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)

Amazing Book

This was an amazing book. It rivals Dawkins for clarity and elegance. A must read.

refreshing

a wonderfully articulated case for evolution. without the overtly antitheistic tone that has become so popular.

informational

very informational not very exciting but highly factual and educational. a little bit slow but definitely very good.

Such a great book!

I learned so much from this book. I word highly recommend this book to all!

The title says it all

An excellent comprehensive dissertation on Evolution, and a brilliant systematic destruction of the ridiculous religious notion of creationism. Jerry Coyne progresses logically but with a passionate conviction born of scientific materialism, through the past wealth of accumulated knowledge garnered by mankind over a fleetingly brief period of our evolutionary history is the one species capable of figuring a lot of the stuff out, rather than relying on the fears and superstitions of the ancients.

Best Presentation of Evolution

This, by far, is the best presentation for the support of evolution that I have encountered. It is clear, presented in an interesting way and is not 'dumbed' down to the point where the science is lost. It is well referenced and presents both what Darwin's evolution can explain and has yet to explain. It is not antireligious, it is pro evolution. It answers the strongest questions that opponents have offered with scientific facts and reason. As always in science, some of the aspects of evolution have yet to be conclusively shown, but all the preliminary data continues to support it. It also raises some interesting points that are difficult for creationists to answer. He covers areas such as biogeography (where different life is found); speciation (development of different species in closed areas; the consistency of fossil records; vestigial limbs, organs and structures; why there are sexes and many other interesting topics.

He also discusses at length the difference between science and theology in thoughtful and fair way. This is a crucial distinction as the support for evolution is evidentiary - not philosphical.

One of the best lines from the book is that if God was directly responsible for putting all life on earth in it's present form, then he did it in a way that makes it seem like it was evolution. If you don't believe in evolution at the end of this book, you are not one who is persuaded by evidence and are not likely to ever believe in it.

it's time to call a fact a fact

this is truly excellent work. do not discount evolution until you have read this book. it is the best explanation for the reality we observe every day, it makes predictions that are continually proven true, and it is, without a doubt, a fact.

Good book - worth the read

Book is well written and well read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is some overlap with Dawkins but since I am fascinated by this topic and what the research has been uncovering, I can't get enough. Would certainly read more from this author.

excellent primer on evolution

had a great time listening to this had all the basics unlearn in biology classes and was expertly spoken

Thoroughly and clearly convincing.

Dr. Coyne sets out to convince the reader of evolution by natural selection, using evidence. He does so in the first few pages. And again and again in every chapter. That may seem like overkill, but there are people who are "willfully" ignorant, who put their fingers in their ears, and if if if they can be reached by reason and evidence, this book will do it. Some backward pre-scientific people, of course, can't be persuaded even by this mountain of evidence. Shame.

My only complaint is a pet peeve: the narrator mispronounces a few words, some of them rather important to the topic. For example, zoology and zoologist. Hey – if it were really pronounced "zoo-ology" there would have to be 3 o's, and not 2. It's "zo-ology" dammit.