George C. Williams and Evolutionary Literacy

In this book, a case study of a humanistic reading of anessential evolutionary theorist, George C. Williams (May 12, 1926-September 8,2010), the author contends that certain classic worksof evolutionary theoryand history are the most importantnature writingof recenttimes. What it means to be scientifically literate-is essential for humanisticscholars, who must groundthemselves with literary reading of scientific texts.As the most influential American evolutionary theorist of the second half ofthe twentieth century, Williams masters critique, framesquestions aboutadaptation and natural selection, and answers in a plain, aphoristic writingstyle. Williams aims for parsimony-to "recognize adaptation at the levelnecessitated by the factsand no higher"-through a minimalist writing style.This voice articulates a powerful process that operates at very low levels byblind and selfish chance at the expense of its designedproducts, using purelytrial and error.