wonderful life the burgess shale and the nature of history

Along the way he tells the story of the discovery and discovers of the Shale, how it was first interpreted in terms of prevalent beliefs about the origins of life, and how it has subsequently been re-interpreted in light of knowledge. His theme of contingency plays out as he discusses the many unique forms of life that might have, if things had gone differently, become the dominant forms on this planet, and how they contrast with those of today - the one's that survived. Gould plays the role of the angel, rolling back the tape of life a half billion years for his readers through the lens of the Burgess Shale (British Columbia), arguably the most important fossil site on the planet. In 'Wonderful LIfe', an homage to the American classic film, 'It's A Wonderful Life', Stephen J. He learned that one contingency changes everything. George was lucky enough to have an angel that could roll back the tape of life and show him how things would have been different.

What would the world have been like, if George Bailey of 'It's A Wonderful Life' hadn't been born?

Wonderful life the burgess shale and the nature of history