At a glance, most species seem adapted to the environment in which they live. Yet species relentlessly evolve, and populations within species evolve in different ways. Evolution, as it turns out, is much more dynamic than biologists realized just a few decades ago.   In Relentless Evolution , John N. Thompson explores why adaptive evolution never ceases and why natural selection acts on species in so many different ways. Thompson presents a view of life in which ongoing evolution is essential and inevitable. Each chapter focuses on one of the major problems in adaptive evolution: How fast is evolution? How strong is natural selection? How do species co-opt the genomes of other species as they adapt? Why does adaptive evolution sometimes lead to more, rather than less, genetic variation within populations? How does the process of adaptation drive the evolution of new species? How does coevolution among species continually reshape the web of life? And, more generally, how are our views of adaptive evolution changing?   Relentless Evolution draws on studies of all the major forms of life—from microbes that evolve in microcosms within a few weeks to plants and animals that sometimes evolve in detectable ways within a few decades. It shows evolution not as a slow and stately process, but rather as a continual and sometimes frenetic process that favors yet more evolutionary change. “Thompson is an authoritative writer. . . . [H]is latest book addresses much the same major questions as its predecessors, and yet it is timely and distinctive because Thompson’s way of thinking, as with the subject of his analysis, evolves and diversifies rapidly through time. The book continues an unfolding story that becomes richer and more appealing as more evidence is compiled. Thompson’s discussions confirm previous ideas but at the same time channel them toward novel and richer directions. They will also serve to remind young scientists that this is a great time to be conducting research on evolution. Timely, authoritative, and beautifully told, Relentless Evolution is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the processes shaping life on Earth.” -- Jordi Bascompte ― Science “The breadth and depth of scholarship covered in Relentless Evolution will make it especially valuable for any beginning graduate student surveying the field for a niche in which to develop a dissertation. However, the book should be of interest to anyone—from research faculty to informed non-scientists—looking for a survey of the current state of evolutionary ecology and the historical origins of key concepts.” -- Jeremy Yoder ― Molecular Ecologist “A valuable and accessible resource for anyone with a basic interest in evolution and ecology, including graduate students, faculty, and engaged nonscientists.” -- Jonathan L. Richardson, University of Connecticut ― Trends in Ecology & Evolution “Thompson has been a major figure in evolutionary ecology for more than three decades and is a leading authority on the coevolution of interacting species. . . . [T]his new―and I think his best―book is a grand synthesis with a majestic sweep, drawing on about 1800 literature references that range from population genetics and genome evolution to community and ecosystem ecology.” -- Douglas J. Futuyma ― BioScience “In his ambitious new book, Relentless Evolution , John Thompson painstakingly details the case that evolutionary change happens rapidly, and that evolution profoundly affects interactions between species. . . . Thompson’s new book compiles an almost encyclopedic collection of examples where rapid evolutionary change has been observed, and presents a compelling case that these changes are important in a broad array of fields, none more so than ecology. Although the book is primarily intended for an academic audience, educators and science enthusiasts will appreciate his review of the theory of natural selection and his extensive compilation of case studies in contemporary evolution.” ― Reports of the National Center for Science Education “A landmark book in that it brings attention to the diversity of evolutionary processes and shows how animals, plants, and bacteria are affected and how they affect other organisms around them. . . . This book will tantalize many biologists, geneticists, and others seeking to understand how species arise and change. Highly recommended.” -- D. Bardack, University of Illinois at Chicago ― Choice “ Relentless Evolution is a masterful synthesis of scientific fields that are expanding at astonishing speed. Surveying research as varied as lab experiments on bacteria to millions of years of coevolution between insects and flowers, John N. Thompson provides readers with a twenty-first-century view of evolutionary change, unfolding all around us and shaping our world.” -- Carl Zimmer, coauthor of Evolution: Making Sense of Life  “ Relentless Evolution is a classic John Thompson book—erudite, hi