The Greatest Show on Earth
The Evidence for Evolution
by Richard Dawkins · first published 2009
61% recommend33% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
Clear, evidence-focused overview of the case for evolution, often called the best introduction to the topic; suited to high school students and general readers new to biology.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Britain's greatest science writer comprehensively rebuts the creationists by pulling together the incontrovertible evidence for evolution. Charles Darwin's masterpiece, _On the Origin of Species_, shook society to its core on publication in 1859. Darwin was only too aware of the storm his theory of evolution would provoke but he would surely have raised an incredulous eyebrow at the controversy still raging a century and a half later. Evolution is accepted as scientific fact by all reputable scientists and indeed theologians, yet millions of people continue to question its veracity. In _The Gr
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Of course my moral views are affected by my culture. That is a big part of how morality works. I encourage you to learn more about evolution. The evidence and coherency is overwhelming. “The Greatest Show on Earth” by Richard Dawkins is a very good brief overview of the evidence. It’s quite stunning.
on “Supreme Court will decide whether web designer has right to turn away gay couple” ↗…Species, has been a banner year for new books on evolutionary biology. Some of my favorites include Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne http://www.amazon.com/Why-Evolution-True-Jerry-Coyne/dp/0670... The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Show-Earth-Evidence-Evolution... and Evolution: The First Four Billion Years edited by Michael Ruse and Joseph Travis.…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗This experiment was exposed on Richard Dawkins' "The Greatest Show on Earth", highly recommended read for those interested in learning more on evolution.
on “Artificial selection in the lab” ↗I found the book "The definitive book of body language: How to read others's thoughts by their gestures" by Allan and Barbara Pease to be a great read. The greatest show on Earth - Richard Dawkins was an excellent read. Surely you're joking Mr Feynman by Richard p.Feynman was terrific read by a very small bit can considerred offensive or at the least dated in its outlook but…
on “Ask HN: What are some Good Books you have read in past one year or so..” ↗…but also a free website. The website is 29+ Evidences for Macroevolution,[1] which I have recommended often to readers here on Hacker News. The books are Why Evolution Is True by Jerry Coyne[2] and The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins.[3] Both books are very readable and interesting and well deserve your attention. There are other good recent books about evolution that help fill in the research findings that have…
on “Misconceptions about Evolution” ↗"Climbing Mount Improbable"[1] is the title of a book by Richard Dawkins. Haven't read it yet, but I can absolutely recommend "The Greatest Show on Earth"[2]. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climbing_Mount_Improbable [2]https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Show-Earth-Evidence-Evolutio...
on “Mount Improbable: Play With Evolution” ↗Strongly recommend you read Dawkins' "The Greatest Show on Earth" (https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Show-Earth-Evidence-Evolutio...) and come back to tell us what you think :)
on “Survival of the Prettiest” ↗…Wiesel The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris Lying by Sam Harris The Road by Cormac McCarthy Cosmos by Carl Sagan. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Mortality by Christopher Hitchens The New Jim Crow: Mass…
on “Ask HN: Books Recommendations?” ↗…Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley 4. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette Mccurdy 5. Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris 6. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe [2] 7. Cosmos by Carl Sagan 8. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins [3] 9. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson 10. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander…
on “Ask HN: Which books did you read at least twice?” ↗…simply has no leg to stand on scientifically. I don't require my homeschooled children to believe in creationism, but rather read aloud to them books like Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne and The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins, so that they are more familiar with scientific evidence than most of their neighbors who attend the local public schools.)
on “Why Finland’s schools are great (by doing what we don’t).” ↗Good stuff. Just finished Dawkins' new book: The Greatest Show on Earth - should be introductory biology reading for high school students. However, still prefer his The Selfish Gene for raising my consciousness the most.
on “An Alien God (Eliezer Yudkowsky, about Evolution)” ↗…sufficient evidence to prove it does exist. As for macro-evolution, there is a mountain of evidence including the genetic similarity, the geographic distribution of animals, the fossil record, etc. "The Greatest Show on Earth" would be a good read as it details many of the proofs of evolution and dismantles the Creationist's pseudo-science.
on “Skull of Homo erectus throws story of human evolution into disarray” ↗…issues, he was coming from a serious scientifically-based view on differences of sexes. For those who want to understand how evolution shaped women and men, I recommend to start with Dawkins' books (The Greatest Show on Earth, The Blind Watchmaker, The Selfish Gene), and then to read "The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature" by Matt Ridley, and "The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human…
on “Female Founders” ↗…Henry, a shrew who must have been the ancestor of all humans, and his brother Eric, who might well have been the ancestor of all aardvarks (but not any humans). Dawkins has written better books - The Greatest Show on Earth is perhaps the best introduction to evolution - but I have a special affection for Ancestor's Tale, because it was while reading it that I finally 'got' evolution, and experienced a sort of minor enlightenment.…
on “Father of all humankind is 340,000 years old” ↗You can read more in-depth evidence in the book, "The Greatest Show on Earth. Evolution is not a hypothesis, it is a fact. It's not even debated among biologists. If you have some evidence against it (or for creation), submit it to a peer-reviewed journal. If you can throw evolution…
on “Skull of Homo erectus throws story of human evolution into disarray” ↗