The Hedgehog, The Fox, And Magister's Pox: Mending the Gap Between Science and the Humanities; Triumph And Tragedy In Mudville: A Lifelong Passion for Baseball.

Essayist and naturalist Gould had these two very different books in the works when he died in May 2002. The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister's Pox is a collection of original essays finished shortly before Gould's death and presented here unaltered by his editors. In this volume, Gould dissects the dichotomy of science and the humanities (religion included) that has endured for millennia. The title is in part from a proverb attributed the 7th century B.C. Greek soldier-poet Archilochus: "The fox devises many strategies; the hedgehog knows one great and effective strategy." Gould likens the humanities to the cunning fox and science to the persistent hedgehog, but he argues that, with care, the two seeming opposites can be unified. He states, "What a power we could forge together if we could all pledge to honor both of our truly different and equally necessary ways, and then join them in full respect." Drawing on a wealth of natural history texts and arcane but compelling references, he builds his case. Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville is an assortment of essays Gould wrote over the years on baseball--Gould's passion that began when he was growing up in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s. These pieces have been published elsewhere, except for one on stickball. A diehard Yankees fan, Gould finds much to dissect in the lore of that club and others, too. In one case, he compares the fall of the Alamo to the ball bouncing through the legs of Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner in the sixth game of the 1986 World Series. Gould also pays homage to some lesser-known figures including Babe Pinelli, the umpire who called Don Larsen's perfect World Series game in October 1956. In all, these writings show Gould's wonderful range of thought, devotion to his subject matter, and love of life. Harmony, 2003, 274 p., hardcover, $25.95. Norton, 2003, 342 p., b&w illus/photos, hardcover, $24.95.