Sudden origins cover

Sudden origins

by Jeffrey H. Schwartz

The greatest riddle of evolution has been the following puzzle: while Darwin argued that new species emerge through a slow, gradual accumulation of tiny mutations, the fossil record reveals a very different scenario - the sudden emergence of whole new species, with no apparent immediate ancestors. This discrepancy has fueled heated debate among evolutionary theorists and has provided unfortunate fodder to creationists, who see it as proof that evolution doesn't happen at all. Now, in this book, paleoanthropologist Jeffrey Schwartz presents a radical new theory of evolution, which brings together evidence from genetics, paleontology, embryology, and anatomy to solve this great outstanding riddle. Central to the new theory is the recent discovery of a special kind of gene, known as homeobox genes, which can cause dramatic mutations that express themselves suddenly in the form of a new species. Such a new species will appear to have arisen out of thin air, with no lineage of ancestors. The new theory preserves natural selection, but shows that it is not the primary engine driving evolution, after all. Sudden Origins is a provocative and important book that will change the debate about evolution and challenge a number of popular ideas premised on the foundation of Darwinism. This book is crucial reading for anyone who has ever pondered the mysteries of our evolutionary heritage.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?