《物种起源》是世界闻名的自然科学著作，在本书中，达尔文以无以数计的翔实资料和严密的逻辑推理论证了“遗传”、“变异”、“物竟天择适者生存”等观点。整本书就是一个长的论据，它被用来论证整个进化论理论。决定这本书的风格的不仅是全书的大纲和思想的逻辑发展，而且还有更详尽的叙述方法。

这本内容丰富的作品试图解读进化论的十个*伟大“发明”，从生命的原初，经过它的创造期，到它的终结。在整个过程中，会出现很多非同一般的神来之笔，如DNA、光合作用、视力和意识。NickLane以清晰而智慧的笔调，探究了进化过程中十个*伟大的“发明”。这些生物学上的进化在NickLane的研究过程中深深吸引了他，并在这本书中得到了解释和揭秘，在读者面前显得清晰明了起来。这本书围绕着生物学、地质学、化学和物理学领域所取得的*新研究进展来组织叙述，重现了地球上生命的历史，而且带着精彩而出乎意料的细节，这些细节必定会吸引非专业读者、学生、科研人员等不同的读者群体。谁会料想到，眼睛*原初的形态只是藻类用于调节光合作用的感光小点；DNA的基本成分会在热液喷口中自行形成；素食者容易产生烦躁情绪。直到现在，我们才可以将生命不凡历史中的形形色色拼凑在一起，并看到它所拥有的丰富细节。

During evolution, there have been several major changes in the way that genetic information is organized and transmitted from one generation to the next. These transitions include the origin of life itself, the first eukaryotic cells, reproduction by sexual means, the appearance of multicellular plants and animals, the emergence of cooperation and of animal societies, and the unique language ability of humans. This is the first book to discuss all of these major transitions. In discussing such a wide range of topics in one volume, the authors are able to highlight the similarities between different transitions - for example, between the union of replicating molecules to form chromosomes and of cells to form multicellular organisms. The authors also show how an understanding of one transition sheds light on others. A common theme in the book is that entities that could replicate independently before the transition can replicate afterwards only as part of a larger whole. Why, then, does selection between entities at the lower level not disrupt selection at the higher level? In answering this question, the authors offer an explanation for the evolution of cooperation at all levels of complexity. Written in a clear style, and illustrated with many original diagrams, this book can be read with enjoyment by anyone with an undergraduate training in the biological sciences. It will be ideal for advanced discussion groups on evolution. Although the content ranges widely from molecular biology to linguistics and from intragenomic conflict to insect societies, no detailed knowledge of any of these topics is required. Mathematical models are clearly explained, and equations and formulae are kept to a minimum.

“Darwin Comes to Town casts a radical new light on the way we should think about evolution: that it is not always a slow, lumbering process measured in millions of years, but, in fact, something that can take place at relative light speed under certain circumstances. Say, when it must adapt to the ecological pressures put on its habitat (a planet) dominated by human action, and, specifically, the frenzy of the urban landscape. Menno Schilthuizen makes an extraordinarily convincing and elegant argument that, inside the restless laboratory of the modern city, nature has already begun to adapt and engineer its own urban ecosystems. But, significantly, that it is up to us to embrace, harness, and enable these natural forces for the future.”