Freethought & Rationalism Archive

SmashingIdols · 04-20-2002, 09:27 PM

I have been shopping to upgrade my library with more recent thought on this topic (having completed my undergraduate studies 16 years ago). Any suggestions or comments on the books I have listed would be greatly appreciated, as well as suggestions to fill in the gaps. Call this part of my struggle towards self-improvement.

If you merely want to refute the Theory of Evolution (this includes you Design by Intelligence people too), there are plenty of other threads on that subject, please show some of that "good Christian forbearance and restraint."

For those of you who want to bring up opposing debates within evolutionary thought, with important authors and books - please do!

1. Stephen Gould - The Structure of Evolutionary Theory
2. Richard Dawkins - The Blind Watchmaker
3. Carl Zimmerman - At the Water's Edge
4. Richard Dawkins - Climbing Mount Improbable
5. Recommend a GREAT college level biology text (biochemistry and/or microbiology) with focus on theory!
6. Life - Richard Fortier (This is more of a natural history/life book, but I thought this would fill the gaps of the big picture.

Any other recommendations would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance

tronvillain · 04-20-2002, 10:09 PM

Kim Sterelny - The Evolution of Agency and Other Essays.

Matt Ridley - Mendel's Demon: Gene Justice and the Complexity of Life.

John Alcock - The Triumph of Sociobiology

Daniel C. Dennett - Darwin's Dangerous Idea

Oolon Colluphid · 04-21-2002, 09:37 AM

The best college level evolution book is Futuyma's Evolutionary Biology. His Science on Trial is very useful as a summary and for countering cretinists. Richard Fortey's Life: an unauthorised biography is an excellent introduction to life's history.

Beyond those, there's loads! I'm presently collecting textbooks myself... for microbiology, go for Brock's Biology of Micro-organisms; Lewin's Genes VII is the book for genetics; Clarkson for invertebrate palaeontology; Benton for Vertebrate Palaeontology (much more up to date than Carroll, though the latter is more comprehensive); Bush et al for parasitism; Gilbert for Developmental Biology; Klein is excellent on human evolution....

Hope that helps!

Oolon

Dr.GH · 04-21-2002, 09:51 AM

A couple of easy reads

David Burne, Get a Grip on Evolution
1999 The Ivy Press

Niles Eldredge, The Triumph of Evolution
2000 W.H. Freeman and Co.

Quetzal · 04-21-2002, 09:46 PM

And for a discussion of evolutionary ecology: E.O. Wilson "Diversity of Life" (get the most recent edition - 1999, 'cause he upgrades quite a bit). If you're thinking about Futuyma, you probably don't need Mayr's "What Evolution Is", but it's still a good read.

marylandnaturegirl · 04-22-2002, 08:46 AM

Of course all of Richard Dawkins' books are highly reccommended.

My favorites are: River Out of Eden
The Selfish Gene
Climbing Mount Improbable

I argee with a previous post that college level text used for most Evolutionary Biology classes (including mine) is by Douglas J. Futuyma.

I'd also suggest reading a Cartoon Guide to Genetics as it is a fun way to get a grip on the evolutionary units and structure.

I'd also suggest reading some of the Leakeys' books or research papers: Mary, Richard, Maeve, Louis.

SmashingIdols · 04-22-2002, 03:28 PM

Quote:

I argee with a previous post that college level text used for most Evolutionary Biology classes (including mine) is by Douglas J. Futuyma.

Is the word argee above to be interpreted as argue or agree?

Oolon Colluphid · 04-22-2002, 03:39 PM

Well the context suggests a simple transposon, rather than a uracil substitution...

[ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: Oolon Colluphid ]</p>

SmashingIdols · 04-22-2002, 03:41 PM

Has anybody read these biology/biochemistry books?

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0805330445/customer-reviews/qid=1019518399/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_67_2/104-1939345-5434309" target="_blank">Biology - Interactive Study Guide</a>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130266728/qid=1019518581/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_21_1/104-1939345-5434309" target="_blank">Principles of Biochemistry, H. Robert Horton</a>

marylandnaturegirl · 04-23-2002, 08:24 AM

I was agreeing with the post by O.C. about DJF.

04-20-2002, 09:27 PM	#1
SmashingIdols Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: USA Posts: 153	Evolution - Booklist and Suggestions... I have been shopping to upgrade my library with more recent thought on this topic (having completed my undergraduate studies 16 years ago). Any suggestions or comments on the books I have listed would be greatly appreciated, as well as suggestions to fill in the gaps. Call this part of my struggle towards self-improvement. If you merely want to refute the Theory of Evolution (this includes you Design by Intelligence people too), there are plenty of other threads on that subject, please show some of that "good Christian forbearance and restraint." For those of you who want to bring up opposing debates within evolutionary thought, with important authors and books - please do! 1. Stephen Gould - The Structure of Evolutionary Theory 2. Richard Dawkins - The Blind Watchmaker 3. Carl Zimmerman - At the Water's Edge 4. Richard Dawkins - Climbing Mount Improbable 5. Recommend a GREAT college level biology text (biochemistry and/or microbiology) with focus on theory! 6. Life - Richard Fortier (This is more of a natural history/life book, but I thought this would fill the gaps of the big picture. Any other recommendations would be most welcome. Thanks in advance

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04-20-2002, 10:09 PM	#2
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	Kim Sterelny - The Evolution of Agency and Other Essays. Matt Ridley - Mendel's Demon: Gene Justice and the Complexity of Life. John Alcock - The Triumph of Sociobiology Daniel C. Dennett - Darwin's Dangerous Idea

04-21-2002, 09:37 AM	#3
Oolon Colluphid Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Alibi: ego ipse hinc extermino Posts: 12,591	The best college level evolution book is Futuyma's Evolutionary Biology. His Science on Trial is very useful as a summary and for countering cretinists. Richard Fortey's Life: an unauthorised biography is an excellent introduction to life's history. Beyond those, there's loads! I'm presently collecting textbooks myself... for microbiology, go for Brock's Biology of Micro-organisms; Lewin's Genes VII is the book for genetics; Clarkson for invertebrate palaeontology; Benton for Vertebrate Palaeontology (much more up to date than Carroll, though the latter is more comprehensive); Bush et al for parasitism; Gilbert for Developmental Biology; Klein is excellent on human evolution.... Hope that helps! Oolon

04-21-2002, 09:51 AM	#4
Dr.GH Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Dana Point, Ca, USA Posts: 2,115	A couple of easy reads David Burne, Get a Grip on Evolution 1999 The Ivy Press Niles Eldredge, The Triumph of Evolution 2000 W.H. Freeman and Co.

04-21-2002, 09:46 PM	#5
Quetzal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ecuador Posts: 738	And for a discussion of evolutionary ecology: E.O. Wilson "Diversity of Life" (get the most recent edition - 1999, 'cause he upgrades quite a bit). If you're thinking about Futuyma, you probably don't need Mayr's "What Evolution Is", but it's still a good read.

04-22-2002, 08:46 AM	#6
marylandnaturegirl Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Washington DC Metro Area Posts: 151	Of course all of Richard Dawkins' books are highly reccommended. My favorites are: River Out of Eden The Selfish Gene Climbing Mount Improbable I argee with a previous post that college level text used for most Evolutionary Biology classes (including mine) is by Douglas J. Futuyma. I'd also suggest reading a Cartoon Guide to Genetics as it is a fun way to get a grip on the evolutionary units and structure. I'd also suggest reading some of the Leakeys' books or research papers: Mary, Richard, Maeve, Louis.

04-22-2002, 03:39 PM	#8
Oolon Colluphid Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Alibi: ego ipse hinc extermino Posts: 12,591	Well the context suggests a simple transposon, rather than a uracil substitution... [ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: Oolon Colluphid ]</p>

04-22-2002, 03:41 PM	#9
SmashingIdols Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: USA Posts: 153	Has anybody read these biology/biochemistry books? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0805330445/customer-reviews/qid=1019518399/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_67_2/104-1939345-5434309" target="_blank">Biology - Interactive Study Guide</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130266728/qid=1019518581/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_21_1/104-1939345-5434309" target="_blank">Principles of Biochemistry, H. Robert Horton</a>

04-23-2002, 08:24 AM	#10
marylandnaturegirl Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Washington DC Metro Area Posts: 151	I was agreeing with the post by O.C. about DJF.

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