Why Evolution Is True

By: Jerry A. Coyne

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Why evolution is more than just a theory: it is a fact.

In all the current highly publicized debates about creationism and its descendant "intelligent design", there is an element of the controversy that is rarely mentioned: the evidence, the empirical truth of evolution by natural selection. Even Richard Dawkins and Stephen Jay Gould, while extolling the beauty of evolution and examining case studies, have not focused on the evidence itself. Yet the proof is vast, varied, and magnificent, drawn from many different fields of science. Scientists are observing species splitting into two and are finding more and more fossils capturing change in the past - dinosaurs that have sprouted feathers, fish that have grown limbs.

Why Evolution Is True weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, paleontology, geology, molecular biology, and anatomy that demonstrate the "indelible stamp" of the processes first proposed by Darwin. In crisp, lucid prose accessible to a wide audience, Why Evolution Is True dispels common misunderstandings and fears about evolution and clearly confirms that this amazing process of change has been firmly established as a scientific truth.

NOTE: Some changes to the original text have been made with the author's approval.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2009 Jerry A. Coyne (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"I once wrote that anybody who didn't believe in evolution must be stupid, insane or ignorant, and I was then careful to add that ignorance is no crime. I should now update my statement. Anybody who doesn't believe in evolution is stupid, insane, or hasn't read Jerry Coyne. I defy any reasonable person to read this marvellous book and still take seriously the 'breathtaking inanity' that is intelligent design 'theory' or its country cousin, young earth creationism." (Richard Dawkins)
"Coyne wonders what it would take to convince the apparently reasonable people who still deny evolution. A new Milton, perhaps, to justify evolution's ways in great poetry? Meanwhile, at a time...when good evolution books are rife, Coyne has given general readers one of the best." ( Booklist)

Very well written.

The explanatory power of this book is phenomenal. I'd recommend this before Dawkins if you're just beginning to learn about the subject as Coyne is able to make a very broad field of science understandable to us laypeople.

Convincing

Very well written and voiced, recommended for creationists and those who talk to them. As a former creationist myself, I wanted to learn some of the scientific arguments for evolution, and this book provides. Extremely educational, and unlike many similar books, does not devolve (no pun intended) into ad hominim attacks and insults towards creationists.

If you're on the fence, this book is a great way to get out of the creationist echo chamber of straw man arguments and see exactly why the scientific community is so convinced. I recommend doing more research on your own as well.

Absolutely fabulous

After finishing two of Richard Dawkins' books I tried this one. While I really enjoyed Richard's story and narration this book is even better. The performance of Victor Bevine is superb and the story is amazingly interesting.

Amazing & enlightening

40+ years ago I gave up religion because I was getting negative results from prayer & asking God's guidance. I then started a very gradual dependence upon myself for the results I wanted. After much trial & error, I learned that I am the master of my destiny. Through much planning, research, & focus I was able to accomplish many of the things I used to pray for & ask guidance about.
Evolution is survival of the fittest (Natural Selection). This book confirmed my own opinion.

Great book but one of the chapters are missing

A great book on the basics of evolution for anyone who wants an overall breakdown of the subject.

A compelling review of modern evolutionary thought

Any additional comments?

The book pits itself against Intelligent Design (ID). If you are a believer of ID, and you aren't interested in facts, then this book is very much not for you.

I haven't studied evolution since I was in high school some 30 years ago. I have always just accepted evolution as true and, frankly, simply scoffed at those that purport ID as some kind of equivalent theory. I understand the scientific method and give ID no credence. But, I was really interested in hearing about what had been discovered over the past 30 years and how evolution has, well, evolved.

I was not disappointed. This is a fantastic overview of evolutionary studies and evolutionary evidence. From the fossil records to mapping genomes to evolution in action to the social contributions to evolution, the author makes an overwhelming case for evolution as scientific fact.

How did the eye evolve? Where do whales come from? Why are some male birds brightly colored? Why is there so much missing information? Why are we convinced that evolution is fact when there is so much missing information? The author covers it all.

I just wanted the eduction on evolution. I got that. If you want to bolster your anti-ID argument, you will certainly get that. I will say this...I was blown away by the statistics regarding how many people don't believe that evolution is true and truly dismayed by the suggestion that this number is growing, not shrinking. The author discusses why some of these trends may be occurring, and, more frighteningly, describes what that means to us.

Well written. Well performed. My kids will listen to this book. I will recommend it to anyone and everyone that believes that science and logic are important.

Informational and educational

Excellent work and presented well. Narrated in a logical and easy to understand manner. Interesting and very thoughtful presentation. I enjoyed listening to this topic.

Clearly presented explanation of evolution

This work is excellent material that provides clear explanations and proofs of evolution without requiring the reader to have deep knowledge of biology and chemistry. It does a great job of making what could be an overwhelming walk through the science that explains the certainty of evolution and intellectually stimulating exercise of learning.

Evolution Science

Great book! Little slow getting started but once it got past some drawn out topics it became very interesting

Excellent treatment of Evolution

I wanted to reiterate the excellent reviews already given for this book. I agree, this book is by far the best, most accessible, most interesting, presentation of evolution I've read. It's the audio-equivalent of a page-turner.

The book not only provides a concise, thorough, and logical explanation of the theory of Evolution but also methodically explains the science behind the conclusions.

The book also does an excellent job of addressing Creationist/ID arguments in a dispassionate way, then methodically explaining the scientific evidence that contradicts those arguments.

I would also recommend this book over several others I have listened to recently. Although I very much enjoyed Richard Dawkins "The Greatest Show on Earth" and would highly recommend it as a close second, the book "Why Evolution is True" is more concise, accessible, and dispassionate in tone.

"The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution" is also quite good, but has a narrower (but by no means exclusive) focus on DNA.

"Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors" is a great book on human evolution.

"Your Inner Fish" is good, but more of an upper division treatment of a niche topic.

However, "Why Evolution is True" is the best choice for those who are interested in learning about Evolution itself. The book covers the origins of life, to how and why fish first came on land, to when land mammals went back into the ocean and become whales (and explains the evidence), to what we have learned from DNA sequencing. It explains how feathers, wings, and eyes can evolve, the huge time frames involved, how prescient Darwin was, and so much more.

You'll learn a lot and be better able to explain and defend the science behind Evolution as well as the science that debunks ID claims. A great book that I plan to listen to again.