The Greatest Show on Earth

The Evidence for Evolution

By: Richard Dawkins

Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward

Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In 2008, a Gallup poll showed that 44 percent of Americans believed God had created man in his present form within the last 10,000 years. In a Pew Forum poll in the same year, 42 percent believed that all life on earth has existed in its present form since the beginning of time.

In 1859 Charles Darwin's masterpiece, On the Origin of Species, shook society to its core. Darwin was only too aware of the storm his theory of evolution would provoke. But he surely would 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. Now the author of the iconic work The God Delusion takes them to task.

The Greatest Show on Earth is a stunning counterattack on advocates of "Intelligent Design", explaining the evidence for evolution while exposing the absurdities of the creationist "argument". Dawkins sifts through rich layers of scientific evidence: from living examples of natural selection to clues in the fossil record; from plate tectonics to molecular genetics. Combining these elements and many more, he makes the airtight case that "we find ourselves perched on one tiny twig in the midst of a blossoming and flourishing tree of life and it is no accident, but the direct consequence of evolution by non-random selection."

The Greatest Show on Earth comes at a critical time: systematic opposition to the fact of evolution is menacing as never before. In American schools, and in schools around the world, insidious attempts are made to undermine the status of science in the classroom. Dawkins wields a devastating argument against this ignorance, but his unjaded passion for the natural world turns what might have been a negative argument into a positive offering to the reader: nothing less than a master's vision of life, in all its splendor.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2009 Richard Dawkins (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"If Charles Darwin walked into a 21st-century bookstore and wanted to know how his theory had fared, this is the book he should pick up. Dawkins remains a superb translator of complex scientific concepts....he has a way of making the drollest details feel like a revelation." ( Publishers Weekly)

Really Well Done Science Book

This book is amazing and really explains the scientific case for evolution. I recommend it to all. Having two narrators made listening even better. I loved it.

Best book on Evolution since Darwin's Origins

If you want to understand how we know evolution as a fact, read this book!

Should be mandatory reading in science class

Before listening to this I had a very limited understanding of how natural selection works. I found this book fascinating and enlightening from start to end and now have a much better understanding of the basics of evolution and the evidence for it.

After listening to this I can't help thinking about what a miserable job my high school did of teaching evolution. The fact that I didn't even believe in it until I was an adult should give you an idea. Like with any creationist, my doubt in evolution was purely out of ignorance of what evolution actually is. If all the doubters of evolution read this book there wouldn't be many left over still clinging to the nonsense of creationism.

Never ceases to amaze

Third time through, and it never fails to impress and stagger me. You’re entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts.

FANTASTIC!!!

This book is one of his greats. This was my second time through and I learned even more this time around.

Simply beautiful in every possible way.

This book is a "must listen". Beautifully thought through, wonderfully read and deeply thought provoking for all atheists and theists alike.

A fascinating look at how nature works.

Before I read this, I already believed in Evolution. But this book helped me understand with 100% conviction that there is no need to simply "believe". Evolution is a fact, not a "theory" or belief. As an average non-scientific person, you don't realize the numerous branches of science that all come together to confirm this. This book provides numerous fascinating examples of each, explaining not only THAT evolution works, but HOW it works. It is a shame that so many of us make it through basic science education without a similarly complete and thorough education in the driving force that has lead to the existence of every living thing on this planet.

Preaching to the choir.

While Dawkins has exhaustive subject knowledge, I once again find that he tends to educate in such a manner that will only alienate those of fundamentalist Christianity.

Great book, interesting read

I have read this book when it was released and now I am listening to it. I am enjoying listening to it, just as much as I've enjoyed reading it. It could've been a classic and my all time favorite easily, but for the fact that he resorted to refuting ID/creationism. I guess in the current climate of rampant ignorance and he was compelled to do that. He didn't really need to dedicate any effort refuting the "evidence-deniers", simply for the fact that no amount of evidence could convince them. By excluding that <1% time he spent in the book refuting ID/ Creationism, this book could've been just as great as the "Selfish Gene". Prof. Dawkins is my all time favorite author. Ever since I discovered his writings a few years ago, I have been trying to read them all and so far not one of them disappointed me. This book is no exception. Great book. A must read for all students of science and for anyone interested in understanding the nature.

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