"[Thompson] argues convincingly that intense study of interactions between species within local areas and phylogenetic analyses of species interactions illuminate only a fraction of the coevolutionary process. Instead, he emphasizes that one must also consider geographic variation in these interactions . . . . This book has a lot to recommend it."

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

“In this well-documented and clearly written book, Thompson has managed to integrate an enormous body of literature in a clear-eyed overview of a difficult and diverse field. We are impressed not only with the scope of the book, which includes a myriad of examples from a variety of taxa, but also with the attention to detail.”

Carlos Martínez del Rio and Diane Wagner, Princeton University

“The importance of Thompson’s geographical perspective cannot be overstated. Thompson uses it to turn existing views on their head. In particular, he very effectively dismantles our idea of diffuse coevolution by illustrating with numerous examples how what appears to be diffuse is probably much more specific when one looks at the variability in interactions among populations or time periods. I believe that the geographical perspective on coevolution may turn out to be the greatest advance in coevolutionary thinking in years.”

Sara Via, Cornell University