…and this is a 
The latest online edition of Seed Magazine (you all know it's gone to an all-digital format, right? You should be reading it regularly) has an interview with Richard Dawkins on his new book — it focuses on the potential for the new book to persuade people to accept the idea of evolution.
I think it does a good job of that, too. They asked me to write a little commentary on the book, and I think it has even wider possibilities. It's so readable and clear, I want some of those die-hard creationist fanatics to read it. Really read it, and understand it. I don't expect them to be converted at all — they've drunk too much kool-aid to be cured — but jebus, I'd like to see some challenging arguments from the creationist camp, rather than these rehashed exercises in idiocy they always drag out. If they want to argue against evolution, that's fine…but please, argue against evolution, not these freakish fever dreams of crocoducks and linearity and Hitler in a lab coat.
Also…they've made me an icon! I wish I were that good looking.
Life Science
Comments
Posted by: RickR
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September 22, 2009 10:08 AM
"but jebus, I'd like to see some challenging arguments from the creationist camp"
I'd like a Unicorn. Unfortunately for us both, what we want doesn't exist.
Posted by: Michelle R
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September 22, 2009 10:27 AM
Awr come on PZ. You're not a fuggly guy at all. :P
Posted by: mister-fire
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September 22, 2009 10:28 AM
cough cough *BILLY MAYS LOOK-ALIKE* cough
Posted by: Ray Moscow
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September 22, 2009 10:30 AM
PZ: "I wish I were that good looking."
Why does it always have to be about sex with you people?!!!
(re the Cristina thread comments)
Posted by: Zeno
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September 22, 2009 10:33 AM
Omigawd, PZ, they've airbrushed you into himbo prettiness!
Posted by: daveau
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September 22, 2009 10:34 AM
I like that RD argues for evolution without even bringing up the fossil record.
Posted by: Lee Picton
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September 22, 2009 10:46 AM
Amazon claims my book has been shipped. It is not here yet. Just checked again. Still not here.
Posted by: Ray Moscow
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September 22, 2009 10:48 AM
There was a good video interview with Dawkins, with him also reading some bits from two books, in yesterday's Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2009/sep/21/richard-dawkins-greatest-show-earth
Posted by: gillt
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September 22, 2009 10:58 AM
SEED commissioned PZ--not Mooney or Nisbett?!?--to write a piece on science communication? They must value their readership.
Posted by: Glen Davidson
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September 22, 2009 10:59 AM
Have you ever noticed how much they hate everything that supplies credible evidence against their beliefs? Talkorigins, which is not particularly readable, is passionately hated, not because it's a difficult read but because it shows up their lies.
They already know that Dawkins is an atheist, a "militant atheist" to many, which will be plenty of "reason" not to bother with reading him. They might look at a book long enough to find an especial excuse to ignore the rest, but that's about it.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
Posted by: The Science Pundit
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September 22, 2009 11:11 AM
That "pretty boy" icon makes you look like an accomodationist. This will just confuse people.
Posted by: dumnezeueateu.wordpress.com
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September 22, 2009 11:24 AM
I've put the book in a contest for creationists.
It's the main article today (blog is in Romanian anyway)
I'm challenging them to give me evidence of their position and I'll give them a copy of Dawkins's book if they can convince me.
The steady flow of expected creationists has failed to show up, only atheists commented so far...
Will keep it up for a few days, and i'll try getting them to confront me...
I know, i really am hoping they just want to take my money, even if it's in the form of a book.
At least i can hope they find something new for pure smugness.
Posted by: mattincinci
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September 22, 2009 11:34 AM
PZ, that icon sure makes you look a lot younger
Posted by: NatVision
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September 22, 2009 11:49 AM
If looking for 'Greatest Show' on Audible, as of 9:44 MDT, it is buried under a few links (doesn't show as a new release in the main pages) I found it by clicking Science & Technology (left side of page)-->Biology, then scrolling down the page to the new releases or, now, by author search for Dawkins (which wasn't available when I got mine at 7:00 a.m.).
Downloaded and now on my mp3 player . . .
Posted by: idle.pip.verisignlabs.com
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September 22, 2009 12:07 PM
I just got my copy, digitally delivered, from Sony. Seriously, their ebook store is the first Sony product I've ever used thats actually worth the sony label. I can't wait to load it on my Sony Reader. I may get myself a paper copy too, just to lend to a friend or two. I know a couple creationists (old earthers), that I think should read it.
Posted by: Ray Moscow
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September 22, 2009 12:10 PM
TGSOE came out a couple of weeks ago in the UK. I'm about halfway through my copy.
It is indeed pretty good. I think everyone here will like it.
Posted by: Kausik Datta
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September 22, 2009 12:12 PM
@3:
I TOTALLY second that!Posted by: Capital Dan
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September 22, 2009 12:45 PM
Like the icon, PZ. However, you look like you should be wearing flannel and building furniture every Sunday morning on PBS.
Posted by: Bad Albert
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September 22, 2009 12:48 PM
The truly mindless ones in the flock won't bother to read it. They'll just listen to Ray Comfort's (mis)take on it and figure that'll be good enough.
Posted by: Riaan Moll
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September 22, 2009 1:23 PM
Aw, PZ, they took away your Mona Lisa smile!
Posted by: mister-fire
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September 22, 2009 1:45 PM
BTW, nice commentary. Still prefer your more unvarnished one, though.
@17:
Much appreciated, Kausik.
Posted by: WayBeyond
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September 22, 2009 1:56 PM
Dawkins is on a book tour in the US ( http://richarddawkins.net/GDcalendar ), and I get to see him in October. Tickets were free, but you had to go online to claim them. The tickets were "sold out" in less than two days, here in Charlotte, North Carolina, of all places.
Yay, me. Yay, Charlotte!
Posted by: pwillow1
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September 22, 2009 3:11 PM
Yeah, icon PZ is a Billy Mays lookalike!
I don't think the icon does you any justice, PZ. In your photo you are handsomer.
Posted by: Will Von Wizzlepig
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September 22, 2009 3:29 PM
They made you an icon? Are you sure?
Isn't that the new Death Cab for Cutie album cover?
Posted by: Xenithrys
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September 22, 2009 4:25 PM
Thanks PZ: I love "socially (but not scientifically!) controversial".Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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September 22, 2009 5:38 PM
Since the position is now vacant, PZ can start a second career selling OxiClean™.
Posted by: Carl Zimmer
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September 22, 2009 5:47 PM
Hi PZ: Thanks for adding a pre-publication shout-out for my own book, the Tangled Bank.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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September 22, 2009 7:00 PM
Hey, Carl, you know I'm just angling for your publisher to send me a review copy...
Posted by: UpCracky
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September 22, 2009 7:34 PM
@28 Speaking of being cheap, any recommendations on where to order the book from (USA delivery)?
I don't mind spending a couple of extra bucks if it's a particularly geeky, pro-science site.
I know Amazon is out there, but I'd rather send my cash to a science site if practical.
Posted by: Carl Zimmer
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September 22, 2009 8:06 PM
What the...? You didn't get one yet? D'oh! I will have both thumbs of my publisher cut off tomorrow and have a copy sent to you. (Okay, maybe just one thumb...)
Posted by: deafscribe
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September 22, 2009 9:39 PM
I *really* like the distinction made in the Seed piece between evolution as a social controversy as opposed to a scientific controversy. That neatly and subtly separates the hard-won facts from the easily generated fictions. Simple linguistic judo like this effectively reframes the debate.
Posted by: DLC
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September 23, 2009 2:09 AM
I can't afford it now, but perhaps for err um.. Christmas . . . LOL!
yeah, I celebrate christmas, as a secular end-of-year gift-giving, friend remembering and seasonal affect disorder avoidance event.
Posted by: furr-a-bruin
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September 23, 2009 4:05 PM
But PZ - you're already an icon! ;)
Hmm... I wonder what a Chibi PZ would look like...!
Posted by: eddie
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September 27, 2009 11:56 AM
"...for fence-sitters AND non-fence-sitters."
I wish they'd make up their minds.