Dr. Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, skeptic, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two.
But it's not just a book about evolutionary zoology. It's also a salvo in a war that's being fought on that far-off continent, Northern America. In this respect it reminded me of another good pop-sci book on quite another subject: Secret Origins of the Bible
I realise that in the US you can't popularise evolutionary biology or the mundane literary history of religious texts without taking a stand against the obfuscating fundies that cloud these issues. So reading these books, it is very clear to me that as a Swede I am not really part of the target audience. Us Scandies are lucky enough that we needn't even mention creationism or other fundamentalist misconceptions in our popular science. If I write in Swedish about the Mesolithic, a period lasting thousands of years and ending around 4000 BC, I never have to fear that my readers might believe that the world was made by Sky Guy in 4004 BC. Indeed, I can safely assume that most readers won't believe in any sky guy at all.
But I know that these writers aren't overestimating the problem. Inspired by the two incompatible Bronze Age creation myths of Genesis, half of the US population prefers not to accept the evident fact that life has evolved from small beginnings and that we are a recent result of this process. I don't understand how this can be so, but I do see why this sort of thing has to be dealt with in books like Prothero's. So I just skim past those bits to get to the real science. As I recommend you to do, Dear Reader, with the fine book I've mentioned briefly here.
Three other bloggers' reviews of the book: Living the Scientific Life, Laelaps, Darwin Report.
[More blog entries about books, review, evolution, palaeontology, donaldprothero, fundamentalism; böcker, evolution, biologi, donaldprothero, fundamentalism.]
Life Science
Comments
I have not read Prothero's book, but will look it up if I get time. Hopefully it is better than Callahan's publications, which are unfortunately ill-initiated and seemingly written for an entrenched readership. It reveals the problems typically encountered in attempts of popularising humanist research fields which are very rich in literature (and Callahan unfortunately dabbles in so many more or less distinct research fields that he frequently confuses their results, which ironically gives rise more contradictions than he himself have set out to expose). Many similar books could at least serve as good bibliographies, but Callahan's does not engage with the most central academic literature (possibly because he is limited in languages, which is often the case with anglo-american scholars).
Is it easier to popularise natural sciences than humanities? Or is it just that the writers in popular science are better than those making attempts in humanities and social sciences?
/ Mattias
Posted by: Mattias | March 3, 2008 1:42 PM
In the Callahan/Prothero case, we're comparing an amateur scholar with a chaired professor. I like Callahan's book, but even I can see that it isn't perfect (I've reviewed it in Swedish).
As for your perception that humanities pop-sci is generally not as good as natural pop-sci, I'd say that's probably because you're a professional humanities scholar!
Posted by: Martin R | March 3, 2008 2:29 PM
Actually, a surprisingly large number of swedes belive that the world was created as described in genesis (I've heard a figure like 29%..?). I think the figures are similar in most european countries. The difference towards north america, however, I think is more related to media access. The fundies in this country does not, in general, have access to mainstream media.
Posted by: Lennart Nilsson | March 3, 2008 5:28 PM
Great summary!
Prothero makes a truly compelling argument explaining why creationism is a clear and present danger, not only to American education, but indeed, the very survival of the United States too.
Posted by: Kelly | March 4, 2008 3:35 AM
Lennart, The figure was 27%, as reported by various media based on this report. If you actually look at it, it doesn't say that 27% of swedes believe in genesis, but that 73% believe in evolution, 14% believe in special creation, 9% in some sort of intelligent design, and 4% had the decency to admit that they didn't know what to think. So it's not as bad as it looks, especially if you take into account the fact that two of the groups with the highest incidence of belief in special creation were old people and people lacking a high school education.
Posted by: Felicia Gilljam | March 4, 2008 8:45 AM
You're probably right, Martin - one spots the lacunae in one's own disciplines more readily than those in other areas.
As regards the statistics of swedish evolution/creation beliefs I would be careful with conclusions - even if the SIFO gallup was quite comprehensive, I think that a large amount of swedes would not previously have given the matter much thought and would call themselves either evolutionists or creationists without being fully aware of the consequences of that stance.
For example, belief in astrology and goblins in the woods tend to rank higher than abrahamitic monotheism in modern ethnological surveys, but it seems that these beliefs have little impact on the general ethos of our times.
/ Mattias
Posted by: Mattias | March 4, 2008 10:22 AM
How can one have any morality whatsoever without belief in the little sylvan goblins? I lead a life of comparative virtue because I know that the goblins would not like it if I overstepped certain bounds. Mark my words, the goblins wouldn't like it at all!
Posted by: Martin R | March 4, 2008 12:25 PM
Yes, and neither would gnomes like L. Pagrotsky. If you don't leave gifts by your own door at night (and tax every month), then he will make sure your cash cow is permanently out of milk.
Posted by: Mattias | March 4, 2008 12:33 PM
Thank you for the book review, I had been looking for a new read in historical geology, and this seems to fit the bill. I had never heard of this geologist before, and with a bit of research, found that he is quite the author. Amazon lists the book, Evolution, at about $30.00, US. (That's something like 5 Euro these days?) You have to respect a guy who's books sell for over $100. US; (that will be about 5 Euro in a few weeks?) Reading around is always good.
The creationist fringe in America should not be construed as anything approaching mainstream. The media usually pounces on these people for undue coverage, largely because they represent flat-earthers. The science community pounces on these people for something to do. The best science writing on evolution ignores the temptation to use creationism as a strawman to argue against.
On that note, let's discuss gnomes. Every year they tie my Christmas lights in knots, and shrink last years' cloths, so they won't fit come spring. They have to be real.
Posted by: Gary Turnquuist | March 4, 2008 8:11 PM
Mainstream or not, they have an inordinate influence on American education. Despite their take on evolution, they have evolved the tactic of taking majorities on local school boards where they attempt to force either creationism or ID into the classroom. Most of the time they are discovered and forced out but not before they do real damage. They also sponsor members of State legislatures who are locally elected sometimes in elections where the local population just isn't paying attention and then exercise statewide influence on curriculum decisions or pass statewide laws that affect the teaching of science in secondary and primary schools within that state. They are a constant hazard to all education - a pack of yapping dogs that just won't let go and have to eternally be guarded against.
Posted by: Oldfart | March 6, 2008 9:09 AM
Oldfart is 100% correct in what he says. People have to pay close attention to who and what they are voting for. The fundie-nuts have declared war on science in all forms, so far as yet they are not winning but be careful the war is not over and if they should ever win the U.S will
be 4th world country forget about the 3rd world
Posted by: Ex Partiate | March 7, 2008 1:39 PM
I can also recommend this book. Just finished it, and it's absolutely a blast.
The first two, three chapters were a bit redundant for me, and gave me the impression it was a slow starter. But that's just me.
At the end of the book, I was really disappointed that there wasn't more of it. I feel Prothera has only touched upon a vast area (which he knows very well). So I will have to read more (sigh, and my reading "tower" is getting higher and higher).
Posted by: Puam | March 7, 2008 4:05 PM
my reading "tower" is getting higher and higher
I wonder if that's what Frank Zappa meant when he wrote, "I can take about an hour on the tower of power".
Posted by: Martin R | March 7, 2008 4:12 PM
"... as long as I get a little *****."
Posted by: Mattias | March 11, 2008 6:43 AM
Having read Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters a few months ago and recommended it to friends, let me also thank you for your positive review.
Posted by: Daniel Murphy | March 14, 2008 10:11 PM