Read the Stephen J Gould books that are a study of his work and other scholars. You should especially read Wonderful Life, the Burgess Shale and the nature of History.
Although I suspect you have a closed mind beyond salvation of enlightenment Wonderful Life is the place to begin.
If my questions are that difficult, how about just one then? Can I get an answer?
Here goes. Which species preceded the common field mouse in the trajectory of evolution?