The Making of the Fittest

DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution

By: Sean B. Carroll

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

DNA evidence not only solves crimes; in Sean Carroll's hands, it will now end the Evolution Wars.

DNA is the genetic material that defines us as individuals. Over the last two decades, it has emerged as a powerful tool for solving crimes and determining guilt and innocence. But, very recently, an important new aspect of DNA has been revealed: it contains a detailed record of evolution. That is, DNA is a living chronicle of how the marvelous creatures that inhabit our planet have adapted to its many environments, from the freezing waters of the Antarctic to the lush canopy of the rain forest.

In this fascinating narrative, Sean Carroll guides listeners on a tour of the massive DNA record of three billion years of evolution to see how the fittest are made. And what an eye-opening tour it is - one featuring immortal genes, fossil genes, and genes that bear the scars of past battles with horrible diseases. This book clinches the case for evolution, beyond any reasonable doubt.

©2007 Sean B. Carroll (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Carroll offers some provocative and convincing evidence." (Publishers Weekly)
"Here is evolution clearly explained and stoutly defended." (Booklist)

An important message that needed a better narrator

This book provides a good overview of evolutionary biology, concluding with an explanation of how important it is to overcome the ignorance of creationism--even if it's called intelligent design. But the narrator insists on using goofy pseudo-accents whenever he reads the author's quotations from other books, distracting from the subject.

Evidence for evolution

A well supported explanation and defense of evolution. Carroll provides more technical details than other popular accounts.

So that's Evolution

Sean Carrol takes on the theory of evolution using DNA as the focus. In his book "The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution," Carroll makes evolution and DNA approachable.

It has always seemed to me that those who believe in a God, god, or a creator have no more problems than those who don't - so far as the ultimate origin of life is concerned. Those looking to support their faith or destroy the beliefs of others there will find no help here. Rather, Carroll deftly helps the reader to understand why species appear as they do NOW and how some did not make it to the present. Therefore, everyone can relax and learn what science has found about DNA and evolution to date. Audible listeners will be rewarded.

Actually, my reading of the book has brought a larger interest in evolution, DNA and disease. Carroll discusses cancer and links Malaria to Sickle Cell for example. These passages have focused and adjusted my views of disease - their origins and possible cures. I also found the sections related to DNA that is lost through disuse was very informative.

The book is wonderfully written, very well read, and will inform all who enounter it.

the molecular case for evolution

-excellent narration.

-The authors' main motivation is to argue the case for evolution. He does so with a broad spectrum of EVIDENCE. For example, he discusses the evolution of photoreceptors across a range of animals. Very interesting.

-the final segment presents some of the controversy of evolution verse intelligent design, which I found less interesting than main discussion of the book.

excellent science for everyone

Carroll gets it right. Great case studies carefully explained puts this up there with The Beak of the Finch as testimony to the wondrous workings of evolution and natural selection.

Fairly elementary

I debated whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars. I used to be a 7th grade science teacher, and I found it telling me a lot of things I already knew. A previous reviewer mentioned that s/he is currently a science teacher and that this book provides excellent material to be adapted to the course s/he teaches. I would agree.

So if it's been a few years since you last studied evolution or if you didn't pay much attention in your high school biology class, this would probably be an excellent place for you to start. However, if you are an evolution enthusiast, maybe took some classes on it in college, have read other books on evolution, then this book may be too elementary for you. I also just finished reading "Before the Dawn" and I would recommend that to you as a great book with more in-depth information on human evolution.

A different view of evolution

I listened to this, The Greatest Show on Earth, and The Reluctant Mr. Darwin last year. They're all good but I found this one most interesting from a science perspective. I have a degree in zoology and know a lot about evolution but looking at things at the level of DNA was novel to me and I really learned a lot. The author makes a convincing case in the book's closing chapters that conserving the world's wildlife, specifically ocean fisheries, depends upon a wide-spread acceptance of evolution as the fundamental concept in biology. I have recommended this to friends and I'll recommend it to you, too, if the basic description of the book sounds interesting at all to you (I grant you it's not for everyone).

No further clinching needed, really

This is an outstanding book. The editorial review promises to "clinch" the case for evolution- as if it needed any further clinching. This piece of work does deliver. It indirectly points out the crucial need for strengthening science curricula in our schools.

Unfortunately, I suspect more than one may dismiss the author's solid scientific arguments due to a lack of a basic understanding of biological sciences. Although the book may sometimes seem too basic to somebody with a background in biological disciplines, the opposite may be the case for a more general audience. The fact is, however, that science is not easy. It needs to be learned from basic principles, with progressive levels of complexity being laid on previous knowledge.

Rather than spending so many resources trying to force the teaching of illogical, scientifically unsound, and plain nonsensical fairy tales in our schools, why not expand the teaching of the wondrous world of real science? As the author proposes, cultural and religious factors are responsible for this great disservice to future generations.

Against the backdrop of compelling scientific facts, the conciliatory tone towards religion, at least non-fundamentalist religious views, assumed by the author in Chapter 9 is somewhat disconcerting. Still, this is a minor issue in the context of this excellent review of why stating that evolution is "just another theory", whose scientific stature is shared by relabeled Creationism (i.e., Intelligent Design), is simply not tenable, reflecting a major lack of scientific rigor.

I agree with a previous reviewer that the narrator could refer us less often to the book's website. Also, there are a few mispronunciations of technical terms interspersed throughout the book. These are very minor details that do not substract from the content of this excellent work.

Outstanding examples!

For me (I teach evolution) the best part of this book is the premise that we use DNA fingerprinting every day in the court systems and no one has a problem with its evolutionary implications. I am embarrassed that this had never occurred to me. For the teacher, this book is loaded with excellent examples and demonstrates our existing understanding of how DNA reveals evolution. The science in this book is extremely accessible to all levels of knowledge. The recording itself is quite clear and the narrator easy to listen to.

Leaves you wanting more.

I really enjoyed the book. A very good book that explains how evolution works. It shows that everything really isn't just chance and that sometimes evolution does not benefit the organism.
Highly recommend.