Customer Reviews

The Human Question: What People Believe About Evolution Human Origins, and the Beginning of Life

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I wish I could give 3.5 stars for this book, which was an easy, fast and interesting read, but which left me wanting more detail in many sections. Written for a general audience, this book may not satisfy a reader with a scientific background who, like me, may find the passages on logical fallacies and on the basics of evolutionary theory to be old hat. However, a reader who knows little about evolution and hopes to learn will probably find this an enjoyable and non-intimidating introduction to the subject.

For me, the most interesting sections were those that traced the development of the American creationist movement. Underlying the book are a plea for a truce between the warring camps of strict creationists and strict evolutionists and a case for a more moderate approach that makes room for both science and religion -- inspiring food for thought.

What you should *not* expect from this book: Don't expect any substantial discussion of the belief systems of non-Western cultures. Do not expect the latest scientific findings on evolution and genetics or a large number of truly scientific and representative surveys of beliefs. Much use is made of interview snippets, which concretely demonstrate the broad range of beliefs about human origins in the United States. But although the 'Belief Survey' in the book was intriguing, since the sample was highly biased (ethnically, economically, and by education level) it left me wanting more and harder data. This was disappointing for a book that includes a whole chapter on scepticism -- and how data can be misleading.

Finally, do not expect that Peoples is neutral. She is not. While she is neither a strict evolutionist nor a strict creationist, she is certainly pushing a particular point of view. Read this book with an open mind and lots of critical reflection and you will undoubtably enjoy exploring one of the greatest questions of human existence: where did we come from?

I enjoyed this book very much. Instead of this being a evolutionist vs. creationist debate it just states all of the different theories and facts, and goes into the psychology of why we believe the things we believe. The most interesting aspect of the book was the discussion of the Moderates, people that believe in God and the facts of evolution. It surprised me how many people have their own theories of religion mixed with science. If a creationist read this book with a very open mind, they may see that they can take a deep breath, and possibly add evolution to their belief systems as well as their own personal ideas of God.

The Human Question, by molecular geneticist and avocational anthropologist Hervey Cunningham Peoples, is a thoughtful and studious presentation of all that is known and all that is currently speculated about the scientific origin of humankind. Ranging from Darwin's famous theory of evolution, to more recent hypotheses on how life itself may have began, to the conflicts of secular scientific research with creationist theory, The Human Question is a compendium addressing the process of theory and debate in this continuing controversial issue. Summarizing both old and new finds in a prose text which is readily accessible to non-specialist general readers, The Human Question is recommended as an exciting, fascinating, informative survey of theories regarding the presence and evolution of human life on planet Earth.

The Human Question by Hervey Cunningham Peoples is an easy to read exploration of human origins. The text is well researched and deals with the issues of God, evolution and bibical teachings. The author succeeded in answering The Human Question. This text will enhance any individual's understanding of the process of evolution and will certainly help in refining their own personal opinions. The book is must reading for both amateurs and professionals Jerry from Alabama

I found this book to be highly entertaining. The author has taken a deep subject and clarified it for the general public. I was very fascinated with the interviews and various outlooks on subjects I have often wondered about. In many instances, my opinions were reinforced. Other areas left me with questions to ponder. The book reawakened an interest to think about and discover how we came to inhabit the earth. I felt the book showed how religion and science are not necessarily at opposite ends of the pole. This is a book every human being should read.