Introducing Evolution [Paperback]

Dylan Evans (Author), Howard Selina (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1840466340 | ISBN-13: 978-1840466348 | Publication Date: October 16, 2001

In 1859, Charles Darwin shocked the world with a radical theory - evolution by natural selection. One hundred and fifty years later, his theory still challenges some of our most precious beliefs. Introducing Evolution provides a step-by-step guide to 'Darwin's dangerous idea' and takes a fresh look at the often misunderstood concepts of natural selection and the selfish gene. Drawing on the latest findings from genetics, ecology and animal behaviour - as well as the work of best-selling science writers such as Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker - this book reveals how the evidence in favour of evolutionary theory is stronger than ever. Did life first evolve on other planets? What's the advantage of having sex? Why do your parents look after you? And what good to a bird is half a wing? This book brings Darwin up-to-date with the latest scientific discoveries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Totem Books (October 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840466340
• ISBN-13: 978-1840466348
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,838,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dylan Evans is the founder and CEO of Projection Point, which designs risk intelligence training programs for corporate clients. He has written several popular science books, including Emotion: The Science of Sentiment (Oxford University Press, 2001) and Placebo: The Belief Effect (HarperCollins, 2003), and in 2001 he was voted one of the twenty best young writers in Britain by the Independent on Sunday. He received a PhD in Philosophy from the London School of Economics in 2000, and has held academic appointments at King's College London, the University of Bath, the University of the West of England, and University College Cork. He is also a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Primer for pre teens, May 24, 2005

By 

C. M. Stahl "RespectfulEmpiricist" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Introducing Evolution (Paperback)

(...)
This book is a primer for the youngster of about 10 to 16. It is written with illustrations on every page making it a lot like a comic book. It is very well done and detailed and this reviewer suspects it would be appealing to a young crowd who has an interest is science. It appears that it may also inspire and interest in science. The explanation of how evolution works and how integral to science this theory is, becomes the strong point of the book.

The fact that the authors proclaim that once evolution and natural selection is understood, the reader would have to abandon all religious thoughts. While that seems obvious to me it may imperil this book from a wider audience. Given that there are many people who understand and support the theory of evolution and maintain religious idealogy simultaneously I think the book may limit its audience to the "choir".

A better book would explain the theory, the obvious conclusions that sensible people see as a result of that theory and let the reader (student) decide for themselves whether this requires or negates a supreme being.

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been better!, July 10, 2009

By 

M. Hameer - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introducing Evolution (Paperback)

I am a fan of books like 'For Beginners' series, which combine art and facts for a beautiful and fun introduction to a subject. However, I found "Introducing Evolution" (Introducing series) okay, not that great. It had less words and information, and more pictures. It also smacked of promoting a sense of 'atheism' rather than evolutionary science. Not a bad book, but not a great one either in my opinion.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best book on Evolution, February 24, 2006

By 

A. Roy - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Introducing Evolution (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have read on evolution. I bought the book day before yesterday, and believe me - I finished it in one sitting; I literally glued. If I could I would have given the book 6 star.

What I liked most of this book was the author covered philosophical aspects of theory of evolution and cutting edge theories concerning evolutionary psychology, evolution of culture, altruism and moral sentiments or even evolutionary robotics in addition to provide a basic idea on biological evolution. He quite convincingly established why Darwin's idea (evolution through natural selection) can be compared as "Universal Acid" (proposed by Daniel Dennett) and how Drwin's "dangerous idea" literally pushes Willium Paley's God literally out of window. I know many will be uncomfortable with the bold approach of the author, (just as one of the previous reviewer who gave one star) but hey - accept the reality! We can indeed explain our existence and complexities in living things by the theory of natural selection! Laplace truly uttered, we do not need that (God) hypothesis (anymore)!!!!

I basically agree with Steven Weinberg (American elementary particle physicist; Nobel Laureate of 1979) who said, Biological Evolution refutes the idea of an interested God much more decisively than physics does. And this is only because of Darwin and his Universal Acid - theory of evolution thru natural selection.

Novice readers, who have not started reading evolution yet, can try this. This book will be real fun to read. Bonus is Howard Selina's excellent artworks.