Thomas H. Huxley: Man’s Place in Nature

Darwin said it first, but Huxley said it best. Known as “Darwin’s bulldog” for his tenacious and successful defense of evolution by natural selection, biologist T.H. Huxley wrote Man’s Place in Nature to bolster his case with hard facts. This new edition, edited and introduced by eminent paleontologist and evolutionary theorist Stephen Jay Gould, reminds the readers of the power of good writing to influence opinion. Huxley’s style is charmingly persuasive, even when he’s describing the intimate details of the lemur’s skull. The illustrations range from crude to beautifully detailed and generally take a back seat to the prose. Those involved in debates with creationists–150 years after Darwin–will be discouraged to learn that Huxley faced many of the same arguments in his day. Still, armed with Man’s Place in Nature , another generation can fight and win. –Rob Lightner