For almost 30 years Steve Gould was my primary teacher about evolution. He beat the odds against a terrible cancer 20 years ago, but this time the grim reaper was not to be denied. I was in the middle of his last book at the time he died. It was a tough read, giving his vision for the future of evolutionary science. It was vintage, pugnacious, terribly overwritten, S.J.G. I will miss his silenced pen and wit. The world is a better place for his having been here to teach us.

Perhaps the Ultimate Web Accolade: Author of 300 essays for his monthly column This View of Life in Natural History magazine, Gould has also penned over 20 best-selling books and nearly a thousand scientific papers. In addition, he has received numerous awards including the MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellowship, the prestigious Medal of Edinburgh, and the Silver National Medal of the Zoology Society of London.

Presidential Lectures
Background on Gould, from Stanford U., Excerpts from writings

The "G-Files"
G is for Gould, not God......and the dance goes on.....
I wouldn't exactly call this site anti-Gould. But it is pro-Dawkins, and delights in reporting the many controversies that Gould invited upon himself.  Steve loved this stuff. Have a brawl here!

Nonoverlapping Magisteria: "Science and religion are not in conflict, for their teachings occupy distinctly different domains. Carl Sagan organized and attended the Latican meeting that introduces this essay; he also shared my concern for fruitful cooperation between the different but vital realms of science and religion." Gould's NOMA Principle was the subject of his book Rocks of Ages: Science & Religion in the Fullness of Life [1999]. See this Review by H. Allen Orr

The Case Against God : Science and the Falsifiability Question in Theology by Massimo Pigliucci. Opposes the NOMA Principle.

Punctuated Equilibria
Extensive Review of original publication: Eldredge, N., & Gould, S. J. 1972. Punctuated equilibria: an alternative to phyletic gradualism. In: Models In Paleobiology (Ed. by T. J. M. Schopf).

Darwin on 'Punk Eek' and the School Songs

Primordial Beasts, Creationists and the Mighty Yankees
There are two things that European intellectuals don't understand about Americans, I find. One was Bill and Monica, or, our obsession with it. The second is how you can possibly have an anti-evolution movement in a modern scientific country.

Indecision 2024: Heads or Tails? : By our rules of procedure, and by any scientific method of counting or reckoning under these rules, the race for the presidency has ended in a flat tie and should be decided by the toss of the coin. (In Boston Globe)

Quoting Gould and drawing the wrong inferences is a major industry in the creationist movement. Heck, even other scientists do it now and then. No one since Darwin has had such a problem, not even Richard Dawkins.

Misbehavior : A critique of Gould by John Laycock

NonZero: Evolution is Directional
Arguments Against Gould, by Robert Wright

Gould vs. Dennett in NY Review of Books
Gould: Darwinian Fundamentalism
It is unfortunate that the second half of this review and commentary as well as the reply by Daniel Dennett are now only available to to subscribers or for cash payment. Perhaps this item too will eventually disappear from free access.

Gould: The Pleasures of Pluralism
Tooby and Cosmides' Respond :
These evolutionary psychologists take issue with Gould.

Creationism: Out of the Mainstream

On Facts : "Fact" means "confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional consent."

Cancer: The median isn't the message
Using statistics to preserve life.

Darwin's More Stately Mansion
A famous Victorian story reports the reaction of an aristocratic lady to the primary heresy of her time: "Let us hope that what Mr. Darwin says is not true; but, if it is true, let us hope that it will not become generally known."