George Gaylord Simpson. Paleontologist and Evolutionist

Léo F. Laporte

Columbia University Press, 2000. 256 pgs.
ISBN 0-231-12065-6. $50, hardcover; $18, softcover

Léo F. Laporte has completed what may be considered the most complex aspects of the puzzle of George Gaylord Simpson , his life and his contributions. In 1978 Simpson published his autobiography, Concession to the Improbable. This publication has allowed us to understand personal aspects of this man, but in many ways it raised more questions than were answered.

What Laporte has done, is to trace a parallel course of George Gaylord Simpson’s life, focusing upon his scientific contributions. The reader is able to see the entire range of variables that affected Simpson as his major areas of work came into being.

The book is expertly organized. Benchmarks of George Gaylord Simpson’s contributions are easily distinguished as the divisions are clear and logical and the index inclusive. The publication contains a vast and extensive bibliography and notes are gingerly interspersed throughout the chapters.

It is evident that this is a scholarly work, and the arrangement allows one to focus upon a particular area with ease. Besides the excellent arrangement of this book, it contains many photographs of maps and drawings by Simpson that are sure to delight the reader.

I recommend this book to anyone wishing to increase their knowledge of the foundations of paleontology and evolution. This book is one that should be included as part of the collection of academic and select special libraries.