The 31st book of my reading year is 31 years old. Stephen Jay Gould's collection of reflections on Natural History, entitled Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes bears up very well, despite its age.
     As always, when his name comes up, I will say that I miss Stephen Jay Gould. I avidly read his essays when he was alive, and got to see him in ( Read more... )

          I try to read a steady quota of essays, especially the Best American Essays collections overseen by Robert Atwan.  I discovered that Stephen Jay Gould, one of my favorite science writers, edited the 2002 edition, I sought it out and bought it.  I suggest you do the same.  The Best American Essays 2002 is the best collection I've read in ( Read more... )

I miss Stephen Jay Gould.  I've read many of his essays, both in the book collections and in the magazines, over the years.  I saw him speak on several occasions, and attended a conference with him (in the sense that we each, separately, attended).  I liked him.  Liked the way he spoke, the way he thought, the way he handled himself.  I ( Read more... )