Peter D. Ward Book order

A riveting explanation of epigenetics, offering startling insights into our inheritable traits. In the 1700s, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck first described epigenetics to explain the inheritance of acquired characteristics; however, his theory was supplanted in the 1800s by Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection through heritable genetic mutations. But natural selection could not adequately explain how rapidly species re-diversified and repopulated after mass extinctions. Now advances in the study of DNA and RNA have resurrected epigenetics, which can create radical physical and physiological changes in subsequent generations by the simple addition of a single small molecule, thus passing along a propensity for molecules to attach in the same places in the next generation. Epigenetics is a complex process, but paleontologist and astrobiologist Peter Ward breaks it down for general readers, using the epigenetic paradigm to reexamine how the history of our species-from deep time to the outbreak of the Black Plague and into the present-has left its mark on our physiology, behavior, and intelligence. Most alarming are chapters about epigenetic changes we are undergoing now triggered by toxins, environmental pollutants, famine, poor nutrition, and overexposure to violence. Lamarck's Revenge is an eye-opening and provocative exploration of how traits are inherited, and how outside influences drive what we pass along to our progeny.

More than 200 million years ago, a cataclysmic event known as the Permian extinction destroyed more than 90% of all species and nearly 97% of all living things. Its origins have long been a puzzle for paleontologists, and during the 1990s and the early part of this century a great battle was fought between those who thought that death had come from above and those who thought something more complicated was at work. Paleontologist Peter D. Ward, fresh from helping prove that an asteroid had killed the dinosaurs, turned to the Permian problem, and he has come to a stunning conclusion. In his investigations of the fates of several groups of mollusks during those extinctions and others, he discovered that the near-total devastation at the end of the Permian was caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide leading to climate change. But it's not the heat (nor the humidity) that's directly responsible for the extinctions, and the story of the discovery of what is responsible makes for an fascinating, globe-spanning adventure.

The 59-Second Employee is an employee’s response to formula management, an antidote to the quick-fix corporation. It is a little book that speaks volumes about cooperation in management and brings more control to those at the bottom of the corporate ladder. It describes how employees can use one-minute phrasing, reprimands, and goal-setting to their own advantage and how any employee can learn to ‘manage up.’ Originally published by Houghton Mifflin, The 59-Second Employee sold more than 100,000 copies and was reprinted in numerous foreign editions. It was a Publishers Weekly best-selling trade paperback.

Exploring the concept of the past as both a temporal and spatial entity, Peter D. Ward delves into the methodologies employed by modern scientists to reveal historical truths. He examines the significance of terrain, climate, and ancient life forms in reconstructing our understanding of Earth's history, offering insights into how these elements inform our knowledge of bygone eras.

Set against the backdrop of the last Ice Age, the narrative delves into the fascinating world of prehistoric megafauna, including saber-toothed tigers and mammoths. It investigates the causes behind their extinction, offering insights into both natural disasters and human impact. The book also provides a broader perspective on mass extinctions throughout Earth's history, highlighting significant events like the comet crash that wiped out the dinosaurs. Engagingly written, it invites readers to reflect on the fragility of life on our planet.