The Theory of Evolution: What It Is, Where It Came From, and Why It Works

By Cynthia Mills

Everything mammals ever wanted to know about the theory of evolution-but were afraid to ask
This important new book by award-winning science writer Cynthia Mills clearly explains one of the most crucial, and most misunderstood, concepts of modern science-the theory of evolution. After examining Darwin, his precursors, and how the theory of evolution developed, Mills answers key questions, including: How successful is the theory at explaining the natural world, and what does it fail to explain? What are some of the competing ideas and theories about the origin of the species? How will the theory of evolution likely hold up over time, as our understanding of genetics grows?
Cynthia L. Mills (Portland, OR) is an award-winning science writer and veterinarian. Her article "Breeding and Discontents," originally published in The Sciences, was selected for The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2001, guest-edited by E. O. Wilson. Also in the same series: The Big Bang Theory (0-471-39452-1) by Karen C. Fox

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
• Release date: Aug 24, 2007
• ISBN: 9780470256749

Cynthia Mills

is a grandmother with six grandchildren, aging from six to twenty, and a mother of four. She had made up stories for her children as they grew up. She seldom reads them a book at bedtime; she makes them up as she goes along. She would also read to them in the afternoon, as a quiet time. Her first story was written when she was ten years old. As she was in the Brownies, they were asked to write a story to read to their pack, using the names of their groups, which were fairies, gnomes, pixies, and elves. As a grandmother, she now reads and tells stories to her grandchildren.

Reviews for The Theory of Evolution

[devil_llama · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This introduction to evolution is a tad simplistic, written at the level of approximately a high school reader. It also spends very little time on why it works, which is part of the subtitle, and does not give much of the evidence. In fact, it spends most of the time on Darwin, then follows up a bit with how the theory has been misused to support regressive policies, and the controversies (which are interesting but covered too superficially to add much to the discussion). While I suppose it is important to have a book written at this simpler level than most evolution books are, I think this one misses the mark more than hits it.

[quantum_flapdoodle · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This introduction to evolution is a tad simplistic, written at the level of approximately a high school reader. It also spends very little time on why it works, which is part of the subtitle, and does not give much of the evidence. In fact, it spends most of the time on Darwin, then follows up a bit with how the theory has been misused to support regressive policies, and the controversies (which are interesting but covered too superficially to add much to the discussion). While I suppose it is important to have a book written at this simpler level than most evolution books are, I think this one misses the mark more than hits it.