books

Stephen Jay Gould

Books: Science | History | Philosophy

The Mismeasure of Man (1981), Bully for Brontosaurus, Dinosaur in a Haystack (1991), Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life (1999)

Anthropologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote monthly essays for Natural History magazine, in a tenure that ended December 2000. He used humor and flair that make what could be a dry subject entertaining.

Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life (1999)

Rocks of AgesHe presents a very interesting idea, and one, to be honest, with which I agree. That there is no conflict between science and religion. That being a scientist does not preclude religious faith, and religious faith does not preclude accepting evolution and other scientific theories. He presents his idea well, and he has some interesting anecdotes and stories, including, oddly enough, a defense of William Jennings Bryan, who took the side against evolution in the Scopes Monkey Trial. Bryan, according to Gould, had some good and valid points, he just had the wrong solution. So I enjoyed the book, but I do not think that it would change the mind of a hard core creationist or atheist. But I still like it.