Richard Dawkins - The Greatest Show On Earth

Richard Dawkins - The Greatest Show On Earth

Richard Dawkins gives an introduction to his new book "The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution." He explains why this book was necessary, and what readers can expect from this highly-anticipated work.

Released in Britain 3. september, and released in the USA 22. september

Charles Darwin's masterpiece, "On the Origin of Species", shook society to its core on publication in 1859. Darwin was only too aware of the storm his theory of evolution would provoke but he would surely have raised an incredulous eyebrow at the controversy still raging a century and a half later. Evolution is accepted as scientific fact by all reputable scientists and indeed theologians, yet millions of people continue to question its veracity. In "The Greatest Show on Earth", Richard Dawkins takes on creationists, including followers of 'Intelligent Design' and all those who question the fact of evolution through natural selection. Like a detective arriving on the scene of a crime, he sifts through fascinating layers of scientific facts and disciplines to build a cast-iron case: from the living examples of natural selection in birds and insects; the 'time clocks' of trees and radioactive dating that calibrate a timescale for evolution; the fossil record and the traces of our earliest ancestors; to confirmation from molecular biology and genetics. All of this, and much more, bears witness to the truth of evolution. "The Greatest Show on Earth" comes at a critical time: systematic opposition to the fact of evolution is now flourishing as never before, especially in America. In Britain and elsewhere in the world, teachers witness insidious attempts to undermine the status of science in their classrooms. Richard Dawkins provides unequivocal evidence that boldly and comprehensively rebuts such nonsense. At the same time he shares with us his palpable love of the natural world and the essential role that science plays in its interpretation. Written with elegance, wit and passion, it is hard-hitting, absorbing and totally convincing.

Go to http://richarddawkins.net/thegreatestshowonearth to read extracts from chapter 1 and 2.

Reviews:

"This is a magnificent book of wonderstanding: Richard Dawkins combines an artists wonder at the virtuosity of nature with a scientists understanding of how it comes to be."
—Matt Ridley, author of Nature via Nurture.

There is a grandeur in this view of life, said Darwin, speaking of evolution. There is no one better qualified to convey this grandeur than his worthy successor, Richard Dawkins, who writes with passion, clarity, and wit. This may be his best book yet.
—V. S. Ramachandran

To call this book a defense of evolution utterly misses the point: The Greatest Show on Earth is a celebration of one of the best ideas humans have ever produced. It is hard not to marvel at Richard Dawkinss luminous telling of the story of evolution and the way that it has shaped our world. In reading Dawkins, one is left awed at the beauty of the theory and humbled by the power of science to understand some of the greatest mysteries of life.
—Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish

Up until now, Richard Dawkins has said everything interesting that there is to say about evolution -- with one exception. In The Greatest Show on Earth, he fills this gap, brilliantly describing the multifarious and massive evidence for evolution--evidence that gives the lie to the notion that evolution is "only a theory". This important and timely book is a must-read for Darwin Year.
—Jerry Coyne, author of Why Evolution is True

Whether or not you accept evolution, you will understand it after reading Dawkinss clear and fresh presentation of Evolution 101. His ability to explain science through choice analogies and metaphors (embryology as origami!) make accessible the newest research from paleontology to molecular biology, all the while capturing—and expressing—the excitement of the rapidly expanding field of evolutionary biology.
—Eugenie C. Scott, Executive Director, National Center for Science Education

Look out, creationists. Theres a new sheriff in town, and he talks like an Oxford don The author opens with guns a-blazing (and) writes with terrific wit and considerable learning, but what is interesting here is his fire Without the strictures of academia he relishes the opportunity to light into his opponents. Whether anyone will stand up to refute his notions remains to be seen, but for now Dawkins wins on points. A pleasure in the face of so much scientific ignorance biology rendered accessible and relevant to the utmost degree .
—Kirkus Review
Enjoy!

Category:

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[thegoochieguy]

dawkins is a genius!

i read The Greatest Show, and Ancestor's Tale, as well as The God Delusion.

they are fantastic books

[Minicracken]

You are absolutely right. You should really read Selfish Gene also, it's wonderful.

[bucketheadnurse]

Evolution is fact. Period.

[holywaterx]

i don't like the term "believe in evolution" more like "accept" it

[goodtuneman]

people who don't believe in evolution expect the rest of us to believe that moses parted the seas,turned a staf into a serpent,turned the Nile into blood etc. These anti evolutionists claims are a lot more unbelievable.

[perroloco83]

@holywaterx You put faith in a theory, that means believe! You believe what you see and perceive, but how much a a person see of everything around us! 99.99999999999.... are hidden for our five senses! Like or not you are always believing! You may believe that you don't need to believe in your life!

[perroloco83]

Other problem is that people that do not have evolution theories as dogma are judged as creationist, which is not necessary true! other problem is to compare evolution with science, and those are to different aspects, evolution is a state while science is a function! I can prove evolution as well. If I plant a seed then seed will probably EVOLVE to a flower or what ever it is! or wait in millions of years it will become a homonculus! How can i prove that?

[perroloco83]

Decaying is a fact! opposite to evolution!

[perroloco83]

Genetic manipulation is probably not evolution but a delusion of it, creating more problems than it solves!

[berniebay]

@ovonijemojeime

It is a fact. But, there's no evidence to support your second claim. The origin of life is still a mystery.

[ovonijemojeime]

evolution is a fact.

the process was 'started' by "god".

religion is unnecessary.

spirituality is easily attainable.

[fourbabies1]

it's a crying shame that books like these have to be written. time and time again the evidence and facts point to evolution but faithheads just wont look at it with a clear perspective.