Picture of author.

J. Z. Young (1907–1997)

Teoksen The life of vertebrates tekijä

16+ teosta 333 jäsentä 2 arvostelua 1 Favorited

Tietoja tekijästä

Tekijän teokset

Associated Works

The New Scientist, 29 May 1958 (1958) — Reviewer — 1 kappale

Merkitty avainsanalla

Yleistieto

Jäseniä

Kirja-arvosteluja

What a magnificent book. Yes it's dated.....my copy was a 1969 edition of the second edition (from 1962)....so now really 58 years old. And there have been a few findings since then. As I recall from my own university days, the Watson Crick structure of DNA had just been elucidated so all the knowledge about evolution that has flowed from DNA analysis was absent in this early work. To my shame, this book has sat on my shelves all this time and I have never read it cover to cover....just dived into it from time to time to get some understanding of the anatomy or function of some species of animal. And, the reality is that I don't have enough time left to read and absorb this long and relatively complex text. Fortunately, I have a distant relative who would really appreciate the book so I can donate it to a "good home".
Young has attempted an encyclopaedic work which covers not only the evolution of the vertebrates from simplest to most complex but each Phylum seems to be given extraordinary attention. For example with the birds there is a large section covering bird ecology, flight, anatomy, digestion and respiration. A separate chapter devoted to bird behaviour and a third chapter devoted to the evolution of the birds. Admittedly, not all phyla get the same detailed treatment but the detail is still pretty good. And he has a powerful ending chapter of conclusions about the evolution of the vertebrates....most of which would appear to still hold good. For example, He generalises from his earlier work that: there is a tendency for organisms ....to come to live under ever more difficult conditions, gathering and expending more energy to keep alive.....In particular, those that develop mechanisms for learning directly with the nervous system will be successful and will evolve fast." I think it's a great book and really sorry that I have not given it the attention warranted over the many years it has sat on my shelves. (Still the road to hell is paved with "good intentions"). I give it 4.5 stars ...would have given it 5 but it really is now rather dated.
… (lisätietoja)
½
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
booktsunami | Mar 24, 2020 |
Although most consider the beginning of cognitive science to be in 1959 with Chomsky's rebuttal of Skinner's Verbal Behavior, after reading "Doubt and Certainty in Science" I am fully convinced it began in 1950. This book contains transcripts of Young's Reith lecture. In the final lecture Young lays out a rough blueprint for cognitive science: "There are already distinct signs that in future there will be less sharp separation between physical, biological, and sociological science than there is now." As well, in anticipation of Chomsky's comments, he takes time to note that it's only a matter of time before behaviouralism is supplanted by a better theory. The beginning is a great summary of the bird's eye view of neuroscience as it was in 1950, before it became distinct from biology itself. And all interwoven into this is a discussion of models - a concept that forms the backbone of so many modern cognitive theories. I'm stunned that these lectures were prepared in 1949 and that they've received so little discussion in modern cognitive science programs. This book was a great way to re-centre myself on the trajectory cognitive science, remind me of what's important, and to motivate me to move the field forward in the small way that I am able to.… (lisätietoja)
½
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
jakebornheimer | Apr 18, 2019 |

You May Also Like

Associated Authors

Tilastot

Teokset
16
Also by
1
Jäseniä
333
Suosituimmuussija
#71,381
Arvio (tähdet)
3.8
Kirja-arvosteluja
2
ISBN:t
28
Kielet
3
Kuinka monen suosikki
1

Taulukot ja kaaviot