For adult readers who are prone to marvel at the wonders of the natural world, 14 essays about evolution and Charles Darwin's theories from science journalist and humorist Rebecca Coffey. Taking a fresh look at animal behavior research, at the reproductive talents of insects, birds, microorganisms, and mammals, and at Charles Darwin’s own marriage, BEYOND PRIMATES reveals how Darwin’s theories have fared over the years and throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. Do baby animals know mother love? Why do some male spiders try to die after sex? What about yeast procreation would have surprised Darwin? What does the fact that some wasps quickly evolved the ability to recognize each others’ faces suggest about human cognitive evolution? Are human couples who claim to be monogamous but “cheat” acting … hmmm … like swans and seahorses? How might Darwin’s own love life have tripped him up a bit in his scientific reasoning? In fourteen essays, Coffey examines aspects of evolutionary theory, some of them long forgotten. Coffey is known for teasing out the wonder and humor to be found in scientific discoveries, and there is no exception in these informative and entertaining essays. The detailed but clear writing is lively, intellectually stimulating, and accessible to both curious armchair scientists who enjoy popular science and seasoned scientists who require salient, provable facts and academic discussion. The material is well-researched and cited, with endnotes provided with each essay.... This intriguing collection is a must for science readers of all stripes." [A "Recommended" book.]. — US Review of Books "Coffey has a knack for picking out interesting information, tangential or otherwise, and presenting it with aplomb." — Foreword Reviews "Her peripatetic tour of all things Darwinian is a delightful one and enjoyably instructive." — Kirkus Reviews "A bracing gallop through some of the central issues of evolution. It will leave you exhilarated and wiser, and will reignite your wonder at this extraordinary wild world."— Charles Foster, author of the books Being a Human and Being a Beast "In Beyond Primates: New Essays on Darwin and Evolution , Rebecca Coffey has produced a fascinating and useful introduction to Darwin's notion of evolution by natural selection. The writing is lively, concise and each chapter presents a brief story or vignette that illuminates an intriguing example of evolution at work. Although useful for anyone interested in how nature operates, Beyond Primates is particularly important reading for those uncertain about the reality of evolutionary processes in nature. Coffey provides several outstanding examples that show how evolution is not just some fantasy dreamed up by scientists, but a fact that has been frequently observed in nature and is well-understood in the scientific community. I highly recommend the book." — J. W. Traphagan, Professor of Anthropology, Center for International Education, Waseda University and Professor Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin Rebecca Coffey has contributed science journalism to Scientific American, Discover, Forbes, Salon, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times, JSTOR Daily, Dame, Psychology Today, Vermont Public Radio, and the Genetic Literacy Project. She has appeared on syndicated talk shows like WNYC's The Takeaway, WAMC's 51 Percent, Fox News' Happening Now, The Bob Edwards Show, The Jim Bohannon Show, The Stephanie Miller Show, NPR's Air Talk with Larry Mantle, and on major-market programs produced by NPR affiliates in New York, Boston, Hartford, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Albany, and Indianapolis. She speaks at colleges and universities and at conferences, and she was an invited speaker at the 50th Congress of the International Psychoanalytic Association in Buenos Aires. This is her sixth book.