Life: An Introduction to Biology - George G. Simpson - Hardcover - Abridged Book

In the beginning of the book, Rose cites the successful popular books
by Levins and Levontin such as "Dialectical Biologists" and "Not in
Our Genes". He claims that their thesis of dialectical approach to
evolution and rejection of reductionism in biology bears
repeating. So, apparently, Rose decided to write a me-too book on the
subject. To increase the number of good books so to speak. Problem is
that he tries to extirpate the evils of reductionist thinking without
bothering to learn to write cogently.

Remember the silly principle they taught you in grad school as to how
to write a research paper? Where in the introduction you say what you
are going to say, then say it, then you say what you have said in the
conclusion. Now imagine the whole book where every second sentence is
reflective of what is happening. That's "Lifelines". Rose takes care
to constantly explain to us what it is that he is explaining. He also
makes sure to forward and backward reference the other parts of the
book lest we forget. Rose ensures that the attention is never drawn
from him, the main character of the book. We are expected to observe
and admire how clever he is.

The style is certainly annoying. However, the main problem with the
book is that Rose does not back up his claims with with facts
extensively. He sprinkles anecdotes here and there but he assumes that
if he just says the _right words_ the argument should be convincing
enough. And indeed, Rose views lie in dialectical, progressive part of
academic spectrum. It would have been a great book had he been able to
argue his points convincingly. Instead the book reads like a
scatterbrained self-centered academic cocktail party ramble.

One can still glean some interesting bits of information and key in on
the researchers' names and concepts Rose drops. But such useful bits
are few and far between. With this book, Rose does a disservice to the
cause he set out to support.