A paperback of Species: A History 12 Jan 2011 My not-inconsiderable ego has expanded several sizes upon the news from University of California Press that my book Species: A History of the Idea (see at right or on the My Books page) is to become a paperback. I hope to make a couple of corrections, and maybe add a section on Blumenbach (which you, my dear readers, have already seen, here, here and here). I expect tens of thousands of sales now… Administrative Book History Species and systematics Species concept AdministrativeHistory
Evolution Darwin’s motivation 5 Dec 2010 For some time now I have been convinced that Darwin’s original and most pressing problem was not adaptation. It was the existence of taxonomic diversity. I have thought that the debates over what was a natural classification amongst the unjustly derided Quinarians William Sharp Macleay and William Swainson were the… Read More
Creationism and Intelligent Design Travel Diary 11: Notre Dame 3 Nov 2009 This conference is turning out to be interesting, in a kind of weird way. I am very much the agnostic in the Catholic lion’s den, but so far the lions haven’t so much as looked my way hungrily. I did have an interesting discussion tonight with Simon Conway Morris, and… Read More
Australian stuff Why anti science? 23 Nov 2013 Over the past few decades there has been an increasingly negative attitude by governments, pundits, religiosi and faux philosophers against science. We have seen an increase in denialism about climate change (one of the most well supported scientific models of the day), vaccination, evolution, medical research in general, and the… Read More
Well, I’ll help out by buying one. How soon do they expect to have it out? I’ve been pondering getting the hard cover and, if I finish what I’m reading and get impatient, maybe I still will.
That’s some good news amongst all the flood gloom. I’ll expect you to autograph my copy with something witty and pithy. How many meters is the water from your front door now?
Great news. Kinda glad I held off buying (read: can’t afford presently) the hardcover. Now I have *no* excuse.
Hmmm, an interesting question. I had thought James Earl Jones, but maybe Johnny Depp, who everyone in my head tells me I look like.
John Farrell: “It should be read by Gene Hackman, because that’s who you really look like, John” You do know that the alpha gorilla in the photo is not actually Wilkins?
I will watch for the announcement and perhaps it would be a good occasion to invite you for an interview on the Radio Show. Russell Blackford is scheduled for 2/13, and PZ Meyayarrssez is scheduled for the 20th. Can’t let those blokes one-up you, can you?
Excuse my not-inconsiderable ignorance, but isn’t it unusual for a book of this kind to go to paperback? Could someone other than John answer this, as he has a congenital inability to repost anything good about himself, especially when true?
Yes and no! It depends very much on the publishers but an increasing number of academic publishers are apparently beginning to realize that if they make good scientific books, and John’s book is very good, available as ppbs at a reasonable price then they actually sell surprising well. However there are academic publishers who still haven’t caught on and insist on publishing interesting and good books only in hardback at a price that nobody in their right mind would even consider paying and then saying to the author, “see I told you that there is only a very limited market for your type of book!”
That’s very cool. I’ll definitely pick a copy of the paperback when it comes out. Hardbacks are generally out of my league, unless they are of the can’t-possibly-do-without-if-I-am-to-complete-my-phd variety (and unfortunately yours is not since philosophy of science is not my AOS). BTW, hope the floods aren’t going to hit you too badly. News reports look terrible. I believe the peak has been reached round about now.
Yes and no! It depends very much on the publishers but an increasing number of academic publishers are apparently beginning to realize that if they make good scientific books, and John’s book is very good, available as ppbs at a reasonable price then they actually sell surprising well. However there are academic publishers who still haven’t caught on and insist on publishing interesting and good books only in hardback at a price that nobody in their right mind would even consider paying and then saying to the author, “see I told you that there is only a very limited market for your type of book!”