In a message dated 11/8/98 7:59:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, Gail Spitler
writes:

<< I recently read Jonathan Weiner's The Beak of the Finch. It is a
glorious read. I can't recommend it highly enough. It is marvelously well
written. Who would ever believe that a description of the study of changes
in Darwin's finches could be a "page turner", kind of a science mystery
novel. >>

I also found it to be one of the most exciting books I have read in years. He
points out how the Galapagos Finchs evolve rapidly when weather conditions
change as with the wet years of El Nino. But also he points out how rapidly
other organisms evolve when their environment changes. The most rapid example
I remember is what happens when a doctor gives you antibiotics. Within days
you have new forms of bacteria -- not just an overgrowth of bacteria that were
never susceptible to the antibiotic. This theme is expanded on in "The Coming
Plague" [don't remember the author] which is an another readable and exciting
book on the field epidemiologists tracking down such things as the Ebola & HIV
viruses but which points out how microorganisms evolve very rapidly in the
face of big challenges such as antibiotics -- and even more frightening,
become more virulent in the process. Some of the same is in Jared Diamond's
Pulitzer Prize winning book, "Guns, Germs and Steel" where he talks about how
the European germs won the new world and came from the Europeans living in
close association with domesticated animals. As a result, humans have been
selected for disease resistance for the last 10,000 years and not
intelligence. Diamond thinks that New Guinea natives are more intelligent than
Caucasians because during the same time they have been free of disease until
very recently and with the constant warfare intelligence gives you a better
chance of survival.
Other great books as long as I am revealing my biases are "The Red Queen,"
[don't remember the author] which is a book about why sex is such a popular
method of reproduction for most organisms. "The Third Chimpanzee," I think
again by Jared Diamond about human evolution and "The End of Work" by Rifkin
which stands many current ecological & environmental mantra upside down but he
is profoundly an environmentalist,
None of these will be or should be read by those who interpret the bible
literally but are great for intellectually curious readers. New ideas written
so a dolt like myself can understand them.
Of course, I take the position that the strength of Dan Victor's, and our,
TWEETERS is that almost anything except off color jokes is allowed. Personal
attacks have been tolerated but I really hate to see that. Bad taste and all
that. We're not politicians and should try to show some tact and forbearance.
Bob Norton
Joyce, WA
norton360 at aol.com