Why Darwin Matters

The Case Against Intelligent Design
by Michael Shermer
ages: adult (though anyone interested in this debate could read this)
First sentence: “In June 2004, the science historian Frank Sulloway and I began a month-long expedition to retrace Charles Darwin’s footsteps in the Galapagos Islands.”

Delivery, people, delivery.

When writing a book, SO much depends on the delivery, the tone, the way in which you present the information, characters, narrative, story.

In short: this book would have been much better if the author hadn’t constantly come off as a pompous ass.

It’s not that I disagree with his premise: that Intelligent Design is NOT science, that evolution is a fact and not a belief, that one can believe in God and accept evolution and not have it in conflict. But, I just don’t know who this man was trying to convince. He kept implying — and in some cases, he says it pretty explicitly — that the ID people are morons (which they might be, but that’s no way to present an argument), that they are crusaders (ditto), and that Science is Right and if you are a reasonable person, then you will accept that ID is bunk and Evolution is right.

Right.

Really, it’s no way to endear your reader to your position. And it’s no way to convince those who believe in ID, or are even on the fence, that you’re right and they’re wrong (even if you are).

Grrr.

5 thoughts on “Why Darwin Matters”

  1. Haha, I love that you called the author pompous ass. I haven't heard that in so long and it just made me laugh! 😛

    I had an anthropology professor who expressed the same sentiment, he could understand that fact of Lucy and still believe in God. But, he was definitely not a pompous ass. In fact, he was very down to earth and looked like a dirty einstein. :))

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  2. You'd think writers like this would be smart enough to understand that if they present their ideas in that manner, they'll only be preaching to the choir, because no one else will listen. I'd read the book just for me though. 🙂

    Lezlie

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  3. I'm reading “Why Evolution Is True” and it's much the same. I think there is just so much animosity between the two sides that they can't help but be defensive. I still like the book though.

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