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Summary: Fantastic intro to science
Review: This is one of the best introductions to biological science I have ever read. If you have any interest in how living species came to be, this book will explain it in non-technical terms that anyone (even creationists!) can understand.
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Summary: The Science And History Of Evolution
Review: This is the companion volume to the seven part PBS series about evolution. It presents an excellent overview of the rise of evolutionary thought, and how evolution was at first attacked by early conservative scientists in Darwins' day, up to our own time when evolution is accepted by mainstream science, moving beyond a mere theory. Carl Zimmer along the way explains how evolution came to be and the mechanisms it uses, and he gives us many examples. Topics include the dawn of life, the age of microbes, mutation, genetics, disease, the evolution of sex, coevolution, extinctions, the Cambrian explosion of species, geology, fossils, evolution in action today, our own primate evolution, and more. As a scientist myself I am already familiar with the tenants of evolution, still I found this volume fascinating with it's many examples and stories. The life of Charles Darwin is covered in detail, his voyage in the Beagle is sketched, and his personal life as well, as he struggled with his ideas of evolution in an oftentimes hostile social climate. The final chapter of this book illuminates the battle the creationists today are waging against the 'fact' of evolution. As Zimmer points out their latest effort centers around an idea called Intelligent Design. The claim here is that there is an irreducible complexity to some of the molecular mechanisms of life. Carl Zimmer examines this idea over several pages and finds nothing of substance. The creationists will do nearly anything to discredit evolution, but as Zimmer points out several times, science proceeds by someone first forming a hypothesis and this hypothesis has to stand up against evidence, for and against, surviving or not on the basis of this evidence and always being subject to peer review. The theory of evolution has survived this for over 150 years in great shape, and as Zimmer says here it is accepted as fact by the vast majority of scientists, the evidence is indisputable. Carl Sagan once said that we are made of "Star stuff", and Carl Zimmer here documents, with passion, how we have arisen from simple atoms and molecules over billions of years, a beautiful story indeed.
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Summary: A Must for Every Bookshelf
Review: This is the first book on evolution in a long time making the subject easy to understand for everyone. I'm sure young earth creationists like the one below will either close their eyes to the truth or spout their religious outbursts for all to see how ignorant they are. All I can say is BUY SEVERAL COPIES of this book and give some to your school and local libraries. Not only is it a great read but you and your kids can spend hours reading and looking at all the well done illustrations. The author has done a magnificent job puting it all together for thoes of us who are not scientifically inclined.
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Summary: WOW!!!!!!!
Review: what an experience... This book has open my mind up to a new world. I feel that I have a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the origins of life and the world around me.
This book is designed for beginners who are new to evolution and the origins of life on earth.
the book walks you through fascinating subjects that you could not think of in your wildest dreams: example, did you know that whales and dolphins were once land mammals. Even Today whales still have remants such as a hip bone and tiny hind legs only a few inches long.
This book is long and very time consuming but if you have a alot of time and a GREAT thrust for knowledge this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!!!!
Review: what an experience... This book has open my mind up to a new world. I feel that I have a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the origins of life and the world around me.
This book is designed for beginners who are new to evolution and the origins of life on earth.
the book walks you through fascinating subjects that you could not think of in your wildest dreams: example, did you know that whales and dolphins were once land mammals. Even Today whales still have remants such as a hip bone and tiny hind legs only a few inches long.
This book is long and very time consuming but if you have a alot of time and a GREAT thrust for knowledge this book is for you.
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Summary: Things everyone should know!
Review: What's the one thing that creationists can't stand? FACTS!
And this book is full of them.
A hundred years ago, this book would have been burned. It provides a clear understanding of how natural selection works and gives hundreds of examples. There are many examples of natural selection as it has occurred and how it continues today. It even explains the evolution of evolution and how the church has constantly had to change to keep up with the knowledge we gain.
This book is a must read for everyone! It is a shame that this is not a high-school textbook.
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Summary: As interesting as evolution itself
Review: Wow, I have to say this is the first book I read of Carl Zimmer, he really impress me. The book is graphically wonderful, it has lots of pictures and some sketches that support the text. You can almost read it as a textbook, but this one is much more interesting. The way Zimmer states the plot (which of course is history, not fiction) and how he explains the current states of affairs (considering herbicides, plaguicides, genetic modified food, etc.) and its impact in ecology is that of a first class novelist. He covers almost every aspect of evolution you can imagine, so he cleverly responds (almost telepathically) to the interior questions nurtured while reading the text. Superb, I love this book.
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Summary: The Failure of a Spurious Theory
Review: Zimmer and other evolutionists use a pattern of deception, wild assumptions, outright lies and clever masking techniques to propagandize their belief that the literal chain of human "evolution" saw its inception with an "unknown" species of sea creature swimming in the ocean, which evolved into several transitional forms between sea creatures and amphibians, which evolved into amphibians, which evolved into several transitional forms between amphibians and reptiles, which evolved into reptiles, which evolved into several transitional forms between reptiles and mammals, which evolved into rodents or small mammals, which evolved into several transitional forms between rodents or small mammals and primates, which evolved into primates, which evolved into several transitional forms between primates and humans, which evolved (finally) into humans! Each stage lasting for "millions of years" according to the theory of evolution. So we humans have a particular species of sea creature, amphibian and rodent in our ancestry? This book tries to convince the weak-minded that we do, yet no chain illustrating each species has ever been presented or documented. Not surprising, is it? Mr. Zimmer applies the masking technique throughout. If you want illogical fantasy, read this book. If you want true science, you'll have to look elsewhere.
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Summary: Outstanding, clear synthesis
Review: Zimmer's book is a superb work. He harnesses evidence from across the biological sciences and explains them with great clarity and cohesion. The book gives creationism more space than it deserves. I suppose that the danger to society of creationist dogma justifies a defence against these fables. The description of the devlopment of Darwin's thoughts is also fascinating. I shall be giving many people copies of this book.
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