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Intelligently Designed: How Creationists Built the Campaign Against Evolution by Edward Caudill
meandmypaperback's review against another edition
2.0
This is about how the thought of creationist became a popular belief. Too start off, I do not believe in creationism, I am an outright evolutionist- I can't deny the facts. Anyways, this book shows that all those who support creationist- the fundamentalists mainly- have been very good at promoting it through political ways and they are very adept at using the media. They sneak into debates at just the right time with the right celebrity name.
A lot of the book was about the Scope trial, and being Canadian I had really no idea what that was. And then it brought up a lot of other trials and names. For me, this is why it only garnered 2 stars. I felt that it was just name after name, and no real succinct thought came from all the evidence. I got bored. And truthfully I skimmed about half of the book until I got to the final chapter.I also cannot get past the fact that so many people have such a wrong idea on what Darwinism actually is, and what he wrote about. (that's another rant for another day)
It isn't a book that forces you to pick a side, it is a book that shows the growth of a movement.
I wanted to read this book because I am such an evolutionist and I wanted to see the other viewpoint. Which I think everyone should. Look at both sides of the story. But that being said, I just can't get that this movement has been so successful. Just don't get it....
A lot of the book was about the Scope trial, and being Canadian I had really no idea what that was. And then it brought up a lot of other trials and names. For me, this is why it only garnered 2 stars. I felt that it was just name after name, and no real succinct thought came from all the evidence. I got bored. And truthfully I skimmed about half of the book until I got to the final chapter.I also cannot get past the fact that so many people have such a wrong idea on what Darwinism actually is, and what he wrote about. (that's another rant for another day)
It isn't a book that forces you to pick a side, it is a book that shows the growth of a movement.
I wanted to read this book because I am such an evolutionist and I wanted to see the other viewpoint. Which I think everyone should. Look at both sides of the story. But that being said, I just can't get that this movement has been so successful. Just don't get it....
scarlettletters's review against another edition
4.0
It's virtually impossible to live in America in the 21st century and not be aware of the conflict between Creationism and evolution. Caudill gives an extremely informative and sometimes infuriating history of the Intelligent Design movement, starting with the Scopes Trial and leading up to the present. It's clear that Caudill doesn't agree with the standpoint of the Creationists, but he does give them a lot of credit for building a movement and creating a controversy where none (at least no scientific controversy) exists.
This is a scholarly work and not for a general audience. Caudill explores the politics and motivations of Creationists while assuming that the reader is familiar with the science. He doesn't feel the need to defend evolution; if you're interested in the evidence for that you can find any number of books on the topic. Caudill is writing about the growth of a movement, not to discredit or argue for either side.
Caudill has written a readable and enlightening guide for those interested in the intersection of politics, religion, and education, or for people who are already familiar with the arguments given by each side in this "debate" and want to know more about its history.
I received my copy of this book free from NetGalley.
This is a scholarly work and not for a general audience. Caudill explores the politics and motivations of Creationists while assuming that the reader is familiar with the science. He doesn't feel the need to defend evolution; if you're interested in the evidence for that you can find any number of books on the topic. Caudill is writing about the growth of a movement, not to discredit or argue for either side.
Caudill has written a readable and enlightening guide for those interested in the intersection of politics, religion, and education, or for people who are already familiar with the arguments given by each side in this "debate" and want to know more about its history.
I received my copy of this book free from NetGalley.
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