Customer Reviews

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

In a brief 54 pages this book covers material that everybody should understand about evolution and creationism. It is written in a beautifully clear, concise language and may be the shortest intelligible explanation of evolution that you'll ever read. Unfortunately, most of that beautiful language is written at the advanced high school or early college level and so won't be accessible to the public at large. It seems like a huge opportunity lost. However, the short FAQ at the end of the book is much easier reading and should hit its mark.

Every modern book on evolution and creationism should mention the amazing discovery of Tiktaalik, and indeed this book does. On the basis of what we know about evolution, scientists hypothesized where the transitional form between fish and four-legged animals should appear in the fossil record. Scientists then went to that place and found the animal. They called it Tiktaalik. It's an amazing case of evolution making a prediction and the prediction coming true.

Tiktaalik makes for a great story. People of all ages, especially children, engage readily in stories and retain stories better than raw facts. But this book tells the story in a choppy, non-chronological, expository way. I can hardly piece the story together from the book. This amazing opportunity to all at once instill the reader with both scientific process and evidence for evolution was lost. The reader likely will not remember Tiktaalik.

Isn't there a rule of thumb that when writing for the general public one should write at the 5th or 6th grade level? Many sentences have too many clauses. Parenthetic remarks frequently interrupt the train of thought. Several pages build concept upon concept too quickly, rapidly constructing sentences consisting of multiple newly introduced words. It takes training to collect and apply so many definitions so quickly. The section on how Intelligent Design has no scientific support is so dense I couldn't quite follow it's logic.

The book does go out of its way to make some concepts more accessible, and it does a great job of it. New words are introduced in bold and defined succinctly and clearly in the margin. Boxed regions describe practical examples of the theory expounded in the text. There's a box on SARS, one on the domestication of wheat, one on the evolution of whales, etc. There are plenty of stimulating photographs and diagrams. The simple cladograms do a wonderful job of illustrating evolutionary relationships among past and present organisms. The language in these boxes is generally simpler than that of the text proper and should be accessible to a wider audience. I just wish there was more of it. For example, it would have been helpful to diagrammatically depict natural selection acting on a population or the gradual transition from hooved mammals to whales. Such diagrams might even have wholly replaced the explanations.

The book also does a great job of highlighting the opinions of those who have no difficulty both accepting evolution and being religious. It calls them out on their own pages and gives each quote its own color. It's hard to fly by them without reading them and giving the opinions their due. The book also distinguishes among scientism (no God necessary), deism (God only started things), and theism (God continues to intervene), saying that people who accept evolution can fall into any of these camps. It is absolutely wonderful that the book offers readers these perspectives for consideration. I wish these positions had themselves been highlighted in boxes to keep readers from blowing past.

The book ends with an FAQ targeted at people who are confused about the compatibility of evolution and faith. This FAQ is very well written and should be accessible to general audiences. The paragraphs, though, would have benefited from spacing to make the text seem less daunting. The FAQ answers questions such as "Isn't belief in evolution also a matter of faith?" and "Wouldn't it be 'fair' to teach creationism along with evolution?" But I almost dismissed the FAQ as a collection of chapter notes. Each chapter of the book begins with a full-page photo, and when I hit a blank white page, I assumed that was the end of the book proper. The FAQ should have been a full-fledged chapter to be sure that casual readers wouldn't dismiss it as academic end matter.

For such a small book, the authors did a great job of carefully choosing content, and I only have one nitpick there. The book quickly summarizes the history of the universe and traverses through the origin of life. That may unnecessarily confuse biological evolution with cosmology. The book makes it clear that we're fuzzy on the origins question, but I don't think it makes it clear enough that origins and evolution are different things and that scientists are not the least bit fuzzy on the question of evolution.

This is a great book for confident readers. It hits all the important points on evolution and creationism. Unfortunately, the text probably isn't appropriate for the portion of the public that is actually confused about the issues, although the FAQ would likely reach these people. I think the book is one revision away from reaching the general audience it strives to reach.

(After writing the above review I noticed that the book's introduction says the intended audience is mainly educators, government officials, college students, and "high-quality school" students. I do think the book is quite suited for that more educated, more engaged market, but I still think it could benefit from some simplification. The concepts of evolution are hard for people to grasp and retain, even among those otherwise well-educated. Simpler language, more graphic communication, and story-telling would only help. I'd love to see this book revised for a general audience.)

There is a great deal of misunderstanding within the general population regarding the theory of evolution and how the processes of natural selection operate.
This book is short, easy to read and contains the basic facts relating to evolution, written in a simplified form such that anyone can understand it.
It discusses the differences between a fact and a theory in science, it illustrates evolution through common descent with modification, the fossil record as well as showing modern examples of evolution through natural selection as seen in bacteria and viruses, guppies and other species.
One of the highlights is the dicussion of religion and its compatibility with evolution.

The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine have done an amazing job of clearly explaining the evidence for evolution in our world, and showing the absolute fallacy of the Creationist myth. I learned over 60 years ago that evolution is a fact, and it never interfered with my Christian beliefs, and my role as a minister. Creationism is based on false premises and the book shows that there is no sense to their arguments. The book is so well written that a non-scientist like myself can understand what they are saying and respond to the failure of Creationism which they depict.

"Science, Evolution, and Creationism" is a really, really brief overview -- about 30 pages, if you don't count the illustrations -- of the dispute between evolution and creationism.

As SEC explains:

1. Evolution is a controversial topic in education, but generally not in science. Although there are unresolved questions about specific details of evolution, there are no serious doubts about evolution's central claims.

2. The education controversy is primarily the result of religious opposition, not scientific opposition.

3. One of the key differences between religious beliefs and scientific theories is that scientific theories are testable. Evolution, for example, makes numerous testable claims which have already been confirmed as accurate countless thousands of times, but religious beliefs generally involve supernatural beings which by their very nature cannot be tested.

4. Many of the creationists' "scientific" arguments are merely negative arguments against evolution, not positive arguments for creationist claims. Those negative arguments are generally illogical, because they are based on a false dichotomy.

5. It is simply false for IDC-proponents to claim that evolution is not compatible with Christianity. In reality, millions of Christians find evolution to be entirely compatible with their religious beliefs. (Also, standard evolutionary theory is taught at dozens of Christian universities, like Baylor (Baptist), SMU (Methodist), Whitworth College (Presbyterian), Brigham Young (Mormon), and Catholic universities, like Georgetown, Notre Dame, Loyola, Gonzaga, Boston College, St. Joe's, University of Dallas, etc.)

6. There is substantial evidence for all of the major concepts in evolutionary theory. SEC briefly discusses a tiny portion of that evidence, including some transitional fossils like Tiktaalik, bacteria evolving resistance to antibiotics, and anatomical and DNA similarities in related species.

7. In public primary and secondary schools, advocating creationism in any form, young-earth or intelligent design, violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause regarding the separation of church and state.

The above are all good points, but SEC has the same problem that you'll find in any overview; namely, no issue is dealt with in any real depth. But as an overview, SEC works very well.

In particular, since the main opposition to evolution education is religiously motivated, SEC's discussion of religion is very worthwhile and very persuasive. (See #5, above.)

I also liked that SEC at least mentions the false dichotomy issue, but I wish it had been explained in a bit more detail, because it is such a key part of so many creationist arguments. (Two major court decisions, McLean v. Arkansas and Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Board, also commented on the creationists' reliance on false dichotomies.) SEC could have explained in just a few paragraphs why false dichotomies are such a major problem for creationist arguments, and it would have been well worthwhile. (See my review of "What's Darwin Got To Do With It" for a very simple explanation. It's one of my first Amazon reviews. You can find it on the next to last page of the list of my reviews.)

I also wish that SEC had mentioned the statistical arguments that are another staple of creationist rhetoric and explained why they carry virtually no weight whatsoever. (Generally, creationists' statistical arguments are based on completely speculative, if not obviously invalid, starting assumptions. It's the old "garbage in, garbage out" problem. Creationists can attach numbers to garbage if they want, but it's still garbage.) SEC is updated every few years. Maybe the creationists' silliness with statistics can be addressed in the next update.

In short, if you're pretty new to the subject, SEC would be an easy way to at least get started on identifying some of the main issues in the controversy; but be advised, it's not an in-depth discussion.

SEC is also available on the web, so you don't even have to buy it. Sorry, Amazon ;-)

"Science, Evolution and Creationism", published jointly by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, does an admirable job in explaining succinctly why evolution is science and creationism isn't. In less than 70 pages, it summarizes the key evidence on behalf of biological evolution, and dismisses the claims of creationists, including Intelligent Design advocates, noting correctly that their dissent is religiously, not scientifically, based. It does not assume scientific knowledge of the reader, especially of biology, since important concepts like speciation are defined briefly outside of the main text. Those responsible for this well-illustrated book were part of a joint National Academy of Sciences - Institute of Medicine committee consisting of fifteen biologists, geologists, secondary school science teachers, a philosopher of science and an astrophysicist. Notable members of this committee included its chairman, University of California, Irvine evolutionary geneticist Francisco Ayala, University of Arizona ecologist Nancy Moran, evolutionary geneticist Michael Clegg (Ayala's colleague at the University of California, Irvine), Michigan State University philosopher of science Robert Pennock, University of Michigan professor of internal medicine and public health Gilbert S. Omenn, Washington University plant geneticist Barbara Schaal, Missouri Botanical Garden director and Washington University botanist Peter H. Raven, University of San Francisco biochemist - and former National Academy of Sciences president - Bruce Alberts, and Hayden Planetarium (American Museum of Natural History) director Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Comprised of four succinct chapters, "Science, Evolution and Creationism" wastes no time in defending the scientific validity of evolution, while also emphasizing that both science and religion are mutually compatible, still important, means of viewing our world. Chapter One "Evolution and the Nature of Science" summarizes the major evidence supporting biological evolution and the nature of science itself. It also includes a well-reasoned explanation why science doesn't need to be incompatible with religious belief, quoting statements from major American religious leaders and religiously devout scientists like Brown University cell biologist Kenneth R. Miller. Chapter Two "The Evidence for Biological Evolution" opens with a brief discussion on the origin of the universe and the age of the Earth. Then it summarizes the extensive evidence that exists in support of evolution, including not just biogeography, homology and paleontology, but also recent molecular data from research in molecular systematics and evolutionary developmental biology (Hox genes). Chapter Three "Creationist Prospectives" discusses the major varieties of creationism, giving special emphasis to Intelligent Design creationism and its key concepts like "Irreducible Complexity", while also offering terse, but well-reasoned, explanations as to why they are not scientific and why they should not be taught in science classrooms alongside valid science like biological evolution. Chapter Four "Conclusion" is a terse, one page explanation why we need to be taught valid science like evolutionary biology, and it is followed immediately by a Frequently Asked Questions section devoted to questions on evolution and whether "alternatives" to evolution like Intelligent Design creationism should be taught in science classrooms. A short, but excellent, bibliography is also provided as suggested additional reading, featuring books written by the likes of noted evolutionary biologists such as Ernst Mayr and Stephen Jay Gould, and religiously devout scientists such as biologists Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller.

This book took almost all of the headache out of trying to teach evolution to an ultra-Christian audience. I simply let parents and students read quotes from religious leaders and scientists alike who found no contradiction between religion and science, and the tension eased immediately. They all learned how relgion and science can coexist peacefully in their hearts and minds.

Downside: The binding busted the first time I opened the book. I had our librarian spiral-bind it for me.

Evolution, for many a taboo for others a forbidden word that even offends and for others signifies the reasonable and unique explanation for what has been considered for centuries one of the most intriguing and polemic questions in history; Where do we come from?
Since the theory of Evolution first saw the light in 1858 articulated by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, people have considered it an opposite explanation from the idea of creationism, Darwin has even been considered satanic by religious groups, but is it really a completely opposite idea? Does it really go against religious beliefs?

"Science, Evolution and Creationism" is a small book created by the National Academy Of Sciences with the work and expertise of several professors and scientists of the subject, this book successfully explains a delicate and controversial matter as simply as possible without sacrificing any facts or hard evidence; and managing important scientific facts by making them understandable to the common reader.

From the first chapter of the book entitled "Evolution And The Nature Of Science", a few examples of scientific evidence that support biological evolution are presented, and how these discoveries that have been made frequently in the past years have set the basis for modern biology.

With empirical evidence and observation, scientists prove evolution and at the same time discover and research other factors that affect our day by day life, making evolution studies a more important matter than just the answer to an existential debate.

The book talks about how on a day by day basis evolution becomes a part of the studies to combat and cure new diseases, how it can help humanity create stronger crops and proliferate our natural resources.

Many important facts never considered before when talked about evolution. For example, one of Darwin's known ideals "Natural Selection" is often applied to other fields of science and not just evolution. This has applications in fields you haven't even considered before, like chemistry.

The book on a completely informed and light way explains a fact that has been overviewed by a lot of people and misused by the media, and that is the meaning and use of the words "Theory" and "Facts".

Probably one of the most interesting parts for any reader when it comes to this book, is a unique recompilation of quotes and excerpts by religious leaders about evolution and the reality that it doesn't necessarily conflict with faith and religious ideals.

I believe this is one of the few books about this subject that could trigger and start a different point of view even on the most close-minded person about this particular matter. The book does support that there is plenty of evidence in hundreds of fields and becomes a reaffirmation that evolution is a reality. It would still be a difficult book to read for "Creationists", the book is in fact respectful and facts and proof based, and helps ease the reader into the idea by, as mentioned before, explaining that even religious leaders have rejected a conflict between having faith and believing in the undeniable fact of evolution. And that realizing this is far more than heresy.

The book also approaches the "Creationist Perspective" in order to try to expose the cracks in this whole theory, by setting and presenting proper evidence and studies that refute this theory, and how the non acceptance of it can't bring anything but problems, one clear example approached by this material is the problem that represents the instruction at educational institutions of nonscientific alternatives and the rejection of evolution, bringing not other than misinformation, closing the mind of young students and compromising their future science related education.

In conclusion, the book's ending only brings more questions to your mind about the importance and future of evolution studies and its applications. And the book smartly complements all of this with a resumed Q&A section at the end.

With a broad amount of information almost flawlessly detailed but presented for the common reader and not the scientific community, this book is clearly one of the best alternatives to the study and understanding of Evolution and its importance, its language and approach makes it a perfect choice for any type of person even young readers.

Excellent brief coverage of the most important points. There is no inherent controversy between a view of evolution through systematic empirical observation and scientific experimentation on the one hand and on the other subjective, intuitive religious views that aren't subject to critical scrutiny. You can have beliefs based on one, the other, or both but what is important is that you know the difference between knowledge based on one versus the other. Religion allows things unseen: magic and spirits and the supernatural--anything goes. Science does not.

To many people without a science background, the very thought of learning the basics of evolution must be accompanied by either extensive reading or taking a college level course. This must turn away a wide-range amount of people who are either religious (and view evolution as taboo) or are busy and just don't care. Nevertheless, one can learn the basics of evolution by simply reading the short book entitled Science, Evolution, and Creationism. The book is brief (47 pages with large illustrations), to the point, and relevant to today's society. The authors, a select few chosen by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, are very credible and most definitely performed extensive research to complete this book. What makes Science, Evolution, and Creationism an exceptional read is that it is able to explain the facts of evolution without debunking religion; the book ultimately concludes that science and religion can (and should) coexist. This may provide clarity to some who believe the common misconception that science and religion are opponents.
The collection of research that contributes to the book is simplified and presented in a very organized form. The book is divided into four short chapters entitled "Evolution and the Nature of Science", "The Evidence for Biological Evolution", "Creationist Perspectives", and "Conclusion". This simple organization makes for an enjoyable indulgence since one learns about evolution fully: First the evidence followed by the current controversy with religion (this is in opposition of being exposed to all the facts and counter-arguments at once). The vocabulary as well as the sentence structure is straightforward and definitions of unfamiliar words can be found in the margin. The authors also include many charts, drawings, and photographs that truly help the reader understand biological evolution. One of the most noteworthy sections of the read is the "Frequently Asked Questions" section following the conclusion of the book. In this section, common questions are presented regarding creationism, education in public schools, and other controversies with evolution. Following the questions is a short and informative answer. This section is great for anyone looking for clarity on where the scientific community stands on these issues. In summary, the overall structure of Science, Evolution, and Creationism is superb enough to make it understandable to anyone with or without a college degree.
The first two chapters (making up most of the book) focus strictly on biological evolution. The topic of evolution is introduced with a very interesting hook that describes the finding of a 325 million year-old fossilized Tiktaalik (a fish that also had characteristics of modern mammals). Basically, paleontologists in 2004 were able to predict where they could find a Tiktaalik based on the age of the rocks in the area. Since they knew that fossilized fish existed over 325 million years ago and that fossilized land animals didn't existed until several million years later, they predicted that they could find the transition animal (Tiktaalik) in rocks dated about 325 million years ago. They were, in fact, correct and an amazing discovery was made. This is a great way to hook any reader (especially those who are skeptical about evolution) because without evolution being true, this prediction would have been impossible. Also, when discussing biological evolution the authors are very cautious as to not confuse the reader between the words "theory" and "fact". They make clear that evolution is a theory but accepted as a scientific fact (mainly because serious counter evidence has yet to be presented). Overall, the first two chapters are a great delight filled with a variety of fascinating stories ranging from the evolution of flies in Hawaii to how the knowledge of evolution was essential in combating SARS.
The creationist perspective is addressed in the third chapter. The authors make clear that creationism by definition is someone who, "rejects natural scientific explanations... in favor of a special creation by a supernatural power" (37). Based solely on that definition, creationism is then completely torn apart. If one is religious and believes in God, this should not scare you away from the book. The authors make clear that there is a difference between religion and creationism. They do so by incorporating several quotations from religious leaders (including Pope John Paul II) in which they express that evolution and religion can coexist.
In conclusion, Science, Evolution, and Creationism is a fantastic book. The authors from the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine knew that in order to teach the facts of evolution to the masses they would need to do so in a short, interesting yet informative way. The result is a flawless book that can be understood by almost anyone who can read. No matter how skeptical one is, the overwhelming evidence in this book can easily turn a non-believer in evolution into a believer. This book is a must read!

How did life come to be on this planet? This question is discussed at length by "Science, Evolution, and Creationism". Looking to explain the fundamentals of evolution as well as the arguments of creationism, "Science, Evolution and Creationism" is a wide reaching look at all perspectives on the subject. Highly recommended for community library religion and science collections.