Table of Contents

1: A Philosophical Position
2: The Gene As a Unit of Selection
3: Clade Selection and Macroevolution
4: Levels of Selection among Interactors
5: Optimization and Kindred Concepts
6: Historicity and Constraint
7: Diversity within and between Clades
8: Some Recent Controversies
9: Stasis
10: Other Challenges and Anomalies

Reviews

"In 1966, Williams published a book with the title Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought that became a classic. It is still widely read and widely recommended to students. This new book could appropriately carry the same title. Comparing the two measures a quarter-century of progress in evolutionary thought . . . . The book constructively critiques central evolutionary ideas. It should be published with
the 1966 book in one volume. Together they make a devastating, and exciting, read." --Science
"Ranges widely, and many kinds of specialist could sample it for inspiration and fresh thinking. Only the future can reveal whether it will have as much influence as his previous books, but it does contain several ideas that are big enough to make it a possibility . . . . A delightful book." --Nature
"Interesting discussions of specialized topics." --Choice
"Thoughtful, provocative and pleasantly idiosyncratic. . . . consistently good. There is much new material presented. There is certainly much for the ecologist in this book." --Trends in Ecology & Evolution
"Presents not a challenge for . . . students but a fair collection of the relevant recent literature, some of which could be read concurrently with the book. The array of topics covered by Williams in this work is wide, yet this a physically small book." --American Journal of Physical Anthropology
"Evolutionary biologists will want to consider it carefully." --BioScience
"a bold and original assessment of selected topics in evolutionary biology . . . . Williams confidently dismantles local orthodoxies . . . . Williams' discussion of historicity and constraint is level-headed and commendably bereft of the political overtones that usually accompany this topic . . . . This book, like both of his previous books, deserves careful study." --Mark Pagel, Journal of Animal Ecology
"In 1966, Williams published a book with the title Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought that became a classic. It is still widely read and widely recommended to students. This new book could appropriately carry the same title. Comparing the two measures a quarter-century of progress in evolutionary thought . . . . The book constructively critiques central evolutionary ideas. It should be published with
the 1966 book in one volume. Together they make a devastating, and exciting, read." --Science
"Ranges widely, and many kinds of specialist could sample it for inspiration and fresh thinking. Only the future can reveal whether it will have as much influence as his previous books, but it does contain several ideas that are big enough to make it a possibility . . . . A delightful book." --Nature
"Interesting discussions of specialized topics." --Choice
"Thoughtful, provocative and pleasantly idiosyncratic. . . . consistently good. There is much new material presented. There is certainly much for the ecologist in this book." --Trends in Ecology & Evolution
"Presents not a challenge for . . . students but a fair collection of the relevant recent literature, some of which could be read concurrently with the book. The array of topics covered by Williams in this work is wide, yet this a physically small book." --American Journal of Physical Anthropology
"Evolutionary biologists will want to consider it carefully." --BioScience
"a bold and original assessment of selected topics in evolutionary biology . . . . Williams confidently dismantles local orthodoxies . . . . Williams' discussion of historicity and constraint is level-headed and commendably bereft of the political overtones that usually accompany this topic . . . . This book, like both of his previous books, deserves careful study." --Mark Pagel, Journal of Animal Ecology