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corvarchist's review against another edition
4.0
A pleasingly nuanced and data-driven perspective on the way human activity coexists with and transforms the Earth's biodiversity! Definitely happy and fascinated with the range of species and types of traits discussed as examples of distinct urban selective pressures; as well as by the carefulness with which Schulthuizen explains the experimental paradigms used to investigate said examples. I was less thrilled by the dip into rhetorically-styled anthropomorphism during the chapters dealing with sexual selection pressures, but considering the difficulty of finding science writing on the topic that's more casual than literal academic articles without using that sort of rhetoric, I'll not knock the book too hard for it. (As a redeeming plus side, though, I have to give back a few points at least for enjoyability, due to the presence of my favourite type of animal behaviour anecdotes: birds getting up to ridiculous shenanigans. Long live the milk bottle thieving great tit!)
claudia2945's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this unique perspective on evolution of plants and animals in the urban environment. Excellent reader and lots of memorable examples of the overall theory. I also learned more about the science of evolution.
ashley_elizabeth's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Incredibly informative and at times entertaining look into the world of urban evolution. Not a subject i'm very familiar with but certainly something i find fascinating. It was also a bit uplifting to find out that while we humans are doing a decent amount of damage to the world, the flora & fauna around us is finding ways to adapt.
katecurry's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it, well written complex ideas that were made accessible.
patrick_'s review against another edition
5.0
Accessible and fascinating look at how human made environments affect evolution in animals. Contains tons of examples and explanations of the science.
elentarri's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Schilthuizen takes a look at how the urban environment influences the evolution of animals and plants. He shows that evolution can happen rather quickly, within a few generations, rather than over thousands of years. He also shows that humans are a part of the environment and not separate from it. Each chapter is fairly short with numerous fascinating examples, making this a quick and interesting reading experience.
Also recommended: Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature Is Thriving in an Age of Extinction
by Chris D. Thomas
Also recommended: Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature Is Thriving in an Age of Extinction
by Chris D. Thomas
vegancleopatra's review against another edition
2.0
Darwin Comes to Town includes some interesting information, though some of it I have read elsewhere. I found that the compelling bits were bogged down with the author's tangents and long-winded writing. I think what ultimately irritated me the most throughout the entire book was the author's clear sentiment that humans are simply changing the environment across the globe just like any other species does in their neck of the woods (he states a few times that he has some concerns but his enthusiasm and statements speak louder and imply that everything is grand). Take this quote, for instance:
This is the most positive spin on humans removing nature at at every step I have ever read. Other species are not polluting, destroying and radically negatively altering the planet...there is only one doing that. But you wouldn't know that based on the author's words, we're just on par with ants and beavers!
And perhaps I missed a reference, but I found it frustrating that most (all?) of the examples of species adapting in urban environments are species that have very fast reproduction rates which automatically allow them a greater ability to adapt to these environments. It is not terribly shocking that insects can adapt to urban life over decades when that is an untold number of generations (for instance his London underground mosquitoes could very well have at least 4 generations or more a year). He says nothing about other species which have been unable to adapt, largely due to territory loss/eradication/longer reproductive rates.
There was some interesting information but I sadly cannot recommend this book. It is a book that very much feels like it gives glowing praise to humans without any rational balance as to what is occurring across the globe.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
"The beavers of Mannahatta are gone, but they have been replaced by what we could call nature's ultimate ecosystem engineer. Homoe sapiens-running around in modern-day Manhattan, the ecosystem it has engineered for itself, like ants in an anthill. And, as with any good ecosystem engineer, in so doing it has created niches for cohabiting animals and plants."
This is the most positive spin on humans removing nature at at every step I have ever read. Other species are not polluting, destroying and radically negatively altering the planet...there is only one doing that. But you wouldn't know that based on the author's words, we're just on par with ants and beavers!
And perhaps I missed a reference, but I found it frustrating that most (all?) of the examples of species adapting in urban environments are species that have very fast reproduction rates which automatically allow them a greater ability to adapt to these environments. It is not terribly shocking that insects can adapt to urban life over decades when that is an untold number of generations (for instance his London underground mosquitoes could very well have at least 4 generations or more a year). He says nothing about other species which have been unable to adapt, largely due to territory loss/eradication/longer reproductive rates.
There was some interesting information but I sadly cannot recommend this book. It is a book that very much feels like it gives glowing praise to humans without any rational balance as to what is occurring across the globe.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable account of how and why evolution looks different in urban compared to rural areas. Some fascinating examples and an engaging writing style.
hazelbright's review against another edition
2.0
The few new pieces of information provided in this book were not worth slogging through the rest of the filler.
cspiwak's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyed this exploration of how animals are responding to human encroachment , in many cases adapting to urban conditions. Of course, in other cases, they are going extinct rather than adapting . The author’s contention seems to be that it is happening and we ought to facilitate those that can adapt. It is controversial, but interesting and thought provoking