EVOLUTION UNDER PRESSURE

How do humans impact the evolution of other species?

Summing up the complexity of evolution (spoiler: It doesn’t work in a straight line) in just 124 pages is quite a challenge. Taking on this vast, complicated topic, Ridge looks at how humans have co-existed with nature through history, altering its course in myriad ways, such as through hunting and farming. She writes, “We’re the only ones who have altered our natural environment—on purpose—so it’s better suited to us, rather than adapting to make us better suited to it.” Rhinos are poached for their horns, so now hornless rhinos have a better shot at survival and are likely to become more common. And because of urbanization, crested anole lizards, which have tiny hairs on their toe pads to help them climb, have evolved even more hairs to allow them to scale smooth, metallic surfaces. The book offers a wealth of information and a lot of nuance, though at times it sacrifices visual appeal. Interspersed throughout are “Did You Know?” and “Making a Difference” sidebars focused on, respectively, fun facts and relevant student projects and sustainability organizations. For the most part, however, the story is relayed in bulleted lists accompanied by muted illustrations of flora and fauna. The amount of material at times feels unfocused even as the book tries to offer solutions to counter humanity’s negative impacts on the environment.

Stuffed, perhaps overstuffed, with examples of evolutionary changes caused by people.