Evolution???????????

Question

I want to do some reading up on evolution,specifically human evolution. Does anyone have any suggestions of good books on the subject for a beginner?

Answer 1

Firstly, Philip Johnson is a lawyer, not a biologist.   I'd be weary of anything he says, since it's basically ideologically driven.

I wouldn't recommend starting with Darwin.  While it's interesting, he's not a smooth flowing writer like people today are used to.  Between Origin of Species and Descent of Man, it's not a lot of chit-chat.  It's basically about 1200 pages of carefully discussed evidence, more evidence, and more evidence.  The man was thorough, but it might be a bit much for your first book on the subject.   Also, most of the knowledge of modern genetics, which plays heavily in our understanding of evolution, was unknown when Darwin was alive.  His general outline has held up well, but many of the details were incorrect because of available information.

Richard Dawkins - The Selfish Gene or River Out of Eden provide some good material.  

Matt Ridley - Genome (generally about the human genome, but with a lot about the evolution of human traits)

Nicholas Wade - Before the Dawn (about human evolution)

Ken Miller - Finding Darwin's God (about evolution from the perspective of a scientist who is Christian.  I haven't read this yet, but it's often recommended, and I find Miller to be great at explaining evolution in an interesting way, no matter what religion you are).

There are tons more, but those are good starters.

Answer 2

The best book on the market  today is probably Darwin on trial, by Phillip E Johnson.

edit.

A persons convictions may be or may not be based initially on faith. Every person in existence has a pre conceived Paradigm, or a way of looking at things, this is built up over the years and added to by experiences, things they know, things they perceive, and things they have come to believe, including conclusions they have reached about most things. This is their way of looking at the world or perceiving Reality. It may have many correct perceptions, and many incorrect perceptions, but is Reality to each person.

Everyone comes to a subject with their own philosophical paradigm (conscious or unconscious) and then begins to assess things. So to a Christian it may be – It is Obvious that we were designed and created just look around!    

And to a materialist it is Offcourse there is nothing else in existence, there are only three dimensions.

When a person looks at nature they will begin their thought process with either

1- Look at the intricate design, its obvious there is a designer beyond our experience.

2- Or there is definitely nothing there so it must have come through evolution.

Once a person looks at something through their paradigm, they see things differently than you might.

For example most quoted proofs for evolution or for creation is the same thing, two people looking at the same thing and making different conclusions. The fossil record for example proves a worldwide flood, or long ages.

The grand canyon- Massive water erosion, or millions of years with one river.

Neanderthal sculls- slightly ape like shape, or people living long lifetimes, (eyebrow ridges and cheek bones grow all our lives the older, the more protrusion, very worn wisdom teeth, and arthritic joints)

I could go on for pages and pages.

Things sited as proofs are 95% Conclusion, based on the Paradigms society adopts.

If your open go and get the book Darwin on Trial by Phillip E Johnson.

And have a look at www.creationscience.com

Answer 3

Darwin may have discovered the theory but the Origin of Species is not an easy read.  Darwin was not the best writer (personal opinion).  Try books by Richard Dorking like the Selfish Gene or the sites listed below.

Answer 4

Don't start with Darwin.  That's like reading Isaac Newton to understand physics.  Or reading Aristotle as your first introductin to philosophy.  First, Darwin wrote in the mid 1800's, using a style of writing that you will find difficult as a first introduction.  Second, a *lot* has been discovered since 1859, that both solidifies what Darwin wrote about, and added to the theory of evolution as we understand it today.  Darwinism is just one of three pillars of modern evolutionary biology ... the other two being genetics and population genetics, both of which were discovered after Darwin.

And especially don't start with Origin of Species if you are curious about human evolution (as you say).  Darwin doesn't discuss human evolution at all in Origin of Species.

It's hard to make specific recommendations without knowing what level you are at.   How much biology have you had?   What grade level?  Are you religiously predisposed to be very suspicious of evolution?   Or, have you already rejected it and are just looking for ammunition?

But assuming you are a person who has had basic 10th-grade biology, and has no religious predisposition against evolution, then I would recommend just about any book by Richard Dawkins ... especially the Ancestor's Tale (as it starts specifically with human evolution, and works backwards).

If you have had some college education, regardless of whether it included any sciences, then I *highly* recommend anything written by Stephen Jay Gould.  He's my all-time favorite essayist, but if you're not used to reading meaty essays with erudite prose, then you may find him a long read.

If you are a religious person examining the questions of how evolution does or does not conflict with religious faith, then I *highly* recommend "Finding Darwin's God" by Kenneth Miller.   Miller is a faithful Catholic, and a brilliant biologist (and a terrific writer).

Oh, and stay far far away from Creationists like Phillip Johnson.   I've read "Darwin on Trial" and it's a joke.   If you want to understand religious faith, you don't ask an ardent atheist to explain it to you.   If you want to understand the Democratic platform, you don't ask Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter to explain it to you.  If you want to understand the Republican platform, you don't ask Michael Moore to explain it to you.  

So if you want to understand evolution, you don't ask Creationists to explain it to you.  They have a vested interest in explaining it BADLY ... to make evolution confusing and absurd so they can say "see how confusing and absurd it is!"

Answer 5

There are lots of really good books out there - my favourites are:

The rise and fall of the third chimpanzee by Jared Diamond and his later one guns germs and steel. Both of these are concerned with aspects of human evolution. Probably these two are the ones I enjoyed most.

Also - almost like a whale, the descent of men and the language of the genes, all by Steve Jones.

Finally, Genes, peoples and languages by Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza who is still an eminent human geneticist.

For a more general look at topics in evolution then dip into any of Steven Jay Gould's books of essays and anything by Richard Dawkins.

Answer 6

You can get a copy to read or listen to of 'On the Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin on Gutenberg (link below). It's free and legal.

Or you can browse Amazon - the customer reviews are really helpful in choosing any kind of book.

Answer 7

Typing "evolution explained" to google yields many results immediately.

Answer 8

Just read Charles Darwin, he discovered the Theory of Evolution!