|  | Author: Stephen C. Meyer
Publisher: HarperOne
List Price: $28.99
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Rating:  85 reviews
Sales Rank: 1241
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 624
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6.3 x 2
ISBN: 0061472786
Dewey Decimal Number: 113.8
EAN: 9780061472787
ASIN: 0061472786
Publication Date: June 23, 2009
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Showing reviews 6-10 of 85
 A Game-Changing Examination of the Origins of Life November 3, 2009
David B. Clotfelter (Porter Ranch, CA USA)
7 out of 11 found this review helpful
Two features make this book extraordinary. First, it is lucidly written, so that even a person with a relatively weak background in biochemistry, statistics, and the history and philosophy of science should be able to follow the argument with ease. There are technical sections written for experts, but Meyer always warns the reader in advance and suggests ways of getting the thrust of these sections without becoming bogged down in detail. Meyer is an highly gifted writer, with a rare ability to make complicated matters clear to the ordinary reader. His diagrams are also extremely helpful.
Second, the book is remarkably thorough. Meyer explains the information content of DNA and the structures of the cell in great detail, shows the mathematical improbability of such information arising by chance or by the influence of natural law, considers numerous proposals to explain the origin of life and shows why each has failed, makes a case that intelligent design does provide a good explanation of the information in DNA and in cellular structures, answers common objections, and lays out a number of research questions raised by the design hypothesis, including several that have already borne fruit.
Along the way, Meyer also introduces the reader to key issues in the effort to define science, and brings much clarity to those issues. This is significant, because one ploy used by those who would exclude intelligent design from consideration is the claim that it is not science. Meyer demolishes this pretense.
I believe this book is a game-changer. Because it is so well-written, it will be widely read. And because it is so thorough, it will put an end to most facile objections to Intelligent Design. It won't end the debate, but it will force it to a higher level, because critics will be unable to to ignore Meyer's lucid, sophisticated, and powerful argument. If you plan to read one book on the origin of life this year, it should be this one.
Maybe the world isn't flat... October 30, 2009
Donald M. Minter (Newport, Oregon)
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
We have been told for so very long that anyone who dared to doubt the basics of Darwinian assumptions, time and random chance, was less than intelligent. Meyer's text reminds us that there are indeed intelligent alternatives to Darwinism. More alarming, as suggested in a recent Newsweek article as well as Meyer's text, is the seeming 'world is flat' rule of law that appears to threaten any scientist who disagrees with basic Darwinism. Will we one day look back and laugh at those who really believed in 'time and chance' theories, in much the same way we ridicule those who believed the world was flat? Great read for those not afraid to think outside the box.
 Creationist non-sense October 30, 2009
Book fan
12 out of 45 found this review helpful
A book full of creationist arguments that do not make sense and are not supported by current data - just writing a bestseller does not make certain things true
A Very Important Development in the Debate October 28, 2009
D. G. Frank (Blue Ash, OH USA)
12 out of 17 found this review helpful
Congratulations Dr. Meyer!
My prediction: another cultural earthquake; the biggest in this discussion since Behe in 1996 Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution.
Meyer has impeccable credentials, and this work validates them. There is no need for me to review the contents of the book, there are plenty of good reviews already. My purpose for writing is to document my prediction (I also predicted the Behe 'earthquake'), and to strongly recommend this book.
The history of the discovery of DNA in the first several chapters is absolutely delightful and insightful, and I am considering using it in some of my science classes. Also, the explanations of the structure and function of DNA are lucid and intuitive.
EVIDENCE for this? My 70 year old father read the ENTIRE 600 pages, and was calling me several days a week to ask questions and discuss it. He has NO formal scientific training and only some college, and he has a very good grasp of what is going on.
Even if you disagree with Meyer's argument and conclusions, you cannot help but benefit from the appreciation he has for the goings on of DNA and the cell.
I have only one criticism. It seems to me that Meyer's objective was to make sure that his readers understood enough of the science, so that they could understand the vast complexity, so that they could understand how the idea of 'information' applies, so they could be convinced by his argument that information comes from mind (my paraphrase does not do justice to his argument). A decent strategy....
...but I often found myself wanting to get out the editing pen...I think he could have accomplished the same goals in 450 pages. Perhaps his strategy was deliberate, though...sometimes redundancy gives the reader more time to assimilate. I'll have to ask him if I ever meet him.
What are they afraid of? October 27, 2009
B. D. Hinds (Texas)
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
I recently read this book and then attended a seminar conducted by the Discovery Institute, entitled "Faith and Science, Friends or Foes?" It is so interesting to me that books by evolutionary scientists, especially the poet laureate of the group, Richard Dawkins are so quick to move this debate away from science to one of religion; and resort, usually immediately to name calling, rather than dealing with the material presented - not exactly a sign of someone secure in his facts. It's easy and convenient to label the theory of intellegent design as non-science, and on that basis to dismiss it. But origin of life scientists in this camp don't really have any compelling answers for the origination of specified information dense DNA structures, or the variety of amino acids, proteins and protein machinery necessary for replication, transmission or construction of life-necessary material. And, controlling the definition of what is science and what is not, smacks of bullying to me, and does not change the facts. Isn't in interesting that the evolutionist side of this debate usually tries to make it about religion, and the intelligent design side tries to keep it in the realm of science? It seems obvious to me that what they are afraid of is that intelligent design is a threat to their atheism, as well as their science. I say, deal with the facts and let the chips fall where they will.
My undergraduate major was biology, with an emphasis in evolution. I was troubled at the time by the amazing complexity and design of the various animals I dissected. How can you explain the progressive diameter of tubing within the kidney, necessary for it to preform its function; the complexity of the flagellar motor in certain bacteria; the elegant complexity and simplicity of an earthworm by random adaptations over long periods of time? Typically, structures either work or they don't, and long periods of time with faulty machinery usually doesn't enhance survivability - visualize a reptile at the midway point of evolving a wing. I couldn't explain it then, but this book has helped me to understand that the evidence of intentional design is compelling and even overwhelming. Regardless of the opinion of some reviewers here, it deals in incredible depth with the issues. It is very good science, well researched and compiled, and demands an intelligent (leave the name calling for a baseball game where it is more appropriate than a discussion of origins) fair and unbiased hearing. Even Dawkins admits that the creation "appears" to be designed. You just have to open your eyes and objectively evaluate the evidence.
Showing reviews 6-10 of 85
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