Why Evolution Is True

A brilliant tour of the real genesis story

Although the title of this book is slightly unscientific, its author is not. As a firm advocate for biological evolution, Prof. Coyne chooses simply to assert its truth even though he is well aware that all scientific theories, even revered blue chips like gravitation and atomic structure, are subject to revision in the light of new evidence. One good reason for not calling the book "Why Evolution is Very Likely True" would be to counter the strangely unbalanced mindset and methods of evolution's more polarized critics. Ever since Darwin and Wallace jointly announced their independent formulations of the theory in 1858, people who compulsively doubt (or fear) its correctness have shown a tendency to overcompensate, that is, to interpret even perfectly normal scientific debates over the details of evolution as signs of the theory's impending collapse. So when the author baldly states that evolution is true, he really means (as explained on page 16) that its 150-year verification record has been more than sufficiently extensive to render negligible its chances of being false. The mission of the book is to demonstrate in a clear and approachable way why such high confidence in the veracity of evolution is justified, and Coyne succeeds brilliantly at the task. In the preface he concedes frankly that no amount of evidence will sway those who oppose evolution "...purely as a matter of faith...," but he hopes to reach the many readers who are open to reason yet remain unconvinced that a few simple, wholly natural principles can explain the full diversity of life on Earth. The author's tone is friendly and conversational as he unfolds a well organized, well illustrated case. Along the way he specifically addresses the most common misunderstandings and fallacies associated with the "intelligent design" movement and its religiously inspired creationist core. Coyne opens the first chapter by describing the essence of the theory and explaining why it was a bold, revolutionar...