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)

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

Any additional comments?

This is one of the better books I have listened to on evolution. I've listened to it twice! The book was well organized and the points were well thought out. It was easy to follow and grasp the concepts.

I have believed in evolution from the first time it was presented to me, but it is nice to have solid information to support that belief. Evolution for me is common sense and you will find yourself nodding in agreement a lot during this book. This book is excellent for those who believe evolution is the truth and those who doubt or would like to have a better understanding of how evolution works.

I have listened to many books from Audible and the narrator can sometimes interfere with be ability to concentrate or enjoy the book, Victor Bevine delivers the audio superbly. I really enjoyed listening from start to finish.

Evolutionary Tale

Overall Why Evolution Is True is a well researched & accurate portrayal of how life on this planet developed. Some parts of the text were dry & a little over scientific. However, that is to be expected in a book on this topic. The audio version also lacked the ability to refer to the diagrams that were
frequently referenced in the reading. The narration of the book flowed well & I believe the author did a good job of presenting creationism & evolution.

Easy to understand explanation of Evolution

This had been a book I'd gotten awhile back knowing I'd listen to it later.
And later came as I was watching the 1980s COSMOS again before the new version was aired and wanted to learn more about this aspect of the show. I am glad I got this book!

It is well written and very understandable to the non scientist who's curious about evolution. To me, it gave a fresh perspective of the time involved to make evolution happen. Something very hard to put ones mind around, time. A very, very long time.

My only gripe early on in the book was the reader referring to illustrations that appear in the printed version, I thought those could have been omitted from the audio version with no contextual loss at all, but as the book went on I came to overlook that to a degree, but it still was annoying to me.
I thought the reader was overall very good with this book.

excellent book

Evolution is true. I already knew that. After reading this if you still have any doubts, you can't be helped.

Excellent explanation of the evidence.

This is a excellent explanation of the evidence for natural selection. It is geared at the level accessible for everyone, but only just, perhaps, and the audio book does suffer from the loss of figures as well as a couple odd pronunciations. But beyond that, this is an excellent work worth listening to filled with many examples.

very informative

any person, who is honest with themselves, and is open to understand the theory of natural selection. this book is a must read, or listen.

Where we Come From, How We Got Here.

Science cannot tell us exactly where we should go from here. Our species has transcended the Law of the Jungle. Going forward, its continuation will be determined by the ability to transcend the threats to our existence we, ourselves, have created. Biological evolution acts too slowly to get us past our current struggle for survival. Human existence will continue to rely on the survival instinct. However, that instinctual drive can only be vitiated through the application of lessons we have learned from our own history. Written history is not something that is found in nature. Our species’ own survival has become wholly dependent on us, the homo sapiens. Only the judicious application of our hearts, minds and souls can get us over the very formidable roadblocks to survival we have managed to place in front of ourselves. We do need to get moving on this particular project. We really do not have a whole lot of time left.

Simple way to understand evolution

This book was well thought out and delivered in an easy manner. I would recommend this to anyone that want a good understanding of evolution without getting a degree in it!

A must read

Beautiful, simple, clear. As is the theory of evolution. The power that evolution has to explain and predict is unparalleled. I only wish that I could have read more books like this sooner.

Enthralling every step of the way!

I am a former creationist, and this is one of the books to help get me there.

I don’t know whether there’s a God or not, but if there is he definitely used evolution.