Tornado in a Junkyard: The Relentless Myth of Darwinism (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: geologic column, murdered anybody, geologic layers, Inherit the Wind, William Jennings Bryan, British Museum (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I've been heavily involved in the creationist movement for many years and am familiar with most of the facts cited in 'Tornado.' However, the racy style, the many excellent photos, and especially the less known details and extensive documentation will now make 'Tornado' my resource of choice in my work." -- ELLEN MYERS, CREATION RESOURCE LIBRARY, WICHITA, KANSAS

"My congratulations to Mr. Perloff for an outstanding piece of work." -- ACTOR JACK LEMMON, WHO PLAYED CLARENCE DARROW IN THE 1999 FILM VERSION OF INHERIT THE WIND

"Perloff demonstrates--in this reviewer's opinion conclusively--that scientific evidence, when examined honestly, does not support modern Darwinism, but actually contradicts it. . . . This is a very important work, written in an informal and attractive style that is a joy to read." -- THE NEW AMERICAN 9-13-99

"Tornado in a Junkyard is a unique presentation of the scientific case against Darwinism, informally written for laymen. If you are looking for a user-friendly explanation of the facts supporting creation, this book is for you." -- Dr. EMMETT L. WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT, CREATION RESEARCH SOCIETY, EDITOR, CREATION RESEARCH QUARTERLY

Product Description

In an easy-to-read text, this book examines growing scientific evidence that is challenging Darwin's theory of evolution: lack of transitional forms in the fossil record, the impossibility of mutations (almost universally destructive) serving as evolutionary building blocks, the bad logic of natural selection theory, the stunning lack of evidence for "ape-men," the mathematic impossibility of life beginning by itself, more. Also explores how Darwinism helped foster Hitler's racial policies and examines how Inherit the Wind grossly misled Americans about the Scopes trial. Addresses the ever-vital question: Are we here by chance or are we created by God? Indexed, over 80 illustrations, hundreds of quotes from scientists.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 321 pages
• Publisher: Refuge Books (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966816005
• ISBN-13: 978-0966816006
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #535,316 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 160 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent summary of the arguments against evolution., September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This excellent summary of creationist arguments against the theory of evolution comes from an unlikely source. Perloff's previous book was The Shadows of Power, an exposé of private influence on American foreign policy. Perloff isn't a professional creationist. He just seems to be an intelligent individual who reads technical literature and understands the reasons why modern scientists are rejecting the theory of evolution.

Chapter 1 tells us about the author's anti-Christian, liberal background. Being the same age as the author, I enjoyed his nostalgic look back at the 1960's. I suspect younger readers would not. The good stuff starts at chapter 2.

Chapter 2 deals with the fossil record. Rather than proving evolution, the fossil record presents evolutionists with problems they must explain away. Perloff gives a good overview of the basic problems.

Chapter 3 explains why genetic mutations can't create higher life forms. There are some obvious logical problems with Darwinian evolution, which are explored in chapter 4. Darwinian evolution must answer the question, "What good is half an eye?" Perloff's brief, but adequate, explanation of irreducible complexity explains why half an organ won't win any battles for survival.

Then he points out that the classification system (taxonomy) is based on the fact that there are distinct differences in species. If evolution were true, it should be hard to classify animals because there should be so many intermediate forms. It would be like trying to divide a rainbow into distinct colors. (Exactly where does Orange end and Red begin?) But animals are easily classified because there are such obvious differences between species.

In chapter 4 he also points out that salamanders have 20 times more DNA than humans. Does that mean salamanders are more highly evolved than humans? Chapter 4 ends by asking why extinction rates today are so high, and modern evolution is unknown.

Darwinian evolution depends on the premise that there is no limit to the changes that can be achieved by selective breeding. Chapter 5 points out the well-known limits to breeding. Species can vary only as much as the pre-existing genetic material allows. You cannot breed a dog into a horse.

In chapter 6, Perloff quotes some modern Nobel Prize-winning scientists who find that the scientific evidence points to intelligent design rather than evolution.

According to evolutionists, pre-biotic molecules came together by chance and formed the first living cell. Chapter 7 examines the probabilities of this happening. Statistical analysis proves it simply can't happen.

Chapters 8 and 9 tell some surprising things most people don't know about the supposed "missing links" between man and ape.

Chapter 10 exposes Haeckel's fraudulent drawings that evolutionists formerly used to prove that the human fetus evolves from a fish to an amphibian, etc., all the way up to humanity in the womb. This chapter also contains many more quotes from respected modern scientists who explain why, in their areas of expertise, the theory of evolution is implausible.

In chapter 11, the focus moves to astronomy, beginning with an explanation of some of the problems with the Big Bang Theory. This leads into the discussion of the age of the Earth in chapter 12, and the invalid assumptions made by radioactive dating in chapter 13. Geologic evidence against evolution and an "old" Earth is presented in chapter 14.

Chapter 15 presents anthropological evidence from several different cultures that all have legends about a global flood. Then chapter 16 cites some ancient literary sources that seem to describe dinosaurs. Was it just coincidence that ancient writers imagined beasts that look just like dinosaurs, or did they really see them?

The Scopes Monkey Trial was used by the ACLU to unfairly characterize creationist positions. The movie Inherit the Wind, which was based on the trial, magnified these distortions. Chapters 17 thorough 20 document these, and other untruths, which have been used to prejudice the general public against creation. Chapter 20 also includes a list of famous scientists who have believed in creation.

The book ends with a brief overview of Christian beliefs, and instructions how to "be saved."

Tornado in a Junkyard doesn't go into the depth on any one particular problem with the theory of evolution. Instead, it gives you a broad overview of all the issues. If you want to read just one book to understand the creation/evolution controversy, this is the book to read.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Overview of the Arguments For Creationism, February 3, 2003

By	Saint Dubricius "Alan" (Eastern Seaboard, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Though an avid reader of the works of the late Carl Sagan, I am a newcomer to the actual debate between evolution and intelligent design. As a newcomer, I have found James Perloff's "Tornado In A Junkyard: The Relentless Myth of Darwinism" a thorough introduction to creationism and he makes the subject approachable and understandable regardless of what side of the argument the reader stands. Perloff also covers the debate from a number of viewpoints including the impact of Darwinism on history, religion, and political and social philosophy. Admitting that truth should not be judged on its historical impact, Perloff also discusses problems of evolutionary theory in the fields of paleontology, genetics, cellular biochemistry and other scientific disciplines. The book also contains an ample index and almost 670 footnotes from both sides of the aisle making the book a valuable reference tool. Most remarkable is a unique treatment of the 1925 Scopes "Monkey Trial" which most people know only through the 1960 film "Inherit the Wind." Perloff documents the many differences between Hollywood's portrayal of the trial and what happened in reality and brings a new perspective to the debate between Darrow and Bryan. My only two complaints are the book could have been better organized concerning subject matter and the reader sometimes gets lost in jumping from subject to subject with little explanation. Finally, whoever edited the book should have recommended to Perloff to drop the attempts at humor, attempts that are at best distracting and at worst, simply annoying. Nonetheless, Perloff has created a very good introduction to creationism and raised important questions guaranteed to stir discussion and debate between the two camps for some time to come.

29 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beginners: Start Here. Others: Enjoy the Review., December 12, 2000

By	David L. Bump "the Old Dreamer" (Flushing, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having studied issues involved in the debate of creation vs evolution for years, I don't expect to find much, if anything, new in a book supporting either side. I did find something pleasantly new in this book however: a new attitude.

Perloff, in contrast to some people's ideas of people who accept that the world was created, didn't even believe in God for years. He frankly shares how he used to feel, and gives a lively recital of how solid scientific evidence and sound logic lead him to realize that the mythical history produced by evolutionary thought is not possible.

Along the way, he presents the evidences and reasoning in a flowing manner which kept me reading even though I'm familiar with the material, as well as the evolutionists' "refutations" and the creationists' responses to them.

So, not only will beginners get a well-rounded introduction to the subject, but those "in the know" will get a fresh look at the old battlegrounds. If nothing else, Perloff puts the lie to the old adage that you have to be born and raised that way to be a creationist.