Creatures of Accident: The Rise of the Animal Kingdom - Hardcover

Praise for "Biased Embryos and Evolution:
"This is probably the most accessible, well-written and interesting book on evolution that I've read in a long time . . . It is amusing, it is provocative, it is insightful, but basically it is a terrific read." --Prof. Kenneth McNamara, Western Australian Museum
"Extremely well written . . . The author brings his enthusiasm to the pages . . . There is both remarkable historical depth and leading-edge discussion of various interesting concepts." --Prof. David Rollo, McMaster University
Praise for "The Origin of Animal Body Plans: A Study in Evolutionary Developmental Biology:
"Wallace Arthur is a leading exponent of the growing field of evolutionary developmental biology. His new book demonstrates the huge potential of this approach for throwing new light on well-trodden ground. It is scholarly but readable, well illustrated and well referenced. I strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in where evolutionary biology is going next."--John Lee, "Biologist
"Some books . . . must be read from cover to cover because, besides reviewing much information, they express important ideas . . . There are not many books like that, but this is one of them."--Fernando Boero, "Journal of Evolutionary Biology
""Creatures of Accident" richly deserves to be read widely. With biology teaching becoming increasingly reductionist, it offers the (gloriously coined) "megaevolutionary" perspective. Lay readers will find plenty of surprises, and those with a more scientific background will find Arthur's straightforward and non-posturing style hugely enjoyable." --Matthew A. Willis, "Nature" "Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." --Carl Zimmer, author of "Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh
""In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." --Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author of "The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form
""Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." --Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author of "Earth: An Intimate History
""Creatures of Accidentis a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read." --Fred Wilt, author of "Principles of Developmental Biology"

"Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." --Carl Zimmer, author of "Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh

""In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." --Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author of "The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form

""Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." --Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author of "Earth: An Intimate History

""Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read." --Fred Wilt, author of "Principles of Developmental Biology" "Beautifully Simplified and Readable." --"Nature"

Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth. "Carl Zimmer, author of Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh"

In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent. "Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author of The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form"

Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy. "Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author of Earth: An Intimate History"

Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read. "Fred Wilt, author of Principles of Developmental Biology"

Beautifully Simplified and Readable. "Nature""

"Creatures of Accident is no accidental book. It is an elegantly wrought piece of science writing from one of the leading thinkers on the evolution of animals. Arthur deftly guides us through the history of biology, from before Darwin to the latest discoveries of DNA, to create a fascinating argument about how complexity arose on Earth." --Carl Zimmer, author of Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea and Soul Made Flesh

"In Creatures of Accident, Wallace Arthur gives us a lively and original account of the evolution of complex life forms, and takes on the attacks of Intelligent Design creationism on the integrity of science. This book will be an enjoyable one for both the general reader with a scientific bent and the scientific reader of a general bent." --Rudolf A. Raff, professor of biology, Indiana University, and author of The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form

"Crisply written, Prof. Arthur's book makes a powerful case for the liberal humanist approach to scientific investigation of biological patterns and evolutionary 'advancement.' It deserves to be read as a corrective by those interested in the Intelligent Design controversy." --Richard Fortey, Visiting Prof of Palaeobiology, University of Oxford, and author of Earth: An Intimate History

"Creatures of Accident is a vibrant exposition of what biological evolution is really all about, and how it works to result in something as wondrous as a human being. Arthur argues convincingly that the chance duplication of genes and body parts is the raw material from which natural selection produces major increases in biological complexity. What's more, the book is so accessible and well-written that it's fun to read." --Fred Wilt, author of Principles of Developmental Biology

"Beautifully Simplified and Readable." --Nature

Wallace Arthur is a professor of zoology at the National University of Ireland,
Galway. The author of seven previous books, he also serves as European editor of the journal Evolution and Development.