Books

For other books on evolution and teaching check the list at NCSE.

Book Cover for Evolution vs. Creationism by Eugenie Scott Scott, Eugenie C. 2008. Evolution vs. Creationism, Second Edition. Greenwood Press. An excellent description of the history of the conflict written by one of the leading advocates for the teaching of evolution. This resource offers many facets about the current debate and discusses the nature of science and how evolution works. Scott is Executive Director for the National Center for Science Education. A book that is easy to read for everyone.
Forrest, Barbara and Paul R. Gross. 2004. Creationism’s Trojan Horse. The Wedge of Intelligent Design. Oxford University Press. Forrest is Professor of Philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana. Gross is a well-known physiologist. According to a reviewer (Steven Pinker of Harvard) this book “documents the disturbing movement to sneak religious dogma back into science education…. Educators, scientists and politicians would do well to understand this movement and its tactics, and this book is a superb and timely analysis.”
Book cover for The Ancestor's Tale. A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution by Richard Dawkins Dawkins, Richard. 2004. The Ancestor’s Tale. A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. Houghton Mifflin. Loosely based on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, this book is a tour de force of scientific exposition, with a journey back to the very first bacterium from the tremendous biological diversity of today.
Book cover for Why Intelligent Design Fails by Matt Young and Taner Edis Young, Matt and Taner Edis (Editors). 2005. Why Intelligent Design Fails. A Scientific Critique of the New Creationism. Rutgers University Press. This series of contributions from scientists is very readable and devastates almost every aspect of the ‘icons’ of intelligent design creationism
Book cover for Tower of Babel by Robert T. Pennock Pennock, Robert T. 2000. Tower of Babel. The Evidence against the New Creationism. MIT Press. Clearly written in direct prose, this volume uses the basics of linguistic evaluation to dismantle the very foundations of current creationism. The author uses sound philosophical arguments to show that the evolutionary world view is not immoral or a step towards atheism.
Book Cover for The Republican War on Science by Chris Mooney Mooney, Chris. 2005. The Republican War on Science. Basic Books. This highly documented and well-researched book has received critical acclaim. John Gibbons, former Director of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and former presidential science adviser wrote: “Chris Mooney doesn’t beat around the bush in his well-documented roasting of those who would make a mockery of the processes and results of science. Read it and weep over the loss of reason among our leaders.” Includes coverage of creationism/evolution material.
Book cover for Evolution by Douglas J. Futuyma Futuyma, Douglas. J. 2005. Evolution. Sinauer Associates. The leading textbook for college courses in evolution, but an excellent reference for secondary teachers and anyone desiring to learn the basics of evolutionary biology.
Book cover for The Plausibility of Life. Resolving Darwin's Dilemma by Kirschner and Gerhart Kirschner, Marc. W. and John Gerhart. 2005. The Plausibility of Life. Resolving Darwin’s Dilemma. Illustrated by John Norton. Yale University Press. 336 pages. Offers a new idea, “facilitated variation,” to explain evolutionary mechanisms and provides a timely rebuttal to intelligent design.
Book cover for Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Carroll Carroll, Sean B. 2005. Endless Forms Most Beautiful. The New Science of Evo Devo. W.W. Norton. 350 pages. Shows how evolutionary developmental biology intertwines animals as not done in the past. Reviews how all animals originated from a small number of primitive ‘master’ genes.
Book cover for Darwin: Discovering the Tree of Life by Eldredge Eldredge, Niles. 2005. Darwin. Discovering the Tree of Life. W. W. Norton & Company. A riveting tribute to Charles Darwin in celebration of his two-hundredth Birthday.
Book cover for The Counter-Creationism Handbook by Isaak Isaak Mark. 2005. The Counter-Creationism Handbook. Greenwood Pres. Provides answers and rebuttals to almost all creationist/ID claims against evolution. A real and valid arsenal of weapons for those who discuss the topic with anti-evolutionists.
Not in Our Classrooms. Why Intelligent Design is Wrong for Our Schools by Scott and Branch Scott, Eugenie and Glenn Branch (Eds.). 2006. Not in Our Classrooms. Why Intelligent Design is Wrong for Our Schools. Beacon Press. An important collection of essays by supporters of evolution teaching that spells out the valid arguments. against ID
Evolutionary Science and Society: Activities for The Classroom Bybee, Rodger W. (Editor). 2007. Evolutionary Science and Society: Activities for The Classroom. Published by Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. Covers five general areas for teaching evolution and includes a CD with pdfs of activity.
Scientists Confront Intelligent Design and Creationism Petto, Andre J. and Laurie R. Godfrey. 2007. Scientists Confront Intelligent Design and Creationism. W. W. Norton. Publishers Weekly stated: ” [a] serious, comprehensive collection of new and revised essays from some of the biggest names in the anti-creationist field.”
Cover for 40 days and 40 nights Chapman, Matthew. 2007. Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania. Harper Collins. One of several planned books on the Dover trial by a descendent of Charles Darwin.
Cover for Monkey Girl Humes, Edward. 2007. Monkey Girl. Harper Collins. Another readable account of the Dover trial.
Cover of Encyclopedia of Evolution Rice, Stanley A. 2007. Encyclopedia of Evolution. Facts on File. 468 pages. The author is a member of the Board of Governors of OESE.
Cover for Science, Evolution, and Creationism National Academy of Science and Institute of Medicine. 2007. Science, Evolution, and Creationism. This book is designed to give the public a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the current scientific understanding of evolution and its importance in the science classroom. ” provides the public with coherent explanations and concrete examples of the science of evolution. The study of evolution remains one of the most active, robust, and useful fields in science.”
Book cover for More than Darwin Moore, Randy and Mark D. Decker. 2008. More than Darwin: An Encyclopedia of the People and Places of the Evolution-Creationism Controversy. Greenwood Press, 448 pages.
Book cover for The Devil in Dover Lebo, Lauri, The Devil in Dover: An Insider’s Story of Dogma v. Darwin in Small-town America. 2008. W. W. Norton. An excellent view of the trial by a local reporter; has received excellent reviews. One of the best of several books on the Kitzmiller court proceedings.
Book cover for Voices for Evolution Sanger, Carrie (Editor). 2008. Voices for Evolution (Third Edition). National Center for Science Education, Berkeley, CA. 202 p. Paper. Statements supporting evolution by scientific, religious, educational and civil liberties organizations
Book cover for Only a Theory Miller, Kenneth R. 2008. Only a Theory. Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul. Viking Press, New York. 244 p.
Book cover for But is it Science Pennock, Robert T. and Michael Ruse (Editors). 2008. But is it Science? The Philosophical Question in the Creation/Evolution Controversy. Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY. 577 p. (paper).

Shanks, N. 2004. God, the Devil, and Darwin: A critique of Intelligent Design Theory. Oxford University Press.

Perakh, M. 2004. Unintelligent Design. Prometheus Books. Covers Intelligent Design and various religious writers and anti-evolution arguments.

Dembski, W.A., and M. Ruse (Editors). 2004. Debating Design: From Darwin to DNA. Cambridge University Press. Includes 20 contributions (including some evolution authors) concerned with design, Darwinism, theistic evolution and Intelligent Design.

Behe’s Empty Box
Reviews and essays disputing the material in Michael Behe’s Book, Darwin’s Black Box, one of current creationism’s main tomes.

Critiques of Jonathan Wells’ Icons of Evolution
This site is labeled as “ANTI-Icons of Evolution” and offers many reviews of the book with links to other sites where the book was thoroughly trashed by scientists. This is one of the books creationists often recommend for classroom use.

Ruse. Michael. 2005. The Evolution-Creationism Struggle. Harvard University Press, Boston. Ruse is Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University.

Quamman, David. 2006. The Reluctant Mr. Darwin. An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution. Atlas/Norton, 304 pages.

Shermer, Michael. 2006. Why Darwin Matters. The Case Against Intelligent Design. Times, 199 pages.

Books on the Compatibility of Faith and the Acceptance of Evolution

Wright, Richard T. 2003. Biology Through the Eyes of Faith. Revised and updated edition. Harper: San Francisco. 309 pages.
Andrew Petto, reviewer in NCSE Reports: “This is a serious book that deserves serious attention.”

Falk, Darrel R. 2004. Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology. Intervarsity: Press: Downers Grove, Illinois. 235 pages.
Andrew Petto, reviewer in NCSE Reports: “… a good resource for those who need to explain to Christian anti-evolutionists in language they will find familiar why they would be strengthened and matured in their faith if they could find a way to come to peace with science.”

Ruse, Michael. 2001. Can a Darwinian be a Christian? The Relationship between Science and Religion. New York: Cambridge University Press.
The answer: Absolutely!

Haught, John. 2001. Responses to 101 Questions on God and Evolution. New York: Paulist Press.
Phina Borgeson, reviewer in NCSR Reports: “for those who want the fruits of reasoned thinking on evolution and Christian theology that may be mined for succinct answers, this is the book of choice.”

Miller, Kenneth. R. 2001. Finding Darwin’s God. 1999. New York: Harper Collins.
Subtitled “A scientist’s search for common ground between God and evolution.”

Kurtz, Paul, editor. 2003. Science and Religion: Are They Compatible? Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. 368 pages.
A book of diverse essays on science and religion.

Collins, Frances. 2006. The Language of God. A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Free Press, 304 pages.
The author was head of the Human Genome Project.

Baker, Catherine and James B. Miller (Editors). 2006. The Evolution Dialogues. American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Highly recommended and written for use in Christian adult education programs, but also useful in other educational settigs (history of science classes, seminaries, community libraries, etc.). A study guide will be available at http://www.aaas.org/spp/doser.

King, Barbara J. 2007. Evolving God: A Provocative View on the Origins of Religion. Doubleday, New York. 272 pages.
What our distant cousins can tell us about religion and why it’s OK for scientists to believe in God.


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