Newsgroups: talk.origins
In-Reply-To: <1991Jul22.211534.6001@iWarp.intel.com>
Organization: The Lion's Den, San Jose
From: stassen@netcom.com (Chris Stassen)
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 91 06:54:35 PDT
Subject: Book recommendations
Reply-To: stassen@netcom.UUCP (Chris Stassen)
One of the best ways to learn about the Creation/Evolution debate is to
pick up a few books. The periodicals (recommended earlier) are useful,
but most assume some level of familiarity with the subject. Recommended
reading materials:
I. Anti-creationism (books which examine and debunk creationist arguments)
Note: I don't recommend any general science books. The creationists'
field of attack is very broad, and science books tend to be specialized.
One would have to buy tens of such books to achieve the coverage of a
single title which is tailored to the creationists' attack.
Strahler, Arthur N., _Science and Earth History_;
New York: Prometheus Books, 1987.
This is the "evolutionist's encyclopedia." It's about 550
large pages filled with tiny print, and has an awesome index.
It's a little long to just read, but is the best general
reference on the topic.
Godfrey, Laurie, Ed., _Scientists Confront Creationism_;
New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1983.
The best reference there was until Strahler's book. Shorter
and easier to read. It's a collection of essays on various
relevant topics from experts in the various fields.
McGowan, Chris, _In The Beginning..._;
New York: Prometheus Books, 1984.
If I get to only recommend one book from this category to a
creationist, this is the one I recommend. It's not as useful
as a reference, but it's the easiest one to read.
Kitcher, Philip, _Abusing Science_;
Cambridge: MIT Press, 1986.
Not recommeneded for creationists, who will likely find it
offensive. Kitcher plays hardball with creationist tactics
and arguments.
II. Anti-evolution (creationist books which whomp on evolution)
Know thine enemy. I don't really know any pro-creation books
per se - except Biblically-oriented ones.
Morris, Henry, _Scientific Creationism_;
San Diego: Creation-Life Publishers, 1974.
This is actually intended to be a teachers' handbook of
material to use in science class. It is THE reference on
creationist arguments. If you're only going to own one
creationist book, it should be this one or the next one.
Morris & Parker, _What Is Creation Science?_;
San Diego: Master Books, 1982.
This title is supposed to be an introduction to creation
science. It shares much common material with _Scientific
Creationism_. Since it's available in paperback (and the
above title is not) buyers on a budget might prefer it.
Gish, Duane, _Evolution: The Challenge of the Fossil Record_;
San Diego: Master Books, 1985.
This is a revised and expanded version of Gish's famous
book, _Evolution: The Fossils Say No!_. If one is only
going to have two creationist titles, this is the second
one to buy.
Wysong, R. L., _The Creation-Evolution Controversy_;
Midland: Inquiry Press, 1986.
While none of the three titles above could be accused of
sterling scholarship, this one is an example of the bottom
of the barrel. I purchased it because *any* really bad
creationist argument can be found in it (the index is pretty
good).
III. Titles on the Origin of life
Shapiro, R., _Origins: A Skeptic's Guide To The Creation Of Life On Earth_
New York: Bantam, 1986.
This is one of two titles which I've seen for sale in both
creationist and evolutionist book-ordering services. It's
the best introduction to the various abiogenesis hypotheses
and their strengths and weaknesses.
Scott, Andrew, _The Creation Of Life: Past, Future, Alien_
New York: Basil Blackwell Inc., 1986.
A title similar to Shapiro's which has also received favorable
reviews in this group.
Loomis, William F., _Four Billion Years: An Essay on the Evolution
of Genes and Organisms_; Sunderland: Sinauer, 1988.
A relatively technical abiogenesis scenario. Relatively
long on speculation, especially near the end. Lots of
hard-core chemistry in the early going.
IV. Titles on the Arkansas Trial of Act 590.
Back in the early 1980s, a bill somehow was passed in Arkansas which
required equal time for creationism. It was eventually declared to
be unconstitutional, in a trial which received television coverage
and nationwide attention. Many books from both sides have been
written on it.
Montagu, Ashley, Ed., _Science and Creationism_
New York: Oxford University Press, 1984.
A collection of essays on various topics related to the trial.
Probably the best single title on the trial, as it contains
multiple points of view.
Gilkey, Langdon, _Creationism On Trial: Evolution and God at Little Rock_
Minneapolis: Winston Press, 1985.
Dr. Gilkey is a liberal theologian who was one of the "theological
witnesses" for the plaintiffs (who were trying to get the law
declared unconstitutional).
Geisler, Norman L., _The Creator in the Courtroom_
Milford: Mott Media Inc., 1982.
Dr. Geisler is a professor of theology who was one of the defense
"theological witnesses" (supporting creationism). It's pretty
interesting to read both this book and Dr. Gilkey's book. One
wonders if they were both at the same trial.
V. Other random titles
Dawkins, Richard, _The Blind Watchmaker_
New York: W. W. Norton, 1986
An in-depth examination of the 'argument from design' and a
look at the 'apparent' designedness of life.
--
"They tell us that / We lost our tails | Chris Stassen
Evolving up / From little snails |
I say it's all / Just wind in sails" |
- Devo ("Jocko Homo") | stassen@netcom.UUCP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- -
Stellar System Formation:
Computer Simulation of the Formation of Planetary Systems by S. Dole in
Icarus 13, 494-508 (1970)
Extra-Solar Planetary Systems: A Microcomputer Simulation
Fogg, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS) Vol 38
pp 501-514 (1985)
Calculations on the Composition of the terrestrial Planets
Reynolds & Summers, Journal of Geophysical Research vol 74, no 10
May 15, 1969 p 2494
The formation of the Earth from Planetesimals
Wetherill, Scientific American June 1981
Fractionation of Iron in the Solar System
Harris & Tozer, Nature vol 215, Sept 30, 1967
Formation of the Sun and Planets
A. G. W. Cameron, Icarus 1, 13-69 (1962)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Planet formation:
On Volcanism and Thermal Tectonics on one-plate Planets
Solomon, Geophysical Research Letters, vol 5, no 6 June 1978
Equation for Thermal Expansivity in Planetary Interiors
Anderson, Journal of Geophysical Research vol 72 no 14 July 15, 1967
Internal Processes Affecting Surfaces of Low-Density Satellites: Ganymede
and Callisto
Parmentier & Head, Journal of Geophysical Research vol 84 no B11,
Oct 10, 1979
The Supercontinent Cycle
Nance, Worsley, & Moody, Scientific American, July 1988
Alfred Wegener and the Hypothesis of Continental Drift
A. Hallam, Scientific American Feb 1975
Hargraves, R.B., "Precambrian Geological History", Science 193,4251
(30 July 1976), pp 363 - 371
Goldreich, Peter, and Stanton Peale, "Spin - Orbit Coupling in the
Solar System", Astron. J. 71, 6 (August 1966), pp 425- 438
Cloud, Preston E., Jr., "Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Evolution on
the Primitive Earth", Science 160, (17 May 1968), pp 729 - 736
Hart, Michael H, "Habitable Zones About Main-Sequence Stars",
Icarus 37 (1979), pp 351 - 357
Mart, Michael H, "The Effect of a Planet's Size on the Evolution of
its Atmosphere", published in some conference or another; I
got a copy from the author. (ave Allen
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