Krulwich on Quammin on Darwin

[urbpan]

I just listened to the podcast of "Hmmmm..." the horribly named but otherwise pretty good science feature from NPR. In it I learned that David Quammen (my favorite science journalist) is writing a book about Darwin. I'm not sure if I should be excited about this or disappointed. I think Quammen's best writing is travel and experience based--the stuff he writes based on written research can be kind of dull. But anyway, the reason I bring it up is this quote, describing what the pre-Darwin theory of why living things live where they are (why there are only kangaroos in Australia for example):

"God created every species individually, and put them down wherever they are. I call that 'Special Creation, plus Special Delivery.'"

Cross-posted.

Comments

[principito.livejournal.com]

WOW! I though I was the only Quammen freak :-P

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan! I was unfortunately underwhelmed by "Beast of God," but I have high hopes for the Darwin book.

[principito.livejournal.com]

i haven't had time to read that one :(
but I will have to finish the origing of species before reading quammen's, I'm halfway there...

[principito.livejournal.com]

Is it this one? "The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution (Great Discoveries)"? It is already out (since July)