The Orienting Response in Information Processing Book

I read this book over the course of an entire semester of college, as it was assigned for my Ecology, Evolution & Society Biology class. That being said, I am sad to see it come to an end as this semester winds to a close as well. I had begun to look forward to the new piece of evidence or explanation for natural selection that Carroll provided with each new chapter. He presents a myriad of examples in very simplified way, so as to provide readers with an easier and more comprehensive way of understanding the mechanisms of evolution. He does so by utilizing the newest way in which scientists have begun to understand evolution and shared ancestry: through DNA.

With each chapter, Carroll clearly explains the inner-workings of evolution, and presents new and interesting findings and statistics that you might have never heard of before. Upon finishing this book, you will have a new wealth of knowledge regarding the ways in which species interact with one another to foster the grand ecosystem that is the tree of life. Every organism, even the most seemingly insignificant ones, have a purpose in the world, for each organism is but a puzzle piece within the constantly changing web or organisms. The fittest is a conditional phase, and no organism is guaranteed to be at the top of the hierarchy forever. Thus, we are all in an evolutionary arm's race of sorts--I think our status as animals sharing this earth among many others who must run just as fast as us to keep up with nature, is quite beautiful, if you think about it.

I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in biology, evolution, Darwinism, etc. Those who are beginners in biology/people who lack a sufficient scientific background will be pleased to find that Carroll makes this understandable and interesting for the average Joe.

10/10