Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

This volume contains an engaging series of essays about Darwinian natural selection. As one who lectures regularly on Darwin and the Origin of Species, this reviewer appreciates the clear, articulate, and welcoming approach that Pagán (West Chester Univ. of Pennsylvania) brings to his subject. This text would make for excellent supplemental reading in a lower level undergraduate course; it it is also ideally suited for the general reader. After two chapters reviewing basic concepts in evolution, the essays explore myriad examples of predator/prey adaptations and defense mechanisms. Some unusual adaptations discussed include electricity, toxins, and biomechanical adaptations. A final chapter pays homage to the late renowned evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis, an influential scholar of evolutionary symbiosis, by considering symbiosis as an evolutionary mechanism. Pagán examines the endosymbiotic origin of the eukaryotic cell, as well as several other interesting examples of cooperation found in nature. The text is excellently referenced so the reader will have quick access to the supporting literature. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Undergraduates and general readers. --Paul K. Strother, Boston College

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Do not pick up pretty cone snail shells on the beach. If still inside, this snail has a venomous harpoon, its deadly defense against predators. Like many creatures that appear at first glance to be very vulnerable, the snail has evolved to survive. Biologist Pagán describes the evolution of many unusual creatures and their surprising survival strategies. Some fish, eels, and rays stun predators and prey with electrical shocks. Numerous frogs and insects are filled with toxins that sicken or kill predators. Wasps, bees, snakes, worms, and even the platypus are venomous. Despite this abundance of deadly defenses, Pagán contends that the most successful animals are those that cooperate with their kind or other species. Social insects, fish, and mammals build communities for species survival, while some symbiotic pairs, such as sharks and pilot fish, work together for mutual benefit. Most interesting is Pagán's discussion of how single-cell creatures joined together to form large, multicellular organisms, including humans. This is a great pick for readers who enjoy watching PBS Nature and Discovery Channel programs.--Roche, Rick Copyright 2018 Booklist