The Theory of Evolution: What It Is, Where It Came From, and Why It Works

by Cynthia Mills

Everything mammals ever wanted to know about the theory of evolution-but were afraid to ask
This important new book by award-winning science writer Cynthia Mills clearly explains one of the most crucial, and most misunderstood, concepts of modern science-the theory of evolution. After examining Darwin, his precursors, and how the theory of evolution developed, Mills answers key questions, including: How successful is the theory at explaining the natural world, and what does it fail to explain? What are some of the competing ideas and theories about the origin of the species? How will the theory of evolution likely hold up over time, as our understanding of genetics grows?
Cynthia L. Mills (Portland, OR) is an award-winning science writer and veterinarian. Her article ""Breeding and Discontents,"" originally published in The Sciences, was selected for The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2001, guest-edited by E. O. Wilson. Also in the same series: The Big Bang Theory (0-471-39452-1) by Karen C. Fox

Genres: Evolution, Science, Nonfiction, Biology

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Zhelana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright for what it was, which was a review of high school biology. Unfortunately, it didn't get into anything more advanced than high school, and I didn't really learn anything from it. I mean, basically, everything covered in this book should be covered by a basic biology course. So maybe this was more interesting to read than the school's textbook and there is its value, but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone past the 9th grade unless you had a particularly faulty high school biology education. Maybe a lot of people do have faulty high school biology educations, that certainly seems likely with creationists trying to get on school boards around the country, so maybe it's useful if you never really learned basic biology in school or for use withing a k12 school. But as far as just sitting down and reading a book, it never gets to any of the interesting stuff. Meh.

[Michelle Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good overview of the theories and history of evolutionary science. I am much more educated on this topic now.