Good Enough
Daniel S. Milo
Reading Time
at 250 WPM4h 48m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 4h 48m to read Good Enough.
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10
days at 30 min/day
288
total minutes
Good Enough
Published
2019
Publisher
Harvard University Press
Pages
288
ISBN-13
9780674240049
Description
Why is the genome of a salamander forty times larger than that of a human? Why does the avocado tree produce a million flowers and only a hundred fruits? Why, in short, is there so much waste in nature? In this lively and wide-ranging meditation on the curious accidents and unexpected detours on the path of life, Daniel Milo argues that we ask these questions because we've embraced a faulty conception of how evolution--and human society--really works. Good Enough offers a vigorous critique of the quasi-monopoly that Darwin's concept of natural selection has on our idea of the natural world. Darwinism excels in accounting for the evolution of traits, but it does not explain their excess in size and number. Many traits far exceed the optimal configuration to do the job, and yet the maintenance of this extra baggage does not prevent species from thriving for millions of years. Milo aims to give the messy side of nature its due--to stand up for the wasteful and inefficient organisms that nevertheless survive and multiply. But he does not stop at the border between evolutionary theory and its social consequences. He argues provocatively that the theory of evolution through natural selection has acquired the trappings of an ethical system. Optimization, competitiveness, and innovation have become the watchwords of Western societies, yet their role in human lives--as in the rest of nature--is dangerously overrated. Imperfection is not just good enough: it may at times be essential to survival.--
Subjects
On the origin of species by means of natural selection
The water-babies: a fairy tale for a land-baby
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Mutual Aid
Sapiens
Introduction to genetic analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in Good Enough?
This edition of Good Enough has approximately 288 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read Good Enough?
For most readers, Good Enough typically takes between 6h 0m and 4h 0m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 72,000 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 4h 48m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 10 days • Estimated word count: 72,000 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of Good Enough?
The estimated word count for Good Enough is approximately 72,000 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of Good Enough?
Good Enough was written by Daniel S. Milo.
When was Good Enough published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 2019. The original work may have been published on a different date.