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Why Evolution Is True |  | Author: Jerry A. Coyne
Publisher: Viking Adult
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $5.75
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Seller: cbobooks
Rating:  86 reviews
Sales Rank: 2826
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0670020532
Dewey Decimal Number: 576.8
EAN: 9780670020539
ASIN: 0670020532
Publication Date: January 22, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Why evolution is more than just a theory: it is a fact
In all the current highly publicized debates about creationism and its descendant intelligent design, there is an element of the controversy that is rarely mentionedthe evidence, the empirical truth of evolution by natural selection. Even Richard Dawkins and Stephen Jay Gould, while extolling the beauty of evolution and examining case studies, have not focused on the evidence itself. Yet the proof is vast, varied, and magnificent, drawn from many different fields of science. Scientists are observing species splitting into two and are finding more and more fossils capturing change in the pastdinosaurs that have sprouted feathers, fish that have grown limbs.
Why Evolution Is True weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, paleontology, geology, molecular biology, and anatomy that demonstrate the indelible stamp of the processes first proposed by Darwin. In crisp, lucid prose accessible to a wide audience, Why Evolution Is True dispels common misunderstandings and fears about evolution and clearly confirms that this amazing process of change has been firmly established as a scientific truth.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 86
 Best primer on the subject that could be written I would guess. November 21, 2009
Joel Grizzel (kansas city, mo United States)
Well having read about two thirds of the book I have to say that as someone who always trusted scientists to a reasonable degree and around age 20 asked myself if I believed in evolution and said yes - but mainly due to that trust in scientists to be reasonably honest and understanding that when they say "theory" it is something that is well established in scientific circles. I never had looked into this subject a great deal other than buying a copy of "Origin" and moving through that "thumbing through" a little later in life - but this is current info - and it is simply fact that evolution by natural selection is what brought about all life as we know it. The problem arguing against it is the evidence comes from so many directions. I believe humans make up patterns and see things as evidence all the time... but this is not one of those cases. He also addresses some of intelligent designs arguments. As a slight aside... I think it is funny however how scientists and "scientists" believe that in the light of evidence people of religious conviction will drop their former views based on evidence. That is downright hilarious. As if scientists aren't enthusiastic about their own views and unwilling to drop their beliefs in the light of new evidence... about things that do not even strike to the core of their very souls as well. No they are human. It will take a long time to reorient believers minds around this issue and that is normal. Most of us just pretend that we have I think and I am sure I am one of them. But this book is incredibly well done. Casual in tone but direct. It is full of fun examples of Gods evolutionary miracles... sorry but that is my phrase Dawkins! Yes it is an incredible thing to learn of what a powerful tool death is at recreating life. But I kinda hold out a religious belief of sorts... a belief... foolishly I suppose... that if I am staring at my dead loved one their is more to it then that by accident only have they come into my life and left, and that I weep only due to them being useful to my emotional patterns... I almost said existence... which might be wrong... and propagation of my future brood. And a primary purpose in my life in truth is not just that my feces will be useful to the lower life forms as it exists my house after the funeral! Great book though. Not insulting but not afraid to address key circumstances about the current political atmosphere relating to this issue. But yes it is an incredible thing to learn of what a powerful tool death is at recreating life. Okay I believe! I hope this was worth reading as it kept me from zoning out to the tv.
This review might save you some time November 21, 2009
Brian Jordan (Boston, MA USA)
Evolution is true because we exist. You only perceive it as not true because we have the ability to act irrationally fallaciously.
Be more meaningful. This book might be a good start!
 Kindle is good but not great November 15, 2009
Steve Minge (Ohio)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book has almost all of the features I like to see in a Kindle edition:
1. Linked table of contents
2. Ability to skip to the next or previous chapter using the 5-way
3. Links from text to notes and from notes to text
What it lacks is a usable index. The index is there, but it's just a list of terms and names--no links or location numbers.
I know that e-reading is in its infancy, but Kindle users have got to start demanding better features! Publishers treat electronic editions as an afterthought and that's not acceptable. The more Kindle users the better, and the more Kindle users directly contacting the publishers and making it clear what we expect, the faster we will see e-reading reach its potential.
Evolution Simplified November 2, 2009
R. Arseneault (Sarnia, Ontario, Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been impressed listening to Jerry over the years on various Canadian radio and television talk shows. I would not have missed this book for the world - he did not disappoint. His book simplifies an important and complex subject. He shows the beauty of the world in which we are so insgnificant but so fortunate to be a minute part of the survivors. Should be on everyones must read list.
Making a Case for Evolution October 28, 2009
Randolph Eck (Pennsylvannia)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've often heard many scientists who support evolution state that evolution is a fact and do so emphatically. I decided to find out why they felt so strongly about their position. Jerry Coyne's book is an excellent one. The title of the book "Why Evolution is True" caught my attention. So here is a book written by someone who specializes in evolutionary genetics and the origin of new species. He should be able to tell me why evolution is true. I think Coyne made a strong case for evolution.
One good example is the study cited which involved the radiometric dating of corals living during the Devonian period. This dating corresponded nicely with the tidal ring dating on the corals which indicated the length of a typical day back then - twenty two hours, pretty much what it should have been 380 million years ago. Note: the friction produced by the tides gradually slows the earth's rotation over time so days actually were shorter millions of years ago.
One example I found more difficult to comprehend was the one about the 1000 olfactory receptors that mice have. Supposedly, these derived from one receptor that duplicated itself, the receptors then differentiated to lock on to different odors, and then the brain had to rewire to interpret the date from these differentiated receptors. I think we need a bit more science here to understand what exactly happened.
The book is loaded with many examples to demonstrate the validity of the theory. He also discuses a variety of topics including genetic drift, natural selection, sexual selection, examples of the evolutionary process, and origin of species.
Overall I found this book very interesting. So if you want to learn more about the case for evolution, I recommend reading this book.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 86
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