The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by the late Stephen Jay Gould can be seen as a magnum opus describing evolutionary theory from its origins to where it is now, and as well clearly pointing out what the author's opinion is.

In the beginning, there were the naturalists, and then came Charles Darwin. That is about what most of us see at school. We may read books and articles from time to time, but this book offers you the chance to read and experience the knowledge and views of someone far better qualified and documented to write about it than most of us are.

Having not completely read this book as yet, it is fair to say that it's from a rare kind. It consist of all the knowledge acquired over many years, and offers a view in a field of which many have learned only the basics in school, but not the details, and the evolution of that theory from the moment Darwin first formulated it till the moment Stephen Jay Gould wrote the book..

The first part consists of an overview of all the chapters in the book. If one is a professional or a scientist, then those first 100 pages might be enough to know what the book is about. But for most people, like myself, it is necessary and interesting to read the whole book. Every significant theory related to evolution or alternative, is described in the initial chapters. And it is very interesting to read what the comments, critiques, adaptations and discussion of the last 140 years or so were about.

This is not an easy book to read, but it was never intended to be a book meant for the popular market; rather it is a scientific work.

There is the example of the Dutch scientist, who when only studying one species came to a particular conclusion, which turned out to be wrong later on. There are the tales of people who have a particular theory and stick to their guns, even when all evidence points in a different direction—examples of dogmatic Thinking.

It is not only interesting for its subject, but also to read the tales of many men and women, the tales of their intellectual endeavours and how they have changed the way we look at the world. These days we take that for granted, but it hasn't always been like that.