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Baum, David A. and Stacey D. Smith. 2012. Tree Thinking: An Introduction to Phylogenetic Biology. Roberts and Company Publishers, Greenwood Village, Colorado, 476 p. Hardcover, $75.00. ISBN 978-1-9362-2116-5.
Tree Thinking: An Introduction to Phylogenetic Biology by David A. Baum and Stacey D. Smith is a tremendous contribution to the field and is must read for any biology student, teacher, or researcher. This book is an entrylevel introduction to phylogenetic biology with a target audience of advanced undergraduates, teachers, and biologists in disciplines allied to evolutionary biology such as biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, and ecology. As stated by the authors, "This book is about phylogenies: what they are, how they are constructed, and what they can tell us." The authors' goal is to "help you improve your ability to think clearly and accurately about evolutionary history through the use of phylogenetic trees." Baum and Smith also want to "help readers develop a deeper appreciation for evolutionary theory and how it helps us make sense of both the deep unity and the bewildering diversity of life on earth." This book achieves these goals in spades.
The text of Tree Thinking is divided into five sections. Part I: Introduction is comprised of one chapter, "Phylogenetic Trees and Their Importance in Modem Biology" (Chapter 1). This chapter introduces readers to the widespread use of phylogenetic trees in biology and related disciplines and argues the case for "tree thinking" as an essential skill for biological literacywhich it most certainly is!
Parts II through IV comprise the bulk of the book. Part II: Interpreting Trees has five chapters: "Tree Thinking and Its Importance in the Development of Evolutionary Thought" (Chapter 2), "What a Phylogenetic Tree Represents" (Chapter 3), "Trait Evolution" (Chapter 4), "Relatedness and...