Quick Question - Book Title

[Robert D]

On the podcast where you interview Chase, you mention that you leant him a book on vertebrate paleontology. Is it the one by Alfred S Romer? Just curious, as I might want to give it a read. A forum search for 'Vertebrate Paleontology' didn't return any hits.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Not the Romer text. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052147809X/

Patterns and Processes of Vertebrate Evolution, by Robert Lynn Carroll.

[Robert D]

Awesome. Thank you

[TommyGun]

Awesome. Thank you

Robert, I was also curious about the book when I heard it referenced (or was it on a book list somewhere). Found my copy on Amazon.
I did not take any geology courses or anything like that in college so I really wasn’t sure what the takeaway was other than trying to discern how various species evolved. And I am not sure that I was able to properly discerned the specific “random mutations”.
None the less an its fun to flip through it, the illustrations are top notch, and it always helps to reflect on long time scales. Rip, feel free to set me straight, never had a geology course.

[Mark Rippetoe]

It has nothing to do with geology. The primary point of the book is that genetic mutation is not the only -- or even the primary -- mechanism by which evolution occurs.

[TommyGun]

It has nothing to do with geology. The primary point of the book is that genetic mutation is not the only -- or even the primary -- mechanism by which evolution occurs.

Appreciate the time setting me straight.
Yes the author shows major transitions between forms which are nonlinear: extreme jumps that evolution cannot explain as being sequential random mutations especially in the specific time frames indicated. This coupled with drastic environmental changes that forces drastic changes or extinction? Is that the takeaway?

Asking for a friend. Seriously, I have struggled with drawing conclusions from the book which must be self evident to others but not to me.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Yes the author shows major transitions between forms which are nonlinear: extreme jumps that evolution cannot explain as being sequential random mutations especially in the specific time frames indicated. This coupled with drastic environmental changes that forces drastic changes or extinction? Is that the takeaway?

It is. Gene expression is much more significant variable than genetic change. Lots of things are in the genome that are not expressed in the phenotype, but which can be expressed if the environment changes, which it always does.

[Robert D]

I received the book, and I'm enjoying it so far. An interesting side note, if you weren't already aware, is that Carroll was Romer's final student.

Also, if you don't mind, do you have any recommendations for reading material on economics? I know that is not a very specific ask, so if your answer is simply "any intro to economics book", I understand

[Mark Rippetoe]

Also, if you don't mind, do you have any recommendations for reading material on economics? I know that is not a very specific ask, so if your answer is simply "any intro to economics book", I understand

Basic Economics by Tom Sowell.

[Robert D]

Once again, thank you for your time. Its appreciated