral). Il est également réalisateur et scénariste de films documentaires.

Reviews

[Dave Gaston · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential book for the basic visual understanding of Evolution, artfully disguised as a beautiful coffee table book. The intricate staging and stark black and white skeleton photography in this over sized book is expansive, if not mind blowing. Jean Baptiste visually demonstrates the dotted line “AHA'S!” that must have thrilled the first scientists that made the connection. It sure made an impression on me. Five stars. PS A great visual follow-up to the more text dense, “Your Inner Fish.” So much so, I’d bundle and market them together. But please don't dismiss the writing in this book. Panafieu's summations are exceptional! This book is an uncommon find.

[非洲大象 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a unique and comprehensive analysis of animal evolution. The illustrations are exquisite and clear, and the author's writing is also elegant but humourous. Even if the chapters are independent, there is a perfect logical connection between each other.
In short, it is definitely a good book that matches the price performance.
Five-stars recommendation!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my three-year-old's favorite book. He likes to look for the skeletons he's seen at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, which he asks to go to every single day. (We have a pass, so we try to go at least once a week.)

It's a heavy book, with beautiful pictures. We started out just reading him the captions, but now that he's more familiar with it, we're actually talking about the pictures, and summarizing some of the text for him, too. The text is the kind of nonfiction that, if you just dip in at any point, you find yourself pulled in and next thing you know you've read the whole page and the next one. There are only two or three pages of text per group of pictures, and he usually steals the book from me if I stop talking long enough to actually read, so I only read it in bits and pieces. But I highly recommend it.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spectacular, coffee table-sized book. It's filled with black and white photos of the skeletons of different animals, many of them posed as they would have been in life. My favorite is the photo of the human skeleton riding the horse skeleton. There is text in this book, but I've been so engrossed by the pictures I haven't read any of it yet.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. With beautiful renderings of skeletons from all types of animals and primates, it has been keeping me entertained for hours.

The book is giving me incredible insight into human evolution. I can see withy my eyes our slow uprighting and skull shape shifting.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful collection of animal skeleton photos in one place. The layout and format of the book is wonderful as well. I would have been satisfied with imagery alone, the accompanying text is engaging and interesting as well. Helps to frame the wonderful photography in an even better light.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

so beautiful, these photographs of skeletons.

[Diedre Poellnitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some exquisite photographs. The curator from museum recommended this book for me and I am glad he did..

[Fredrika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. He discusses very specific traits / movements / animals with corresponding photos of their skeletons.