Allianz and the German Insurance Business, 1933-1945

Book Description

Gerald Feldman's history of the internationally prominent insurance corporation Allianz AG in the Nazi era is based largely on new or previously unavailable archival sources, making this a more accurate account of Allianz and the men who directed its business than was ever before possible. Feldman takes the reader through varied cases of collaboration and conflict with the Nazi regime with fairness and a commitment to informed analysis, touching on issues of damages in the Pogrom of 1938, insuring facilities used in forced labor camps, and the problems of denazification and restitution. The broader issues examined in this study--when cooperation with Nazi policies was compulsory and when it was complicit, the way in which profit, ideology, and opportunism played a role in corporate decision making, and the question of how Jewish insurance assets were expropriated--are particularly relevant today given the ongoing international debate about restitution for Holocaust survivors. This book joins a growing body of scholarship based on open access to the records of German corporations in the Nazi era. Gerald D. Feldman is Professor of History at the University of California at Berkeley. His book, The Great Disorder (Oxford, 1993) received the DAAD Book Prize of the German Historical Association and the Book Prize for Central European History from the American Historical Association. He was an invited expert at the London Gold Conference in December 1997 and at the U.S. Conference on Holocaust Assets in Washington, D.C. in December 1998 and served as an advisor to the Presidential Commision on Holocaust Assets in the United States.

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This history of the internationally prominent insurance corporation Allianz AG in the Nazi era is based largely on new or previously unavailable archival sources. Feldman takes the reader through varied cases of collaboration and conflict with the Nazi regime with fairness and a commitment to informed analysis. He touches on issues of damages in the Pogrom of 1938, insuring facilities used in forced labor camps, and the problems of de-Nazification and restitution. The broader issues examined in this study - cooperation with Nazi policies, the way in which profit, ideology, and opportunism played a role in corporate decision making, and the question of how Jewish insurance assets were expropriated - are particularly relevant today given the ongoing international debate about restitution for Holocaust survivors. This book joins a growing body of scholarship based on free access to the records of German corporations in the Nazi era.

Allianz and the German Insurance Business, 1933-1945.(Book Review): An article from: Canadian Journal of History

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Allianz and the German Insurance Business, 1933-1945.(Book Review): An article from: Canadian Journal of History
Richard Tilly
Manufacturer: University of Saskatchewan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on April 1, 2003. The length of the article is 694 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Allianz and the German Insurance Business, 1933-1945.(Book Review)
Author: Richard Tilly
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2003
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Page: 127(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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Gerald D. Feldman, Allianz and the German Insurance Business 1933-1945. (book review): An article from: German Politics and Society

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Gerald D. Feldman, Allianz and the German Insurance Business 1933-1945. (book review): An article from: German Politics and Society
Harold James
Manufacturer: Berghahn Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Since the modern wave of lotteries began over twenty-five years ago in New Hampshire, state-operated lotteries have become an area of tremendous growth for public sector financing. Gambling taxes of all kinds have been steadily increasing, and thirty-three states are now operating lotteries. In this work, Mary Borg, Paul Mason, and Stephen Shapiro examine the economic impact and consequences of state lotteries, focusing specifically on the efficiency and equity of state government revenue and expenditure policy. The study begins with an overview of statistical information characterizing the nation's lotteries, and a review of the scholarly literature concerning lotteries and the economic evaluation of the lottery tax. A pair of chapters then explore the equity and efficiency of lotteries. The equity issues are addressed by considering the budgetary impact of the lottery in Illinois and Florida, while the efficiency issues focus on the six education-supporting lottery states, covering such topics as whether taxes are allocated to designated recipients and are efficiently administered. Subsequent chapters detail the effect of lottery taxes on other sources of state tax revenue, and the issue of whether money spent on lottery tickets comes at the expense of necessities or alternative expenditures. A final chapter offers policy prescriptions that could enhance efficiency and equity, as well as a discussion of whether lotteries should be discontinued. This volume will be an important resource for scholars and policy makers in economics, state and local government, and public administration, and a valuable addition to both public and academic libraries.

The Economic Consequences of State Lotteries

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The Economic Consequences of State Lotteries
Paul M. Mason, Stephen L. Shapiro Mary O. Borg
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OR0YUK

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Southeast Asia's Misunderstood Miracle: Industrial Policy and Economic Development in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.(Review): An article from: Pacific Affairs
Greg Felker
Manufacturer: University of British Columbia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00098X5GY
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on June 22, 1999. The length of the article is 704 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Southeast Asia's Misunderstood Miracle: Industrial Policy and Economic Development in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.(Review)
Author: Greg Felker
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 1999
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: 72 Issue: 2 Page: 282(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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Southeast Asia's Misunderstood Miracle: Industrial Policy and Economic Development in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia

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Southeast Asia's Misunderstood Miracle: Industrial Policy and Economic Development in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia
Jomo K. S. , Chen Yun Chung , Brian C. Folk , Irfan Ul-Haque , Pasuk Phongpaichit , Batara Simatupang , and Mayuri Tateishi
Manufacturer: Westview Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Development & Growth | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Indonesia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Thailand | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0813390206

Book Description

No band of the 1990s has garnered as much critical and commercial success as Radiohead. Back to Save the Universe is the first book to look at the creation of that music song by song, tracking Radiohead from their Brit-pop beginnings with Pablo Honey and the unexpected success of the hit single “Creep” up through the electro-improv experimentations of Kid A and Amnesiac. Back to Save the Universe discovers the sources of singer Thom Yorke’s soaring laments for the postmodern condition, and deconstructs the studio process from which Radiohead’s adventurous soundscapes have emerged. Although still early in their career, Radiohead has had a startling impact on contemporary popular music, creating some of the most adventurous sounds to find a home on Top 40 radio. With a complete discography that includes remixes and single-only tracks as well as 100 color and black-and-white photographs, Back to Save the Universe is essential reading to understand where these intrepid artists are headed in the new millennium. “They have intensity, intelligence, a personality in sound ... this band is taken as seriously as any since the Beatles.”—The New Yorker

Customer Reviews:

Not great. .......2006-01-24

Doheny's book is more about his personal interpretations of the songs than stories surrounding the creative and recording process (a problem because, after all, the book is subtitled 'the stories behind every song'). This wouldn't be so bad, but the author's take on the albums consists mostly the kind of pedestrian "rock expert" pretentiousness you can find for free on a million music web sites. ("OK Computer" is the first 'genuine song cycle' since "Dark Side of the Moon." YAWN.)

Some of the information is interesting, but some of it is just plain wrong, e.g. "Exit Music (for a film)" in fact is NOT heard on the "Romeo + Juliet" soundtrack.

Perhaps worst of all, Doheny makes enemies of "Spinal Tap" fans everywhere by claiming that "Nigel Smalls" called "the key of B minor" the saddest of all keys. That statement alone is grounds for a refund.

Book Description

Too Much Too Young investigates how age and gender have shaped the careers and images of pop music stars, examining the role of youth and youthfulness in pop music through a series of themed case studies. Sheila Whiteley begins by investigating the exploitation of child stars such as Brenda Lee and Michael Jackson, offering a psychoanalytic reading of the relationship between child star and oppressive manager, and looks at the current glut of boy- and girl- bands and stars in the mold of Britney Spears to examine the continuing fatal attraction of stardom for adolescents.
Whiteley then considers the star images of female singer-songwriters Kate Bush, Tori Amos, and Bjork, whose 'little girl' voices and characterization by the media suggests a girlish feminitity which is often at odds with the intentions of their musical output. She then moves on to explore the rock/pop divide as it affects the image of male performers, considering why male stars usually fall into the category of 'wild boys' such asKurt Cobain or Jim Morrison, or 'nice boys', like Cliff Richard, The Monkees, and Wham!. Whiteley ends by asking what happens to stars who set so much store by manipulations of youthfulness when they begin to age, and points to stars like Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Cher to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve iconic pop status even without dying young.

Book Description

Advance praise for The GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law

“I read this book from cover to cover. The examples of case law are of enormous illustrative value. Some of them will raise your blood pressure (well, mine went up several notches, anyway). Well worth the time to read!”
—Vint Cerf, chairman, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

“Doug Isenberg pulls off the toughest hat trick in legal writing—he and his contributing authors map out the legal landscape of cyberspace in language accessible and friendly to lay readers, providing a comprehensive guide for lawyers who want to gain a quick grasp of cyberlaw, and they do all this with scholarly care for accuracy and precision.”
—Mike Godwin, author of Cyber Rights: Defending Free Speech in the Digital Age

“A treasure trove of information that is a relief to find, a pleasure to read, and a snap to apply to dozens of your most pressing Internet legal questions.”
—Carol Darr, director of the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet

“Doug Isenberg is the authority on all issues regarding Internet law. His insight is exceptional, his experience unsurpassed. This book is both a reference work and a bible, enlightening and showing the way—a quintessential, all-encompassing work for both the novice and the veteran.”
—Marc Adler, chairman and CEO, Macquarium Intelligent Communications

Doug Isenberg is an attorney and the founder of GigaLaw.com, an award-winning website about Internet law. He writes regularly as a columnist for The Wall Street Journal Online and CNET News.com and has represented numerous high-tech and Internet clients.

For more information about The GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law, visit: http://GigaLaw.com/guide

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Internet law is a vital topic about which anyone who conducts business online must become educated. This is true regardless of your online activities if you fall into any of the following categories:

a self-employed businessperson or independent contractor, creating content for the World Wide Web, designing websites, or authoring software applications;
an entrepreneur who wants to launch an online business;
a consumer who engages in e-commerce;
an information technology professional for a company of any size;
a business executive for a company that exists solely on the Internet or simply has a promotional website; or
a lawyer who regularly fields high-tech legal questions from clients or simply needs to be prepared for the occasional Internet legal issue.

Regardless of what role you play online -- in your personal or professional life, as a sole proprietor, or as an employer or an employee -- Internet law affects you. This book explains how.

"I read this book from cover to cover. The examples of case law are of enormous illustrative value. Some of them will raise your blood pressure (well, mine went up several notches, anyway). Well worth the time to read!"
   VINT CERF, CHAIRMAN, INTERNET CORPORATION FOR ASSIGNED NAMES AND NUMBERS (ICANN)

"Doug Isenberg pulls off the toughest hat trick in legal writing -- he and his contributing authors map out the legal landscape of cyberspace in language accessible and friendly to lay readers, providing a comprehensive guide for lawyers who want to gain a quick grasp of cyberlaw, and they do all this with scholarly care for accuracy and precision."
   MIKE GODWIN, AUHTOR OF CYBER RIGHTS: DEFENDING FREE SPEECH IN THE DIGITAL AGE

"A treasure trove of information that is a relief to find, a pleasure to read, and a snap to apply to dozens of your most pressing Internet legal questions."
   CAROL DARR, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR POLITICS, DEMOCRACY AND THE INTERNET

"Doug Isenberg is the authority on all issues regarding Internet law. His insight is exceptional, his experience unsurpassed. This book is both a reference work and a bible, enlightening and showing the way -- a quintessential, all-encompassing work for both the novice and the veteran."
   MARC ADLER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, MACQUARIUM INTELLIGENT COMMUNICATIONS

Customer Reviews:

Don't pay more than the cover price of this book - there are other books out there with more up-to-date info!.......2007-01-17

I just received a copy of this book & had I known that the original price was just $17.95, I would not have paid so much money. Not only is this book overpriced, it is dated. Although there is some good information in this book, alot has happened since 2002 & there are better resources out there that are more current & don't cost a small fortune.
Buy the e-copy, or get something more current with just as much information like 'Issues in Internet Law'($17.71)

Law for Layfolk and Lawyers aka Attorneys.......2005-09-25

In a digital world of sequential processing, the Guide panders to our human parellel processing capabilities. Pattern is social impact, law involved and case study ... not necessarily in that order. Information is up-to-date. Purchased both the book and the digital copy. Love the book; have rarely used the digital except for keyword lookup. What truly makes the book worth five stars besides competence, is the choice of topics. So if you are into digital dirt such as software copyright violations, cybersquatting and digital trademark infringement ... this is a must-have book for you.

invaluable .......2005-06-01

This is a great book-- it does an excellent job of explaining the concepts underlying the law and teaches you to THINK in legal terms. In that sense it is timeless...The author does a great job of explaining concepts and avoiding mumbo-jumbo.

Best Internet Law Book Available .......2004-11-29

Pros: Easy to read, comprehensive, good for law students, lawyers, and lay people alike! Read it, and you'll have complete understanding of current and past internet law.

Cons: the gigalaw.com website is more up to date.

As a law student, I took an internet course. Gigalaw Guide to Internet Law was, by far, my best resource. It wasn't an official text for the class, but I found it far more useful than the books we had to read. It supplied great examples to illustrate applicable law. I used it to study for exams, and it gave me complete coverage of all course topics.

Also, it really doesn't read like legalese. You could keep it on your coffee table for light reading.

If you are a business person who has to understand internet law, I highly recommend you read this book -- you'll learn all the same things that I learned in law school and will one day charge hundredss of dollars an hour to explain to you :) If you are a law student, this will serve as a great study guide.

Mike Petrik.......2002-12-31

Terrific book for folks with an interest, intellectual or practical, in how the law intersects with the Internet. Isenberg's explanations are readable and accessible. First rate.

Gigalaw Guide to Internet Law: The One-Stop Legal Resource for Conducting B

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Gigalaw Guide to Internet Law: The One-Stop Legal Resource for Conducting B
Doug Isenberg
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0613913647

Book Description

Under the Sabers is a groundbreaking narrative detailing the complex personal challenges Army wives face, presenting a provocative new look at Army life. Tanya Biank goes beyond the sound bites and photo ops of military life and shows what it is really like to be an Army wife-from hauling furniture off the rental truck by yourself at a new duty station when your husband is in the field, to comforting your son who wants his dad home from Afghanistan for his fifth birthday-she takes readers into the hearts and homes of today's military wives.In the summer of 2002, Army wives were in the headlines after Biank, a military reporter for the Fayetteville Observer, made international news when she broke the story about four Army wives who were brutally murdered by their husbands in the span of six weeks at Fort Bragg, an Army post that is home to the Green Berets, Airborne paratroopers, and Delta Force commandos. By that autumn, Biank, an Army brat herself, realized the still untold story of Army wives lay in the ashes of that tragic and sensationalized summer. She knew the truth-wives were the backbone of the Army. They were strong-not helpless-and deserved more than the sugarcoating that often accompanied their stories in the media.Under the Sabers tells the story of four typical Army wives, who, in a flash, find themselves neck-deep in extraordinary circumstances that ultimately force them to redefine who they are as women and Army wives. In this fascinating and meticulously researched account, Biank takes the reader past the Army's gates, where everyone has a role to play, rules are followed, discipline is expected, perfection praised, and perception often overrides reality. Biank explores what happens when real life collides with Army convention.Biank describes what it means to be a wife and mother in a subculture that is in a constant state of readiness for war. In this hard-hitting and powerful book, Biank takes a close look at the other woman-the Army itself-and its impact on wives, marriages, and home life. This story of strength and perseverance is an eye-opener for those who have never experienced military life and an anthem to those women who each day live the 'unwritten code.'

Customer Reviews:

Review for "Under The Sabers".......2007-10-08

I purchased this book since it is the basis for the popular Lifetime show "Army Wives" which I truly fell in love with.

This book is awesome! My son is in the military and I could so relate to a lot of the life experiences portrayed in this book.

A great read for anyone!

A must read!.......2007-09-22

This book is a must read for anyone who is dating/engaged to/or married to the army! I love it!!!

Loved it!!!.......2007-09-13

I'm a huge fan of the T.V. show, Army Wives, and once I found out it was based on a book I had to read it. I was NOT disappointed. As a future wife to a soldier serving in Iraq, as well as, a former military police soldier in the U.S. Army, I found the book to be incredibly truthful, passionate, exciting, depressing, and uplifting. There are highs and lows, which truly reflect the lives of army wives and the soldiers. I would, however, liked Biank to have depicted the life of a man serving as a husband to a female soldier (as the t.v. show has done). Either way, I recommend this book to any soldier, any military spouse, girlfriend, fiance, etc. and anyone else. We all need to read this book!!!!

Army wife from Fayetteville.......2007-08-27

Being an army wife originally from Fayetteville and born on Ft. Bragg, this book really hit home for me. I know all the stores, clubs, streets and neighborhoods referred to in this book. It was really interesting seeing my hometown published. I thought the author was a little tough on my Fayetteville, but maybe I was a bit naive to what really goes on. I remember when the murders happened, and it didn't get much publicity then, but we all remember it. The book is somewhat similar to the show, just all the names are different. Some of the situations that happen to some of the families in the book happen to different families in the show. It is a bit heartbreaking at times, but I am glad I read it. I would recommend this book to any current or future army wife whether or not she is at Ft. Bragg. It provides real insight as to how life is with the army. I think the title is very appropriate: Unwritten Code of Military Marriage. So true.

Disappointed.......2007-08-15

I expected this book to follow along with the television series. There is some similarities but very few.

Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives

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Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives
Tanya Biank
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTKYBW

Book Description

Islamic civilization flourished in the Middle Ages across a vast geographical area that spans today's Middle and Near East. Islamic civilization during that era was a thriving society whose contributions in diverse fields as science, medicine, mathematics, literature, and philosophy left an indelible mark on Europe.

Medieval Islamic Civilization examines the socio-cultural history of the regions where Islam took hold between the 7th and 16th century. This important two-volume work contains over 700 alphabetically arranged entries, contributed and signed by international scholars and experts in fields such as Arabic languages, Arabic literature, architecture, art history, history, history of science, Islamic arts, Islamic studies, Middle Eastern studies, Near Eastern studies, politics, religion, Semitic studies, theology, and more. This reference provides an exhaustive and vivid portrait of Islamic civilization including the many scientific, artistic, and religious developments as well as all aspects of daily life and culture. Entries also explore the importance of interfaith relations and the permeation of persons, ideas, and objects across geographical and intellectual boundaries between Europe and the Islamic world.

From the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus to Christian merchants and the Qur'an to Fatima bint Muhammad, Medieval Islamic Civilization brings together in one authoritative resource all aspects of Islamic civilization during the Middle Ages. Accessible to the non-specialist, this resource will be of great use in research and to understand the roots of today's Islamic society as well as to explore the rich and vivid culture of medieval Islamic civilization.

Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages)

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Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages)
Josef W. Meri
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MUHDDA

Book Description

"A remarkable achievement by any measure…. [Gould] is a writer of great natural wit, and his sophistication and learning range far beyond…biology."—Chicago Tribune

Ever Since Darwin, Stephen Jay Gould's first book, has sold more than a quarter of a million copies. Like all of Gould's succeeding collections, it brings the art of the scientific essay to unparalleled heights. Its genius? Gould's ability to use his knowledge of the world, including popular culture, to illuminate science. 15 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

His first essays were his best.......2004-05-25

This book offers a dazzling tour of Darwiniana, often as straight history but always in the form of essays for (Natural History Magazine) that are digestible in one sitting. Gould's writing is so masterful and clear that it is simply stunning to read. Gould comes across as a great humanist, respectful of the points of view of others - even the Creationists - and erudite in only the way a lover of knowledge can be. I have studied his writing style for years: it is elegant, spare yet sensual, and continually reformulates ideas is new ways, that is, rarely repetitive. Unlike his later essays, which covered quirkier details in increasingly lugubrious attempts to get at the broader notions he cherished, these essays are fresh and light, in my view amoung the best of the entire series.

As an introducer of popular notions and as a scientist, I believe that Gould will be remembered as a genius. I think he was one of the great essayists of the 20C. Warmly recommended.

Trying to make the ineffable understandable.......2002-09-28

Jill had been trying to get me to read Gould for over a year. She subscribes to Natural History and so had a fresh dose every month to tackle me with. And I'm not sure of my reluctance. Jill would say that it's because I'm reluctant to do anything that she wants me to do--I'm not ready to admit that (I certainly hope that that's not true!). I think it may have been that I didn't want to add Natural History to my voluminous stack of stuff yet to read-- cleverly forgetting, if I had ever truly realized it, that Gould's column was collected, and continuously being collected, in a series of volumes, of which this one is the first. Maybe I just wanted to start from the beginning.

It's a good thing that Jill had introduced me to some later Gould, because this, while genuinely entertaining, and definately intellectually stimulating, is a rougher mix. Gould has grown as a writer (and probably as a scientist) since originally starting his column.

This isn't a book to try to read at one sitting (I think it's been at my bedside for the last year) because it is thick and meaty. While Gould attempts to write at a level that a layman can understand, he doesn't simplify things. It's a tough slog through some of these essays, but always worth the effort. I've got the next volume by the bedside now, and I look forward to growing with Gould.

Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History.......2002-06-19

Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History by Stephen Jay Gould is a collection of essays, his first, that brings together his knowledge, wit and intellectual musings to the art of writing a scientific essay as no other can.

There are 33 essays in the tome that are unparalleled and are far beyond any of his contemporaries, but brought to us by his unmatched ability, so the common man can understand his intrinsic intuitive profundity.

Gould brings us essays on Darwiniana, Human Evoution, Odd Organisms and Evolutionary Exemplars, Patterns and Punctuation in the History of Life, Theories of the Earth, Size and Shape, from Churches to Brains to Planets, Science in Society-- a Historical View, The Scince and Politics of Human Nature. All of these are thought provoking with a sophistication unmatched in the realm of science today.

As we read on in the book, we see the knowledge brought to us. Can we who read this comprehend both the lessons and the limits of scientific understanding here? Gould brings us his thoughts, as we read, I can only wonder and learn. This is a remarkable achievement.

Stephen Jay Gould's First Great Natural History Essay Tome.......2001-12-25

All of Stephen Jay Gould's admirable traits as a splendid scientist, fine historian of science and gifted writer are prominently on display in this elegant collection of essays; the first of many he published from his celebrated essay column "This View Of Life", which was published for over twenty five years in Natural History, the popular journal of the American Museum of Natural History. Gould brilliantly illustrates the explanatory power of Darwin's theory of evolution via natural selection, discusses some of the most fascinating discoveries from a fresh, more mathematically rigorous, approach to paleontology to which he, himself, contributed, and ruminates on the sociology of science in one exceptional essay after another. He does this in engaging, often lyrical, prose, in which he draws analogies from literature, film and baseball to make his cogent points. Anyone who enjoys great writing, especially on science, won't be disappointed with this tome nor the rest in Gould's essay collection series.

The intriguing essays about science and social values.......2001-11-22

One can argue that no scientific theory has caused more controversies than Darwin's theory. Not to mention the history of the conflicts between religious beliefs and the evolutionary theory, many people today still have trouble accepting it, no matter how all the evidences appear to favor the theory.

Ever Since Darwin by Stephen Jay Gould, however, is not a mere collection of praise songs for the triumph of science. In his essays, Darwinian interpretations of evolutionary biology are illuminated in light of the (enjoyable, at least for us) struggles of those thinkers of conflicting theories. Through citing rich evidences in the history of evolutionary biology, Gould emphasizes the inevitability of having human bias in scientific process.

This is a kind of book that I strongly recommend to students who tend to develop a misconception that science exists only to make their academic experience at school painful. Textbooks do not teach science as much as Gould's essays do. Why?

Science often tends to be seen as the culmination of the infallible facts and evidences deriving from perfectly logical thinking by a few great minds. Gould provides numerous examples to show this is not really the case. In fact, you learn that scientists, who are supposed to thrive for objectivity, suffer quite often from their own agenda and intellectual bias. It is as much a creative, human activity as art and literature, and Gould's excellent essays illuminate that endeavor, not just the bits of accepted facts to regurgitate. All this is done via the discussions of various interesting topics from a baby fly eating its own mother to the dubious attempts to link biological findings to justify racial inequality.

The only thing I fear about this great work is that it will inevitably be dated, having written during 1970s. Nevertheless, the essence of Gould's writing should not be tarnished by newer discoveries. After all, Gould's point is to illuminate science as a dynamic activity.

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Ever since Darwin : reflections in natural history
Stephen Jay Gould
Manufacturer: London; Andre Deutsch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0233970525

Average customer rating:

wonderfully interesting

Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History
Stephen Jay Gould
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RUNGT0

Customer Reviews:

wonderfully interesting.......2007-10-03

I read this book while traveling around the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador where Darwin made his collections to support On the Origin of Species. I found this group of essays to be very provocative in its applications of darwin's ideas on natural phenomena, written by one of evolutions greatest advocates.

Ever since Darwin : reflections in natural history

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Ever since Darwin : reflections in natural history
Stephen Jay Gould
Manufacturer: London; Andre Deutsch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ3S2W

Average customer rating:

Ever Since Darwin. Reflections in Natural History.
Stephen Jay. GOULD
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OFVIFM

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