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The Greatest Show on Earth

The Evidence for Evolution

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The Greatest Show on Earth

By: Richard Dawkins
Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
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About this listen

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 Greatest Show on Earth, Richard Dawkins takes on creationists, including followers of 'Intelligent Design' and all those who question the fact of evolution through natural selection.

Like a detective arriving on the scene of a crime, he sifts through fascinating layers of scientific facts and disciplines to build a cast-iron case: from the living examples of natural selection in birds and insects; the 'time clocks' of trees and radioactive dating that calibrate a timescale for evolution; the fossil record and the traces of our earliest ancestors; to confirmation from molecular biology and genetics. All of this, and much more, bears witness to the truth of evolution.

The Greatest Show on Earth comes at a critical time: systematic opposition to the fact of evolution is now flourishing as never before, especially in America. In Britain and elsewhere in the world, teachers witness insidious attempts to undermine the status of science in their classrooms. Richard Dawkins provides unequivocal evidence that boldly and comprehensively rebuts such nonsense. At the same time he shares with us his palpable love of the natural world and the essential role that science plays in its interpretation. Written with elegance, wit and passion, it is hard-hitting, absorbing and totally convincing.

©2009 Richard Dawkins (P)2009 Random House Audiobooks
Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Religious Studies Science Natural History Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"If Charles Darwin walked into a 21st-century bookstore and wanted to know how his theory had fared, this is the book he should pick up. Dawkins remains a superb translator of complex scientific concepts....he has a way of making the drollest details feel like a revelation." ( Publishers Weekly)
All stars
Most relevant
Superb narration from Richard and Lalla.

Here is a book from an author that knows his stuff.

I found a second listening was needed to clear up some points I didn't quite understand first time around.

Joy to listen to

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Excellent content delivered articulately by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward. I will listen to this book again and I'm certain I'll continue to learn from it.

Fascinating and educational.

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Clearly shows the evidence... Entertaining. Could of been written a little kinder for "nonbelievers" in evolution.

Well communicated

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Fantastic overview of the evidence - will inspire further reading. Should be mandatory for all GSCE level students

Essential listening

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An unequivocally thorough and compelling explanation of Evolution - anyone who questions the logic and more importantly the Science of evolution after listening to this - isn’t listening.....

EVOLUTION in a Nutshell

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