The Edge of Evolution

The Search for the Limits of Darwinism

By: Michael J. Behe

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

In a tour de force of science and logic, the best-selling author of Darwin's Black Box combines genetics, laboratory results, and mathematics to prove, once and for all, that the universe and life on Earth are designed.

Michael J. Behe launched the intelligent design movement with his first book, Darwin's Black Box, by demonstrating that Darwinism could not account for the complexity of biochemistry. Now he takes a giant leap forward. In The Edge of Evolution, Behe uses astounding new findings from the genetics revolution to show that Darwinism is nowhere near as powerful as most people believe. Genetic analysis of malaria, E. coli, and the HIV virus over tens of thousands of generations, not to mention analysis of the entire history of the genetic struggle between them and "us" (humans), make it possible for the first time to determine the precise rates, and likelihood, of random mutations of varying kinds. We now know, as never before, what Darwinism can and cannot accomplish. The answers turn conventional science on its head and are certain to be hotly debated by millions. After The Edge of Evolution, life in the universe will never look the same.

©2007 Michael J. Behe (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Though many critics won't want to admit it, The Edge of Evolution is very balanced, careful, and devastating. A tremendously important book." (Dr. Philip Skell, Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, Pennsylvania State University, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences)

Good Science

Where does The Edge of Evolution rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Good review of the Science that supports Darwinian concepts and theory with a fair look to the limits of the operative underlying science as we know it today. A bit too tech talking in places but a fair college education can make it's way through the word war to find value in the content. I am just now wondering what selection forces might be at work to favor stupidity in the current state of the Human Species.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Edge of Evolution?

No memorable moments in this work.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The voice given to this book was a bit too edgy for my taste.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing in this book moved me in any strong manner.

Any additional comments?

Generally worth the read for anyone interested in the world of modern science.

Outstanding read

This outstanding reads provide new insight for the current contradiction debate regarding blind evolution and intelligent design, highly recommended for both parties.

I am primarily commenting on the narrator.

The readers diction is indeed precise and careful but a bit nauseating. Words like "deduce" and "produce" come out like "dediEWce" and "prodiEWce" and his character voices are very poor.
If you can get onboard with the reader then the book is worthwhile. Neither extreme review is a good reflection of the work.

Interesting Therory Not Well Supported

In essence his thesis is that complexity demands a designer, however I didn't find his arguments convincing. In fact, I kept waiting for his big revelation, which never came.

In the process of making his argument that randomness cannot be the designer of complexity, he overlooks genetic drift, population genetics and doesn't mention any serious mathematical statements to make his case. He cites the lack of complex evolution in two viruses as proof that this idea somehow applies to eukaryotes, without explaining how or why.

He also dismisses the multi-universe theory's explanation of complexity and fine tuning out of hand, without really addressing the central points of the theories. He accepts the theory of common decent without much of an explanation as to why.

It's true that the complexity and fine tuning of the physical universe is mind boggling and it is therefore easy to project a designer into the creation, but it's hard to find any figure prints that point to the designer.

Origin of intelligence?

If you believe that the most mind-numbingly complex structure in the cosmos not only assembled itself but, was able to repair itself, duplicate itself and participate in some form of evolution without a detailed blueprint or any form of intelligence in sight, then you must believe in magic. In that case this book is not for you!

Tough Read

A very hard read for an audio book. I ended up ordering the hard-cover.

This should be "Evolution 101"

This is what should be talked about first in foremost in discussing evolution--numbers and evidence! ...the edge of evolution makes a previously foggy topic clear. Why hasn't this work been done before in such a concise way? I'm grateful for this eye opening book. I strongly recommend this book.

here is proof of evolution's inadequacy

this book proves that random mutation never adds meaningful information to the genetic code and invariably demonstrates the uselessness of Darwin's theory in trying to explain the beginning of life

Exposes the flaws in Darwinism

I believe that within my lifetime, the main ideas of Darwinism will be overturned like the idea that the Earth stood still and the sun and the other planets revolved around it. The Intelligent Design movement is slowly exposing the cracks and limitations of the Darwinist theory. The narrator was pleasant and the book’s material was amazing.

Brilliant and provocative

Negative reviews elsewhere, by names little and big (e.g. Dawkins), are full of name calling, appeals to authority (authorities who dismiss Behe's argument a priori), irrelevancies, and anger, but nothing that addresses the substance of his case. Behe provides detailed examples and arguments supporting natural selection and common descent. His sole challenge to the reigning dogma is the sufficiency of RANDOM variation to explain the complexity of life as we have come to know it through modern biochemistry and genetics. The howls of Dawkins et al betray a faith in life as a random accident challenged at the foundation.