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erwanh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
ericthec's review against another edition
4.0
A good primer on evolution. I learned a lot and the presentation is interesting science with good writing. Sometimes it veered into the hard to appreciate when he explains microbiology experiments. Other times he is clearly fighting his war against "history deniers" as he calls the opponents of evolution. But this is a strong read and picks up where most high school education leaves off. I listened to the audiobook.
baralong's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book, I didn't think much of "The God Delusion" but this books was just brilliant. There were many times I had to pause from reading as I absorbed another mind blowing fact or explanation. I read it a while ago, but 3 parts I keep coming back to are:
1) there's more variation within a generation than between adjacent generations
2) the idea of following a line back to a common ancestor and then forward again to a different species
3) all of the "you did it yourself in 9 months" chapter on embryology
I don't have much of a background in biology, this book really made me wish I did
1) there's more variation within a generation than between adjacent generations
2) the idea of following a line back to a common ancestor and then forward again to a different species
3) all of the "you did it yourself in 9 months" chapter on embryology
I don't have much of a background in biology, this book really made me wish I did
kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
5.0
I can not emphasize enough how much I admire and respect Richard Dawkins. His books are veritable university courses on biology, anthropology and natural history, this one is no exception. If there's a knock on The Greatest Show On Earth, it's that you cannot read it when you're tired or sleepy. Richard is so passionate about his vocation that he sometimes forgets that some of us don't have his stamina, much less his vocabulary.
Dawkins excels at anticipating counter arguments, probably because he hears them frequently, and he is quick to offer rock solid scientific evidence to bolster his bullet points. He also has a knack for coming at issues from various angles. Just when you think two pages of zoology have sufficiently put a topic to rest (BAM!) here comes a paragraph of chemistry for good measure.
Dawkins is adamantly opposed to ignorance. This is not a tome for the obtuse or faint of heart. This is a study in academic truth.
Dawkins excels at anticipating counter arguments, probably because he hears them frequently, and he is quick to offer rock solid scientific evidence to bolster his bullet points. He also has a knack for coming at issues from various angles. Just when you think two pages of zoology have sufficiently put a topic to rest (BAM!) here comes a paragraph of chemistry for good measure.
Dawkins is adamantly opposed to ignorance. This is not a tome for the obtuse or faint of heart. This is a study in academic truth.
jon_a's review against another edition
4.0
A in-depth look at the evidence supporting evolution, but hampered by occasional patches of dense and obscure language. There are some light and humor-filled moments to keep things moving along, but this book is probably enticing only to someone that is already committed to the subject. I would recommend it, but alongside other more easily approached books.
bassmh's review against another edition
4.0
The book was suggested by a friend, and while at the back of my head I was recalling how Richard's approach is severe - based on his twitter feed - , I was skeptical ( I wasn't aware that it's spelled sceptical in U.K. ! ).
Aided with the fact that I'm not an atheist, I had a bit of fear picking up this book.
But Richard was able to put a solid scientific evidence towards evolution, one that is sometime was voiced with his own opinions. But I get that , he is passionate about the idea and the concept , and unable to understand how come it's not a prevailing choice in polls.
It's an lovely read, especially for those who have a medical or a biological background. And I was left wanting to find books that target human evolution solely.
What I actually appreciated mostly is that through out reading the book I didn't get the sense of ideology persecution. Yes, Dawkins voiced his opinions on evolution as a fact ( and for which I believe in evolution ) but he never singled out a faith or a religion.
Aided with the fact that I'm not an atheist, I had a bit of fear picking up this book.
But Richard was able to put a solid scientific evidence towards evolution, one that is sometime was voiced with his own opinions. But I get that , he is passionate about the idea and the concept , and unable to understand how come it's not a prevailing choice in polls.
It's an lovely read, especially for those who have a medical or a biological background. And I was left wanting to find books that target human evolution solely.
What I actually appreciated mostly is that through out reading the book I didn't get the sense of ideology persecution. Yes, Dawkins voiced his opinions on evolution as a fact ( and for which I believe in evolution ) but he never singled out a faith or a religion.
smolbean_reads's review against another edition
3.0
The first half was pretty understandable but the second half lost me quite a few times.
I have the dumbs.
I think I picked up some useful knowledge here and there though :)
What really struck me the most though was how I took my factual belief of evolution for granted, as a sort of 'well it's obviously true isn't it', whereas I didn't realise how many people are creationists. So much so that a book like this even had to attempt to explain the true facts of evolution.
I have the dumbs.
I think I picked up some useful knowledge here and there though :)
What really struck me the most though was how I took my factual belief of evolution for granted, as a sort of 'well it's obviously true isn't it', whereas I didn't realise how many people are creationists. So much so that a book like this even had to attempt to explain the true facts of evolution.
mikelchartier's review against another edition
5.0
Thought there are meandering parts that seem a bit stream-of-conscious-ish, this book is important; this is especially true when reading the infuriating end wherein Dawkins discusses the growing belief among the developed world that evolution isn't true. I'm so pleased to have read this and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about evolution than might have been thought by an otherwise ersatz non-scientist.