The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution

The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins

Exceptionally well written, this book details the evidence in favor of evolution, as well as explains the methods by which evolution has produced the wide variety of life on our planet. While it is written with the goal of answering specific arguments against evolution put forth mainly by creationists, this book is invaluable for anyone who wants to understand evolution in detail.

Far from arguing one side of "the controversy", Dawkins shows that there is no controversy. Using evidence from the fossil record, various "natural clocks" that mark the timeline of species development, molecular evidence, and evidence from other branches of scientific inquiry, Dawkins builds a scientifically insurmountable case demonstrating the fact of evolution from the first appearance of life to the rich menagerie we see today.

Dawkins also demonstrates a strong talent for explaining complex scientific ideas in terms easily accessible to the average reader. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the mechanisms of natural selection and evolution and especially to those who may believe there is still reason to doubt these scientific facts.



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The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an excellent book.  The story is engrossing and well-told.  12 outlying districts of the country of Parnem, once known as North America, are punished for past rebellion against the dictatorial Capitol City by being forced to provide "tribute" of one boy and one girl to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a brutal, nationally televised fight to the death.  Told from the point of view of Katniss, who volunteers for the games to save her sister, the story follows her through the peril of the games and the terrible choices she must make.


This is a book clearly written for young adults, but is not dumbed-down in the least.  The writing is spare, yet clear and compelling.  I highly recommend this book for any adults, young or old, who love a good story well told.


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The Ghost in the Universe: God in light of Modern Science

The Ghost in the Universe: God in Light of Modern Science by Taner Edis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Taner Edis attempts, in this book, to explore arguments for and against the existence of God.  He explores this question from the perspective of a scientific naturalism, bringing in arguments and evidence from history, psychology, scientific inquiry, philosophy, and literature.  He examines the claims of major world religions with a sympathetic style, giving due credit to claims of religious experience, and examining claims fairly and logically.

Edis explores God in terms of traditional notions of deity and explores the evolution of human concepts of deity from beginnings in myth and scripture to religious understanding of God in light of modern knowledge.  He explores religious experience both as evidence for a spiritual facet to the world and as a product of human evolution.  In the end he discusses the underpinnings of morality and explores attempts at forming (or discovering) an objective morality.  Finally he explores the importance of moral systems and the possibility not only of coexistence of competing philosophies, but of forming common moral bonds in a pluralistic society.

Now a warning, this book is dense.  It's not that it's overly verbose, or particularly hard to read, it's just dense with ideas to the point where I would find my mind pondering and exploring a particular point while my eyes read and re-read the same lines.  It took me a long time to get through the whole thing, but in the end I'm glad I did.

I'd welcome discussion with anyone else who has read the book and found value in any of the author's arguments.



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