RE: [asa] textbook question- evolution 101

Thanks for the various suggestions on a textbook. The reason why I
asked is because if I ever say "The textbook definition of evolution
is..." (as one example) it would be nice to refer to an actual book if
one is held in high esteem in the scientific community as a defacto
standard. I don't want to quote some book that people may discard as
old or inferior or unpopular.

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Terry M. Gray
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 8:20 AM
To: AmericanScientificAffiliation
Subject: Re: [asa] textbook question- evolution 101

Bernie,

A nice popular level book that is 90% Evolution 101 is "Darwin's Gift:

to Science and Religion" by Francisco Ayala.

http://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Gift-Religion-Francisco-Ayala/dp/030910231
6

There's a bit of faith-science stuff in the early chapters that I

don't particularly agree with, although some on the list might. He

uses evolution as a secondary cause as a solution to theodicy. There's

"nature red in tooth and claw" but we can't attribute it directly to

God. Ayala finds that to be "a gift" to religion, but it doesn't fit

well with my own theological system.

However, the bulk of the book is simply a standard textbook

presentation of the theory of biological evolution and the evidences

for it. On those topics it is very well-done by one of the long-time

practicioners. It's more or less the kind of material you'd find in a

first or second year university biology or introduction to evolution

text.

TG

On Apr 30, 2008, at 5:28 PM, Dehler, Bernie wrote:

> A question for all you academics- is there a defacto standard

> textbook for the basics of evolution- a sort of "Evolution 101"

> science textbook? College level would be best, but I'd also be

> interested if there was a defacto standard for highschool also.

>

> Just curious what's out there.

>

> ...Bernie

> "It's turtles all the way down!"

>

>

> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with

> "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.

________________

Terry M. Gray, Ph.D.

Computer Support Scientist

Chemistry Department

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO 80523

(o) 970-491-7003 (f) 970-491-1801

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Received on Thu May 1 11:46:37 2008