Taking Evolution Seriously

[brightlights]

I label myself as a theistic evolutionist but as of late I've decided to start taking evolution seriously. I want to educate myself so I am better equipped to discuss and debate. Could you please recommend books, websites, or anything else that can educate the lay-man. I'm intelligent and can learn, but I don't have a strong background in biology. I need to start small. So, if you could, then please contribute.

 

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

Kenneth Miller - Finding Darwin's God

 

[Tomk80]

"Biology" by any set of writers. To be acquired at your university book shop. Although it might not be the most accessible kind of book.

For lighter reading, I would recommend talkorigins as a good source.

 

[aeonian_mist]

Most Stephen Jay Gould books should be able to provide both an entertaining and an informative look at ToE.

http://www.talkorigins.org is good
The best sorce, as suggested in an earlier post, is probably a college-level textbook on general evolution. It would provide both a unified and comprehensive survey of the subject.

 

[LifeToTheFullest!]

"Darwin and Design: Does Evolution Have A Purpose?" Michael Ruse

 

[Vance]

www.talkorigins.org

Best all around resource for the beginner.

 

[SquareC]

www.talkorigins.org

Best all around resource for the beginner.

That's what I was going to recommend. So seconded!

 

[Ondoher]

I label myself as a theistic evolutionist but as of late I've decided to start taking evolution seriously. I want to educate myself so I am better equipped to discuss and debate. Could you please recommend books, websites, or anything else that can educate the lay-man. I'm intelligent and can learn, but I don't have a strong background in biology. I need to start small. So, if you could, then please contribute.

http://www.talkorigins.org/ is a good start, but to get rather specific I cannot recommend this particular essay on TalkOrigins enough: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/ It is an excellent overview of the arguments and evidence in support of common ancestry.

 

[aeonian_mist]

If you do have the time, I think you should also read up books/arguments against evolution. A pre-requisite of handeling any debate well is understanding the rationale and support for both sides of the debate.

Also, on the personal level, accepting evolution and rejecting strict creationism means understanding where creationism falls short and how evolution explain things better.

 

[h2whoa]

A very important thing is to have a basic grasp of genetics (but then I would say that!).

I've not had time to look through the website but you could try this: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/

h2

 

[Magnus Vile]

I liked "The Science of Discworld", which is more fun than might be expected.

It's not a bad place to start, anyway.

 

[Prometheus_ash]

Brightlights,

Since you are about the right age for it, if you can afford it go to your local community college (if you have one near) and take a physical anthropology class. IN such a class you will see evolution as it applies to humans, with an accredited instructor that knows what she is talking about. A community college should be cheaper than a traditional college and for lower division classes your information should be just as good.

That said I have two books I would liek to offer you.

1)the evolutionsist by Richard Morris. This book outlines and goes over the debates within evolution in a very clear and consise way. It also talks about some of the personal rivalries within the feild.

2)The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldridge, a leading sceintist on the issue of evolution. He presents the common creationist arguments and then shows the Evolutionary responce to such a claim. It is also easy to read, and entertaining if you like this sort of stuff.

-Ash

 

[notto]

If you do have the time, I think you should also read up books/arguments against evolution. A pre-requisite of handeling any debate well is understanding the rationale and support for both sides of the debate.

Also, on the personal level, accepting evolution and rejecting strict creationism means understanding where creationism falls short and how evolution explain things better.

Just make sure that if you follow this advice that you only read books by people who have actual experience or qualifications in the field of biology. If you do that, it will keep your reading load light in this area.

 

[rmwilliamsll]

here are a few book recommendations and links to my reviews, might help you decide to read them:


Darwinism Evolving Systems Dynamics and the Genealogy of Natural Selection
David J. Depew and Bruce H. Weber
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rmwilliamsjr/61927.html

The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time
by Jonathan Weiner
http://www.livejournal.com/~rmwilliamsjr/52881.html

- Where Do We Come From?: The Molecular Evidence for Human Descent by Jan Klein, Naoyuki Takahata
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rmwilliamsjr/2844.html


these are the best i've encountered and deserve wide reading.

 

[Ryal Kane]

I recently read 'Evolution' by Carl Zimmer and found it easy to understand and informative.

Ryal Kane

 

[Bushido216]

"Darwin and Design: Does Evolution Have A Purpose?" Michael Ruse

Don't read this book until AFTER you've read everything else. This'll just foul you up.

 

[Mistermystery]

I label myself as a theistic evolutionist but as of late I've decided to start taking evolution seriously. I want to educate myself so I am better equipped to discuss and debate. Could you please recommend books, websites, or anything else that can educate the lay-man. I'm intelligent and can learn, but I don't have a strong background in biology. I need to start small. So, if you could, then please contribute.

Talk origin, berkley pages, and pubmet come to mind. Good luck on your search for knowledge.

 

[Tomk80]

Talk origin, berkley pages, and pubmet come to mind. Good luck on your search for knowledge.

That would be pubmed

 

[Mistermystery]

That would be pubmed

That would be

MAZZELTOV

 

[Tomk80]

lol