Evolution - The basics - reccomendations please.

[schlitt]

I have recently struck a deal with my mother, by which she agrees to read a book of my choosing, and in turn i will read a book of her choosing. (She chose "the irrational Atheist", by Vox Day, which she herself has not read).

She has many of the most basic misconceptions of evolution, and has never in her life read anything written by an evolutionary biologist, but has read plenty of Christian propaganda.

I bought Dan Dennet's Darwin's dangerous idea to give to her, but i think it may be a little complex.

So, i am wondering if people could suggest a good book as an introduction to evolution for someone?

Oh, i should also add, she is completely computer illiterate so there is no way i can get her on talkorigins.org.

NOTE: Apology if this has been discussed before, I did a try few searches before posting this :)

[Ginarley]

Richard Dawkins - The Blind Watchmaker (a standard reccomendation)

[godless dave]

"Finding Darwin's God" by Kenneth Miller.

[this charming man]

The Ancestor's Tale - Dawkins (http://www.amazon.com/Ancestors-Tale-Pilgrimage-Dawn-Evolution/dp/0618005838)

[this charming man]

Atheist Universe by Mills has some very good stuff in it, and it is a very easy read. (http://www.amazon.com/Atheist-Universe-Thinking-Christian-Fundamentalism/dp/1569755671)

[Iamme]

schlitt,

Now what is your objective with your mother? To show her you have superior intellect? You want to deprive her of the joy of believing and going to her grave with a smile on her face? I would never do that to my own Christian mom, and never even did when I really questioned Christianity from the age of about 15 into my 30's.

[godless dave]

You want to deprive her of the joy of believing and going to her grave with a smile on her face?

Understanding evolution would in no way deprive her of the joy of believing or going to her grave with a smile on her face.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Explain Marvin Minsky's theorem to her:


The Process of Evolution is the following abstract idea:

There is a population of things that reproduce, at different rates in different environments. Those rates depend, statistically, on a collection of inheritable traits. Those traits are subject to occasional mutations, some of which are then inherited.

Then one can deduce, from logic alone, without any need for evidence, that:

THEOREM: Each population will tend to increase the proportion of traits that have higher reproduction rates in its current environment.
If that doesn't work, I'd go with Finding Darwin's God.

~~ Paul

[MattusMaximus]

I also recommend Finding Darwin's God (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Finding-Darwins-God/Kenneth-R-Miller/e/9780061233500/?itm=1).

Another book to consider is Francis Collins' The Language of God (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Language-of-God/Francis-S-Collins/e/9780743286398/?itm=1) - Collins is a top-flight evolutionary biologist (ranking up there with Dawkins, imo) and he is also an evangelical Christian with no sympathy whatsoever for the ID-creationist movement. In fact, he tears the creationists apart in his book for promoting horrible science and even worse theology.

In addition, you might want to consider sending her some links to Talk Origins. Here's a good one to get her started...

Talk Origins FAQ (http://talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-qa.html)

and this link in particular she should look at...

God and Evolution (http://talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-god.html)

Good luck!

[MattusMaximus]

Understanding evolution would in no way deprive her of the joy of believing or going to her grave with a smile on her face.


Agreed. I know numerous people who are both religious and accept & understand the science of evolution.

[MattusMaximus]

Oh, i should also add, she is completely computer illiterate so there is no way i can get her on talkorigins.org.



Doh! :eek:

That'll teach me not to read the entire OP. At the very least you could print out the God and Evolution page I linked above and give it to her with the book.

[schlitt]

schlitt,

Now what is your objective with your mother? To show her you have superior intellect? You want to deprive her of the joy of believing and going to her grave with a smile on her face? I would never do that to my own Christian mom, and never even did when I really questioned Christianity from the age of about 15 into my 30's.

What good is dismissal of something when you know nothing of what you are dismissing?

Often i have conversations with her when she brings up misconceptions of evolution as if they were fact. Providing her with the actual facts will empower her, by giving her knowledge, she can then feel more confident in whichever belief system she chooses.

[PixyMisa]

How about Stephen Jay Gould's books of essays? Ever Since Darwin, The Panda's Thumb, and so on.

[Hokulele]

I second the Gould, especially if she is religious. The essays were written for the general public, and are non-confrontational in general.

[Soapy Sam]

"On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life"- Charles Robert Darwin.
(The first edition is best).Possibly the most readable book of scientific revelation / revolution ever written.

[godless dave]

Pretty dated, though.

[Soapy Sam]

So is the Declaration of Independence. Still worth reading.

[schlitt]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.
Yesterday i purchased the Blind watchmaker and gave it to her.

I could not find "Finding Darwin's god" in my bookstore, so i may order it online and give that to her also, depending on how she goes reading the blind watchmaker.

Cheers