So I was looking for some light reading...

Bushido216 said:

The Structure of Evolutionary Theory ~ Stephen Jay Gould

Click to expand...

--Ah yes.. the mightiest book on my shelves along with my current favorite: Schubert, et al., (2001) Mantle Convection in the Earth and Planets. While not as massive as The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, it also qualifies in my mind as a might tome on the subject of mantle geodynamics at over 900 pages.

Cheers,
-Chris Grose

I don't often see it mentioned, but since I'm reading it now: Quantum Evolution by Johnjoe McFadden. It's a little rough-going in the latter part, but the implications for abiogenesis are tremendous.

Bushido216 said:

Hmm... I'm thinking the rest of highschool...

Click to expand...

--So are you implying that you are searching for an HS level bio textbook?

Cheers,
-Chris Grose

Bushido216 said:

...so I trundled into my local B&N and sauntered over to the biology section.

After a moment's perusal I came across a series of books which I found interesting...

The Origin of Species
Full House ~ Stephen Jay Gould
The Structure of Evolutionary Theory ~ Stephen Jay Gould
A Brief History of Time ~ Stephen Hawkings (from the adjoining physics section).

Hmm... I'm thinking the rest of highschool...

Click to expand...

I don't have structure of evolutionary theory but I try reading Ontogeny and Phylogeny whenever my insomnia seems incurable. It usually puts me right to sleep.

The frumious Bandersnatch

Frumious Bandersnatch said:

I don't have structure of evolutionary theory but I try reading Ontogeny and Phylogeny whenever my insomnia seems incurable. It usually puts me right to sleep.

Click to expand...

--Any book with big words puts me to sleep like nothing else, 3 paragraphs and I'm out. I have to fight to keep up with my geodynamics research, it drives me crazy. Sometimes I think I need to stand up and read so that I don't fall asleep.

Cheers,
-Chris Grose

Gould though you can find at any college town used bookstore. I got a few different ones for about 1.50 each. I ve been keeping my darwin and Bible next to each other because everone makes references to those two books the most here. Darwin hasn't started on fire or been singed in the least Good books, I wish to catch up once I graduate from college. then I will start a file like lucaspa has. until then , biomed classes come first.
Enjoy the books, be careful, when they see you bringing "religion" into the public HS.

"Darwin's Black Box" - Michael Behe
"The Blind Watchmaker"- Richard Dawkins

Those were the two books given to me by a professor on the topic of intelligent design v. evolution. These are the two foremost individuals in their areas. Behe is one of the founders of the Discovery Institute which supports intelligent design and a microbiology professor. Dawkins is a professor at Oxford University (not a shabby place) and is regarded as a leader in evolutionary sciences. You should take a look at them.

Bushido216 said:

...so I trundled into my local B&N and sauntered over to the biology section.

After a moment's perusal I came across a series of books which I found interesting...

The Origin of Species
Full House ~ Stephen Jay Gould
The Structure of Evolutionary Theory ~ Stephen Jay Gould
A Brief History of Time ~ Stephen Hawkings (from the adjoining physics section).

Hmm... I'm thinking the rest of highschool...

Click to expand...

If Steven Jay Gould wasnt such a big worded windbag, I would have enjoyed " Structure of Evolutionary theory" better..... almost no pictures or graphs. I wish he had dumbed down the language and stop useing French terms and phrases.

Hey if your looking for cheap science textbooks, go check out your local thrift stores like Savers, I guess nobody in America likes too read anymore.
I have found probably 100 university level textbooks for around a few bucks a piece, only a few years old. Cool textbooks like graduate level anthropology ,Genetics, Biology.

Hi Bushido
I read a great book called Evolutionary Catastophes: the science of mass extinctions by Vincent Courtillot. Lots of geology in that one and an excellent read.
I also suggest Science and Earth history - the evolution/creation controversy by Arthur Strahler. That book has a ton of info in it...
Take care
Amie

Hey Amie (nice angel - very big),

Some of my favorites are "Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History", by Stephen Jay Gould. I've visited the Burgess Shale and have seen the fossils in their original bed. It's an amazing sight, and after reading this book, it's even more amazing. Gould has a lot to say about complexity, evolution, and predictability of life. He also doesn't pull any punches, and isn't afraid to show the limits of our knowledge. And with that, Gould's sense of curiosity and wonder is infectious.

And, while it's not strictly a science book, I enjoyed "Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman" by James Gleick. It's a great book on its own merits, and hopefully it'll inspire people to read "Surely You Must Be Joking, Mr. Feynman" by Richard Feynman and "Chaos" by James Gleick (which are three and four on my list).

All of the books (except "Surely You Must Be Joking" which is just good fun) are technical, but accessible to dedicated dilettantes.

I went over to my bookcases and Gould was there along with Holmes,Wegener,Carey and many more.There were some newer books but they still not have the attraction of the older tomes where language was a point of satisfaction.

Finding Darwins God, is a fun book written by Kenneth Miller, Evolutionary biologist and devout Catholic, finding common ground between Evo and Faith

Bushido216 said:

Refuted many times over.

Besides, ID has no basis whatsoever. It merely points to wholes in evolutionary theory without being able to put forth its own.

Click to expand...

That is the WHOLE point...To point out the HOLES. Be careful on your spelling. Have you read any of it? By refuted, I think you mean that evolutionists don't like the questions it presents. All I am saying is that it will challenge the way you think about evolution. It gives attention to the complexity of life often overlooked by biologists. Just because someone like Dawkins can provide a model for change, doesn't mean that it is actually biochemically that simple. It is easy to see similarities between species on the outside. And how exactly does ID have no basis?

jarrett91582 said:

That is the WHOLE point...To point out the HOLES.

Click to expand...

He means that they try to point out holes, not that they actually do.

I think the spelling of 'wholes' was a joke in some way, too.. *ponder

Have you read any of it? By refuted, I think you mean that evolutionists don't like the questions it presents.

Click to expand...

I have and Behe's book has been refuted. Quite well really too.

Refuted by who? I mean, I am really interested in the subject. As a bio major (and potential teacher), this issue is of importance. To me, Behe makes a lot of sense. But maybe my knowledge is limited compared to an android such as yourself...

jarrett91582 said:

Refuted by who? I mean, I am really interested in the subject. As a bio major (and potential teacher), this issue is of importance. To me, Behe makes a lot of sense. But maybe my knowledge is limited compared to an android such as yourself...

Click to expand...

Simply that his irreducible structures can be made with the use of intermediate structures. Things like simpler bacteria flagella have also been found.

This is probably the best place to go:
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/behe.html