In fact much of the book is a discussion of why Walcott made such mistakes. In the book Gould shows how Walcott's construction of Hallucigenia was completely wrong. Gould explains how this was wrongly described by the great US scientist Charles Doolittle Walcott who was the key figure in early studies of the Burgess Shale. Gould discusses how the Burgess Shale, a geological feature that forms the centrepiece of the book's discussion contains fossils of the tiny creature Hallucigenia. In fact, one of the themes of Wonderful Life is Gould's argument that historic scientific work must not be ignored, even it is incorrect, as it is part of contributing to more recent developments. No one reads Isaac Newton's writings today looking for scientific explanations that stand up to the rigours of modern science. Few science books published back in 1989 remain exactly correct. This is worth emphasising because some recent online reviews of this book tend to emphasise its errors, or how it has been dated by later research. But really this book is about an approach to science and history and as such Gould's politics matter a great deal. As such there is little reason for Gould to discuss politics in it at all. I mention this because Wonderful Life is a book about extremely ancient evolutionary history. Nonetheless Gould's politics shape both the subject matter he is interested in, and how he writes about the material. POlitically on the left, his work is suffused with a keen sense of social justice only occasionally descending into political point scoring. An innovative scientist, a prolific essayist and author he inspired and educated generations about palaeontology, evolution and history. Stephen Jay Gould is a colossus of science.

The burgess shale book