EVOLUTION BOOKS







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CREATIONISM BOOKS

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   Charles Darwin - On The Origin of Species: There are many old and new printed editions of Darwin's 1859 classic and it's free online too.     Jerry A. Coyne - Why Evolution is True: GREAT! The latest book about what evolution really is. This is the one book all should read (it's an easy one) so that when asked 'do you believe in evolution?', people can reply with an informed mind. Those who would sweep Darwin's great theory aside as a lie would at least know what they were talking about. Next, read Prothero, Carroll, Shubin, Zimmer and, of course, Dawkins.  *COMING SOON* Richard Dawkins - The Greatest Show on Earth: Looks like this will be about natural history in the light of evolution.  Richard Dawkins - Climbing Mount Improbable: How evolution works. If you read one Dawkins book about evolution it should probaby be this or 'River Out Of Eden'.  Richard Dawkins - The View From Mount Improbable: Extracted from 'Mount Improbable', this explores the evolution of the eye, a favourite (but illegitimate) evolution demolition target of I.D proponents.  Richard Dawkins - The Ancestor's Tale: The biology of the world told via the story of evolution. A lot to take in in one go, but very readable (fascinating!). Can be read in sessions.  Richard Dawkins - The Blind Watchmaker: Who designed it all? Why, Nature of course.  Richard Dawkins - River Out Of Eden: Evolution as seen from the perspective of gene flow through time. A new look at ideas set out earlier in 'The Selfish Gene' and Dawkins' books about evolution.  Steve Jones - Almost Like A Whale: Jones 21st century version of Darwin's great 1859 book.  Steve Jones - Coral: Genetics and evolution observed through coral, one of Darwin's inspirations. 

Mark Ridley - EVOLUTION: There is a decent choice of evolution text books that describe the biological processes involved. Alternatives include 'Evolutionary Biology' by Douglas Futyuma and 'Evolution' by Nicholas H. Barton et al.   Lynn Margulis - The Symbiotic Planet: Contrary to popular understanding, symbiosis (one or more organisms living together) is not merely a curiosity of nature. It is, and probably always has been since life began, ubiquitous. It enabled the evolution of multicellular organisms that resulted, ultimately, in us.  Sean B. Carroll - The Making of the Fittest: Until very recently the theory of evolution depended upon the fossil record, biodiversity, comparative anatomy & biochemistry, embryology and mendelian genetics. Now all that is embraced and confirmed (with minor - very informative - adjustments) by molecular genetics. We live in very exciting times and this book explains why.  Donald R. Prothero - Evolution: what the fossils say and why it matters: The fossil record is nowhere near as incomplete as the creationists make out. They love to lace their arguments with fictional gaps, those misnamed, non-existent problem creatures 'missing links'. Prothero shows how much information fossils do supply, illustated by a veritable procession of transitions the creationists prefer to ignore.  Neil Shubin - Your Inner Fish: a journey into the 3.5 billion-year history of the human body. More gaps effectively bridged by biology, as shwon by our body plan and function in a wide range of biological disciplines from our year dot.  Carl Zimmer - At the Water's Edge: Two major evolutionary transitions, from water to land (fishes to tetrapods) and land to water (ungulates to whales) in easily digested narrative style, laced with the histories of the scientists involved.  Eugenie Scott - Evolution vs. Creationism: We all need to know what creationism and ID are about. This is a comprehensive study by one of the prime participants in the famous trial Kitzmiller vs. Dover in which I.D. was trounced ... by Judge Jones.   Mark Izaak - The Counter-Creationism Handbook: We need to know an awful lot if we're to contribute with authority to the creation-evolution controversy. If you are uncertain of the evidence for an argument, look it up here and confirm it with reference to all the relevant source material.  Niall Shanks - God, The Devil and Darwin: A methodical treatment of the arguments raied by the Intelligent Design lobby. Well written and highly informative, but not a light read.  Robyn Williams - Unintelligent Design - Why God isn't as smart as she thinks she is: Another comprehensive demolition of the arguments for Intelligent Design; a lighter treatment than Shanks, laced with delightful Australian humour. 
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"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” Theodosius Dobzhansky, 1973
"I cannot possibly believe that a false theory would explain so many classes of facts." Charles Darwin, 1859
"If the biological facts change (or prove to be wrong), then I'll change my mind about evolution." James Merryweather [after J.M. Keynes]