A Voice in the Wilderness: A Pioneering Biologist Explains How Evolution Can Help Us Solve Our Biggest Problems Hardcover – September 13, 2022

Praise for A voice in the Wilderness. I found the author, Joseph Graves, to be refreshingly candid about his life and career and the book builds nicely on the foundations of evolutionary logic with detailed information about his work (and others) in genetics, culminating (for the reader), in a better understanding of how important it is to see life from an evolutionary perspective in order to address the serious and urgent problems society faces today. A fascinating read!

Dr. Graves weaves his own personal history into the challenges of defending historical accuracy and the scientific debates regarding " race", intelligence, sex/gender etc. ( the latter two I found the most compelling) It can get a bit too technical in some areas for the casual reader, but the rewards of being armed with knowledge can lead the willing down the path of hope and resolve to save our species. A worthwhile read for all who care about others.

Great follow up to Dr. Graves other science-based socially impacting books.

I found A Voice in the Wilderness fascinating and engaging both with respect to its scientific content and as a personal memoir and reflection. An eminently readable book, it explains in precise but not overbearing language what is important about evolutionary biology and genetics with an enjoyable personal fervor and in remarkable detail for what is not a textbook or scholarly work. But it was the memoir aspect that reached me most powerfully. Professor Graves' long journey from his childhood, through his education and training as an African American in academic science, to his numerous and important positions as a leading evolutionary biologist and geneticist and world-class myth-buster and debunker of misinformation and disinformation regarding racism and race in American society is inspiring on many levels--as an African American, as a student grinding through graduate school and postdoctoral training, as a family man, and finally as an expert committed to bringing his message to the public. At times I almost howled (with frustration, not laughter)! Seriously [spoiler alert follows], to introduce a credentialed scientist with a doctoral degree and a track record as a researcher and administrator who is an international authority in his field to an audience attending a lecture as "a philosopher who had written about race" (which was not even in line with the program notes for the event and therefore totally inappropriate)??? Just one frustrating episode that stood out for me among many, and the struggles are ongoing. Anyway, I thank Professor Graves for sharing his life experiences as well as his state-of-the-art theories and profound scientific thinking. An informative and inspirational read for sure.

In addition to a compelling and timely narrative on the struggles of being black and an academic, A Voice in the Wilderness also provides an exhaustive description of the wrongs done by general biologists, clinicians, and evolutionary scientists by propagating the fallacy of racial constructs. Equally exceptional are the intimate details of the importance of factors like curiosity, faith, family, loss, mentorship, and fidelity to self on Dr. Graves' ultimately successful journey. At times the narrative can be perceived as self promotional, however, without that Voice, the book would lose some of its power. Dr. Graves' has earned his success IN SPITE of being black not because of it, without being his own advocate he would never have become the scientist he is today. His choice of tone throughout the book helps to underscore this from his perspective and thus provides a better window into his experience for the reader. Highly recommend for anyone in academics or education.

Although Graves insists that he is writing for the masses (so to speak) he is an evolutionary biologist and I only thouroughly understood about eigthy percent of the book. I became lost in a lot of technical stuff. (I have two Master's Degrees so I am not a chump) That said the book would appeal to people with a background in science and I did find his theories about the state of the world and solutions to many of our problems valuable and enlightening.

A Voice in the Wilderness expertly weaves Graves' own personal life story with his work in evolutionary science with some of the most critical conversations of this period in history. He illuminates how inseparable scientific insights are to the way we understand and structure social institutions. What I appreciate about this book, as I do all his other books, is that the driving heart of this project is the use of research -- evidence, history, reason, and rationale -- in the fight for social justice and for a better world for all people. It is an honor to learn from this author and scholar. Highly recommended!!!!

Dr. Graves is one of the greatest living evolutionary biologists and a talented communicator. For anyone interested in evolutionary biology, this is a can't miss.