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Title: Evolution and the Myth of Creationism: A Basic Guide to the Facts in the Evolution Debate by Tim M. Berra ISBN: 0-8047-1770-2 Publisher: Stanford University Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 1990 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.53 (34 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: BEST INTRODUCTION FOR JUNIOR HIGH KIDS!
Comment: I bought this book for my sister back when she was in Junior High in 1994 because I wanted her to have the best introduction into the Evolution debate. I explained to her that in a science classroom she should expect to be taught science and science only. None of this anti-science, anti-reason, creationist propaganda that some teachers try to pass for SCIENCE. I explained that if she was interested in the creationist view of the origin of life on Earth she should attend sunday school - she never chose to do so. That's because there is something irrevocable about HARD EVIDENCE - it cannot be denied. To do so is to be willfully blind. Tim Berra eloquently explains and shows the reader why science is called that. Why anything that does not apply the SCIENTIFIC METHOD is NOT science.
Evolution and The Myth of Creationism explains its three related purposes: 1. To explain evolution to people who are genuinely confused by the claims of creationists, who try to pass fundamentalist christian beliefs as science. 2. Provide useful ammunition to the high school biology teacher or school board member who finds him or herself under attack by creationists. 3. To be a useful supplemental text for introductory college-level classes in biology, zoology, botany, or anthropology.
Tim Berra further explains that his book is blunt and to the point because "...scientists have, for too long, treated too lightly on the creationists, and have thereby fostered the impression that the creationists have a legitimate scientific voice. It is time for candor and clarity."
I would like to point out that in many instances, the fundamentalists pull quotes and distort them for their own purposes. To familiarize yourself with such tactics turn to the last section in the book - "Science, religion, politics, law and education." Here you'll read about a number of landmark cases and trials that show you that REASON does triumph. When you finish the book you'll understand that we may be living in the 21 st Century, but what we are going through is no different than what Christopher Columbus went through when the earth was thought to be flat.
Rating: 5
Summary: cuts through all the confusion
Comment: This is a great book, written in a straightforward style, that presents the scientific data supporting evolution, and then presents with equal clarity the various attempts by religious fanatics to oppose evolution on supposedly scientific grounds. By making each side of the argument clear, Berra makes it easy for the reader to see the difference between argument based on evidence, and argument based on a desire simply to oppose a theory that some find unpleasant. Even people with a strong education in biology may sometimes find themselves taken by surprise by various carefully crafted arguments that creationists have devised, and so it is really useful for everyone to see exactly what the most commonly dredged-up creatinist arguments are. Since many of these creationist arguments are based on incorrect or out of context information, one really needs to know about them in advance in order to be able to adequately respond to them.
So, this book is extremely useful for anyone concerned about the idea of special interest groups trying to force their religious agenda onto the public education system, and I therefore recommend it not just to scientists, but to everyone!
Rating: 2
Summary: Some Good Basic Info but Amateurish and Flawed.
Comment: I would like to start this review off by stating that I am a creationist, and I like to think of myself as an intellectual, open-minded one. Admittedly, there are alot of creationists out there who are not this way. Many creationists have no idea what the theory of evolution really is and simply choose to ignore it. While I do not believe it explains life's origins, I do believe it is important to understand what it really is before making an objective decision.
This book does provide some good basic facts describing what evolution really is, how it works, and what it isn't. However it is severely in need of an update. There's the infamous Berra's Blunder, which the author put in as evidence for evolution but accidently gave evidence for design. Oops. It also shows the embryo drawings made by Gene Hackl that are actually frauds. It also cites the Stanly Miller experiment, which is up for debate as legitately imitating Earth's early atmosphere.
The low point in this book was the chapter about Creationist Claims and then refuting them. The author builds a ton of straw men here, citing all the infamous absurd creationist claims used by uninformed creationists only, i.e "Darwin recanted on his deathbed" and "human footprints have been found next to dinosaur footprints". Informed creationists know these arguments are ridiculous but it has done nothing to disprove the theory or idea of creationism. I thought that was a cheap tactic.
For a objective, informed defenses of evolution check out "The Blind Watchmaker", probably the best book in defense of evolution.
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Title: The Triumph of Evolution: And the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldredge ISBN: 0805071474 Publisher: Owl Books (NY) Pub. Date: 01 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences by National Academy Of Sciences ISBN: 0309064066 Publisher: National Academy Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism by Philip Kitcher ISBN: 026261037X Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 23 June, 1983 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Scientists Confront Creationism by Laurie Godfrey ISBN: 0393301540 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 April, 1984 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Tower of Babel: The Evidence against the New Creationism by Robert T. Pennock ISBN: 0262661659 Publisher: Bradford Book Pub. Date: 28 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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