‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ — OUT NOW!
05Sep. 09
Dawkins’ latest is out now in the UK and Australia, and out September 22 in the USA.
Read the first chapter here.
Compiled below are some extracts of reviews:
“This is a magnificent book of wonderstanding: Richard Dawkins combines an artist’s wonder at the virtuosity of nature with a scientist’s understanding of how it comes to be.”
—Matt Ridley, author of Nature via Nurture.
“‘There is a grandeur in this view of life,’ said Darwin, speaking of evolution. There is no one better qualified to convey this grandeur than his worthy successor, Richard Dawkins, who writes with passion, clarity, and wit. This may be his best book yet.”
—V. S. Ramachandran
“To call this book a defense of evolution utterly misses the point: The Greatest Show on Earth is a celebration of one of the best ideas humans have ever produced. It is hard not to marvel at Richard Dawkins’s luminous telling of the story of evolution and the way that it has shaped our world. In reading Dawkins, one is left awed at the beauty of the theory and humbled by the power of science to understand some of the greatest mysteries of life.”
—Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish
“Up until now, Richard Dawkins has said everything interesting that there is to say about evolution — with one exception. In The Greatest Show on Earth, he fills this gap, brilliantly describing the multifarious and massive evidence for evolution – evidence that gives the lie to the notion that evolution is “only a theory”. This important and timely book is a must-read for Darwin Year.”
—Jerry Coyne, author of Why Evolution is True
“Whether or not you accept evolution, you will understand it after reading Dawkins’s clear and fresh presentation of Evolution 101. His ability to explain science through choice analogies and metaphors (embryology as origami!) make accessible the newest research from paleontology to molecular biology, all the while capturing — and expressing — the excitement of the rapidly expanding field of evolutionary biology.”
—Eugenie C. Scott, Executive Director, National Center for Science Education
Look out, creationists. There’s a new sheriff in town, and he talks like an Oxford don … The author opens with guns a-blazing … (and) writes with terrific wit and considerable learning, but what is interesting here is his fire … Without the strictures of academia he relishes the opportunity to light into his opponents. Whether anyone will stand up to refute his notions remains to be seen, but for now Dawkins wins on points. A pleasure in the face of so much scientific ignorance – biology rendered accessible and relevant to the utmost degree.
—Kirkus Review
Tags: Books, Evolution, Greatest Show on Earth, Richard Dawkins
September 5th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I got it last week (beyond me how, I was walking past a bookshop (rare for me) and noticed a big pile of them). Anyway, it’s very good — I’ll probably write a review in the next couple of days.
September 5th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Reviews: yes please!!
September 5th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I’ve seen quite a few of these going out the door where I work, haven’t grabbed myself a copy yet though!
September 5th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Just bought mine today from Target. 22 bucks!!
September 6th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Ach, I need to buy a copy! [insert crazy Richard Dawkins fanboyish statement here]
I love his writing so much. SO British.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Heading off to buy it now. Hope we can get it signed by the man himself.….….. Richard that is, not the guy who designed the planet.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I am about a third of the way through and I just want to say — I am not only seeing the evidence for evolution (mission accomplished) but also learning a thing or two. Dawkins excels at constructing as water-tight an argument as possible. Just when you think you may have found a hole, he’s ten steps ahead, and gives you an explanation. Almost as if he knows what you’re going to ask.
All the studies, evidence shown, and references made are cross-referenced and extensively notated so you can go into further reading, should you require to do so. There are some slip-ups in his writing, truth be told, when he deals with areas admittedly not of his expertise, but he references writers who have done the legwork in those areas. Where there are gaps, Dawkins acknowledges, and makes reference to other writers who do a better job at explaining those areas — for this, I applaud his efforts.
So far, easy to read; easy to comprehend; a sadly necessary book, and one which I hope will be a reference to look to when one might encounter a history-denier.