Review

Coyne gives a brief introduction to the modern understanding of evolution, followed by separate chapters outlining the various kinds of evidence for evolution, including the evidence of transitional forms, evolution in action in bacteria and in isolated species, etc. He also takes pains to point out the various ways in which evolution is a testable scientific theory, by listing a number of the predictions made by evolutionary theory, any one of which, if falsified, would force modifications to the general theory.

Along the way he casually demolishes the various ‘gap’ claims made by creationists. Sadly, no such demolition is ever likely to have even the slightest effect on creationists, stuck as they are with their religious/mythological understanding of the world.

Nonetheless, this is the best book I’ve read on evolution. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a deeper and better understanding of the theoretical structure of evolutionary theory and its evidence.

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