Ch. 1: Finding Your Inner Fish

Chris OConnor · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 10:22 am Post subject: Ch. 1: Finding Your Inner Fish

Please use this thread for discussing Ch. 1: Finding Your Inner Fish.

Lawrence · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: your inner fish Chapter one

I really appreciate the schema about Palentology, the Dovonian period and the testing of toughness to be a hands on researcher in Chapter One. His writing style is clear, crisp, and easily transports a novice like me to an understanding Dr. Shubin has of his subject matter. This is a great read for me. Smile

President Camacho · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

Yes, the writing style is definitely something I'd like to talk about, as well as the material covered, the style of the book, and its cost.

Who was this book written for? It was written for people like us that would like to learn something new but really haven't had any formal training in geology or paleontology.

It starts out with what kind of rocks are best to find fossils in, gives a map of where Ellesmere is, and the delivery is suitable for any laymen (without the text sounding like the author is talking down to you).

This book may be presenting a style of non-fiction literature that will become ever more prevalent in the future as the different fields of science get more diverse and increasingly specialized.

I was also wondering about the pressure to publish. The saying is "publish or perish." Does this have to do with ground-breaking work or with 'anything' that is published, so long as it is published?

The cover on this book as well as the pictures/cartoons throughout the book are entertaining...info-tainment.

The cost of the book is also something to consider. If someone really wanted a book about the perils of exploration, they would buy a book about Shackleton's ordeal through the Antarctic. If someone wanted a book about paleontology expeditions, they'd buy a how-to book. I assume that most paleontologists are privy to the information contained in this book for free (maybe the cost of tuition).

Is it that no one is interested in paleontology that this book needs to be written the way it is (so entertaining)? Is it the author's writing style? Or is it that the whole style of writing non-fiction science books is changing to meet the demands of the 21st century reader?

My opinion is that this style of informal scientific literature will be seen more and more.

The price really tells you what demographic this book was aimed at, too.

Saffron · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

I haven't gotten the official word from Chris yet, but it looks like I will be the discussion leader for Your Inner Fish. So far there have been several comments on Shubin's writing style. It is very conversational and congenial. As soon as I started reading it hit me that it was like taking a 101 Paleontology class; informative and accessible. I'd say the most important point made in chapter 1 is the the way Shubin sets up his main thesis for the book with lumping all animals and fish into one category, the "Everythings."

Saffron · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject:

Biomachine · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject:

I'm definitely the target audience for this book. My knowledge in geology and paleontology is limited to a foggy memory of the basics, if that.

I could already tell after reading Chapter One I was going to enjoy Your Inner Fish. Like some people have already pointed out, Neil Shubin writes succinctly and passionately about a subject I think some people find intimidating or dull. I needed a book like this when I was younger.

I read a review of the book online and one of the things the review emphasized on was the fact Neil Shubin refused to get into it with creationists in his book. I'm not sure why it matters. Even starting from the first page, he already addresses a question many creationists have about the fossil record and why there are "gaps" in it. I think he did a brilliant job explaining the conditions needed for fossilization, why fossils are rare, how they plan their expeditions to find fossils and how some of the time it's luck that steers them in the right direction. Everything is so simple. I will suggest this chapter (and probably the entire book) to any creationist I talk to in the future.

I chuckled near the end of the chapter when the pre-schoolers were trying to determine what Tiktaalik was. It makes me wonder why the message isn't so straightforward for my parents or anyone I know offline. Laughing

Saffron · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: Neil Shubin

I've begun to collect information on Neil Shubin. Follow the first link for some basic info. At the bottom of the page is a link to an article Shubin wrote entitled, "The 'Great' Transition."

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/bios/shubin.html

Here is a radio spot Professor Shubin did on NPR's [i]Science Out of the Box:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18847862

Chris OConnor · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:09 am Post subject:

Saffron

I did reply to one of your posts announcing you and thanking you for volunteering as discussion leader. Also, look over in the left sidebar. It says under your name: Book Discussion Leader. Now look under the forum title. It lists you as the discussion leader. And finally, look at the thread in this forum entitled "WANTED: discussion leader." I edited that thread in 2 places announcing you as the discussion leader.

So you're it! Smile

Saffron · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Thanks Chris! I think there is a delay sometimes. I have noticed that sometimes it will happen that I reply to someone about a post, only to find later there is a post I somehow had not seen. Curious.

Saff

Saffron

Tiktaalik has its own webpage.

http://tiktaalik.uchicago.edu/meetTik.html


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