Fairbanks' book takes off at a sprint, kicking off with the report on one of the most impressive discoveries in molecular biology, the history and recent validation of the fusion of our chromosome 2 with an additional chromosome we possessed that is nearly exactly the same as the additional chromosome of other great apes (as is our current chromosome 2 when compared to other great apes' chromosome 2A. Any one who has been guided through the past and current structure of these two chromosomes can not reasonably doubt their evolutionary history of once having been two chromosomes at one point identical to other great apes who shared a common ancestry with homo sapiens. That's because this one chromosome still has the attributes of an additional chromosome. Fairbanks doesn't merely provide the finding, he expertly explains the physical evidence, with the helpful use of diagrams that causes this form of physical evidence to be so convincing to anyone who authentically seeks understanding. Fairbanks also preempts any anticipated contradictory arguments by non-scientists creationists; not by mere rhetoric, but instead via a rational accounting of the physical evidence as it is understood not merely by him, but as it has been independently reviewed and accepted by his peers in the field of molecular biology.
While I was cognizant of this fairly recent discovery and expected its inclusion in the book, I wondered how Fairbanks could top that explosive find to keep the book compelling given its position early in the book. Compelling though it is, Fairbanks goes on to provide discovery after discovery that moves deep into the structure of DNA. One of the more fascinating tutorials was how the mutations that occur over time are utilized by species when their environment changes, where Fairbanks does an expert job of explaining how mutations are leveraged by natural selection. He follows this summary with an explanation, supported again by overwhelming evidence; on how populations evolve to the point they are now a different species. In fact his reportage in this area was the most impressive I've encountered in all my general science reading. This is especially important when making an argument for evolution in human DNA coupled to the reality that most non-scientists do not understand the mechanism that could cause a population to evolve to a point they are a new species.
Fairbanks also provides great insight into how science can methodically track back our current genome to its origins, even tracking into the DNA of common ancestral species by using the DNA available in modern day flora and fauna. Fairbanks describes how the DNA in all life provides the "fossil" evidence for our common ancestry along with the evidence needed to relate the closeness of our relationships and the rational inferences on when certain speciation events occurred. The fact this trail is independently confirmed by both the geologic record and the fossil record amply closes the door that "intelligent design" is at work, unless the designer was very unintelligent given the inefficiency of mostly extraneous material in DNA from a design perspective. The fact the actual fossil and geologic record are independently validated by this new evidence has firmly established the theory of evolution as one with overwhelming evidence with no imaginable alternative explanations. Don't believe it? Read this book and then reassess your position.
In terms of reading level, I think anyone who understands high school biology or can read at the college level will enjoy and learn from this book. You may not understand the properties and laws at play but the story will sufficiently emerge, be understood, and provide an enjoyable read. My one criticism of the book is that given Fairbanks provides no primer on molecular biology; the glossary's definitions should have been more expansive. I suggest reading the book near an on-line computer so you can look up the terms in a superior glossary.
There are several book formats available to the general reader to consider the strength of the theory of evolution. I've categorized a few while offering some recommendations that are very readable for the general reader. Other criteria considered was the integrity of the author and the fealty to reporting only peer-accepted work rather than creating arguments that lack peer-accepted evidence:
1) A general tutorial that exposes the reader to the physical evidence while also serving as either a tutorial or inferred case study on scientific methodology. These sorts of books often tie together the multitude of disciplines which have independently validated the evidence though also tending towards some bias in terms of focusing more on fossil evidence at the expense of DNA evidence - especially those published prior to several years ago. These books often ignore creationist arguments given those argument are not scientific. Carl Zimmer's
Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins [SMITHSON INTIMATE GT HUMAN ORI
] is an excellent example and worthy of any library especially given its photographs and illustrations. I have strong confidence that Zimmer's about to be released book
The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution
will also be a worthy edition to one's library given that I anticipate his new book will have far more DNA evidence than the Smithsonian book (he's stated as such in his blog).
2) A general tutorial similar to the above example while considering creationist arguments is Jerry Coyne's
Why Evolution Is True
. Its recent publication date allows Coyne to incorporate much of the more recent DNA evidence that corroborates the fossil evidence. Choices in this area and the former argue for new publications given the wealth of recent discoveries, especially in molecular and developmental biology as we continue to use new technologies to map and observe genomes of an increasing number of species, including our own. Coyne's selection of evidence is also biased towards evidence that falsifies any notions of a creator/designer, especially pseudogenes; genes that were once active in ancestors but have become inactivated.
3) A book that focuses primarily on the debate between science and creationism is Ken Miller's
Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul
. Given Miller's status as a cell biologist who also teaches a introductory level biology course at Brown University, Miller is an excellent instructor that doesn't avoid molecular biology as much as previous general evolution books.
4) Profiles and memoirs of scientists engaged in evolution that also present evidence of evolution though focusing on a particular discovery or the personal experiences of the scientists themselves. These take on a more personal tone while often reporting on an aspect of the compelling evidence for evolution. Two masterpieces have been recently published, Neil Shubin's
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body (Vintage)
and Sean B. Carroll's
Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origin of Species
. Shubin and Carroll present the romantic aspect of the journey and discovery that can make a scientific life so personal fulfilling while greatly advancing human knowledge. However, the amount of evidence, along with the breadth of these offerings' coverage is astonishing. I was most impressed and amazed at how broad a functional expert Shubin is, going well beyond the fame he's earned with his fieldwork right into the lab in terms of his discoveries in developmental biology.
5) A comprehensive review of a subset of the functions that contribute to our current set of findings and understanding. These made good follow-up books to the more general books like Coyne's aforementioned book. Examples in this category have authors focusing specifically on the fossil evidence, or the evidence in our DNA. Three books appear to have risen to the top in this area, all are very worthy reads. Fairbanks' offering reviewed here, Carroll's competing offering,
The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution
, and regarding the fossil and geologic evidence, Donald Prothero's
Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters
.
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Steve Barker
Clear in its approach; stunningly persuasive in its conclusions.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2014sandra unwin
It's good to have a book that fills a gap for ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2015banana pancakes
poor explanations mean evidence is poorly understood
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2014