The Ant and the Peacock: Altruism and Sexual Selection from Darwin to Today
"This book is witty and well-informed; it will certainly raise some hackles, but it will not bore.  I think this book is an important achievement in evolution biology."   Michael J. Ryan, Cell"The Ant and the Peacock is a beautiful book, fascinating to scientists and historians alike, and elegantly written. I had forgotten what a pleasure it is to find an academically serious and important book that is genuinely gripping, so that you feel compelled to go on reading as if it were a good novel."   Richard Dawkins"In her racy and provocative way, Dr. Cronin tells a story that sums up the essence of neo-Darwinism....Part detective story and part philosophical enquiry, The Ant and the Peacock offers a paradox in every paragraph."   J.G. Ballard, Weekend Telegraph"This is a book about the evolution of beauty, goodness and intelligence, three things that especially puzzled Charles Darwin.  It is part history, part science-reporting, part philosophy, and though it is footnoted like an academic book it reads much too well to be left to the professionals. Nobody with an interest in how the human mind has come to work the way it does can fail to be gripped by it."   The Economist"The Ant and the Peacock is both erudite and fun, authoritative but, by and large, an easy read."   John Gribbin, The Times Educational Supplement"Cronin's book is a mixture of careful, perceptive history and enthusiastic advocacy....she succeeds in keeping the past and present separate when she needs to and in illuminating past controversies by introducing current thoughts on the subject.  In her exposition, the light of understanding shines in both directions."   David L. Hull, Nature"...should be lauded for its ambition and its impressive control of some of the most recent literature in the field of evolutionary theory and behavioral ecology."  Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, ISIS"As a look at the history and philosophy of Darwinism, it is a valuable reference..."   James Williams, New Scientist"...brings the intellectual world of Darwin and Wallace to life--even mavens of darwiniana will find new material and new insights--while effectively communicating some of the most recent evolutionary thinking.  I heartliy recommend that everyone read this book."   M. Wilson, TREE"Almost anyone interested in evolution will learn something new from working through the easy-to-read arguments in The Ant and the Peacock....[I]t's arguments are especially worthwhile in helping one understand the darwinian and wallacean views of the same subject."   William T. Weislo, Annals of the Entomological Society of America