The late John Maynard Smith, Emeritus Professor of Biology, University of Sussex, and Professor Eors Szathmary, Institute for Advanced Study, Budapest
"I can recommend this book as a thoroughly interesting read" - Biologist 01/02/2002
"exhilarating reading ... challenging ... stimulates the reader to think deeply on the many issues it raises." - Margaret Ginzburg, Science and Christian belief, Vol.13, No.1, April 2001
"...the authors provide a clear-eyed review of a large part of modern biology." - Scientific American
"...the book is well written, stimulating, and full of information nuggets." - Choice
Preface; 1. Life and information; 2. The major transitions; 3. From chemistry to heredity; 4. From the RNA world to the modern world; 5. From heredity to simple cells; 6. The origin of eukaryotic cells; 7. The origin of sex; 8. Genetic conflict; 9. Living together; 10. The evolution of many-celled organisms; 11. Animal societies; 12. From animal to human societies; 13. The origin of language; Glossary; Notes; Further reading; Index.
