Not too exciting for me since most everything I didn't already have experience with was covered in brief articles about the book in as much detail as Not too exciting for me since most everything I didn't already have experience with was covered in brief articles about the book in as much detail as the book itself covered it. Felt like the authors were jumping the gun a bit and the publishers (and introduction) advertised it in a pretty misleading way, considering that probably 80% of this is just a retread of material Hawking and many other have covered elsewhere in greater depth. ...more
I was a little disappointed by this one. There's a disturbing trend of oversimplification and occasionally bankrupt reasoning present here, not least I was a little disappointed by this one. There's a disturbing trend of oversimplification and occasionally bankrupt reasoning present here, not least of which is Dawkins's claim that the term Loyalist for those in Ulster is nothing but a euphemism to cover the religious nature of the Troubles. Of course, because economics, nationalism, imperialism, etc etc have nothing to do with such issues. In his haste to damn religion outright, Dawkins seems to unfortunately revert to this sort of statement. Maybe that is merely indicative of the ground he is trying to cover - a comprehensive refutation of all religious thought in about 450 pages might just be an ill fit. I may have been better off picking up one of his harder science books than this one. ...more
This is a good read. Behe is clever and very readable. I sometimes got lost in the numbers, but I expected that. A better intelligent design book thanThis is a good read. Behe is clever and very readable. I sometimes got lost in the numbers, but I expected that. A better intelligent design book than Demski's The Design Revolution. ...more
I'd be lying if I said I understood everything in this book, but I understood a great deal, largely thanks to the way Hawking is able to bring advanceI'd be lying if I said I understood everything in this book, but I understood a great deal, largely thanks to the way Hawking is able to bring advanced theories down to a level possible for the layperson to understand. A lot of interesting stuff in here. ...more
This was given to me by a friend years back, and is pretty much a waste of time. Circular reasoning, claims that the fossil record was implanted by GoThis was given to me by a friend years back, and is pretty much a waste of time. Circular reasoning, claims that the fossil record was implanted by God to test our faith (yes, this is that kind of book)....more
A lot of well-reasoned arguments. I like Kitcher's very rational approach. You really get the impression that he tried to see things from all sides wiA lot of well-reasoned arguments. I like Kitcher's very rational approach. You really get the impression that he tried to see things from all sides without being overly dogmatic about the issues. That doesn't save the book from the necessarily dull subject matter, but that isn't really Kitcher's fault - he's making arguments meant for real-world purposes, and he does a nice job for the most part with what he has.
Apparently amidst all his philosophy of science texts he also wrote a book on Finnegans Wake. Talk about deviation!...more
Some interesting and reasonable arguments, coupled with some occasional mediocre and even somewhat foolish ones.
On the plus side, I have the hardcoveSome interesting and reasonable arguments, coupled with some occasional mediocre and even somewhat foolish ones.
On the plus side, I have the hardcover and I have never experienced a book that feels so physically comfortable in my hands. Holding it makes me want to read it.
A lot of chapters, but the short length makes sitting down and reading one a comfortable and quick task.
Certainly won't be enough to sway many people over to ID that will have the time and energy to think everything this book says through, but it's an interesting read. ...more
Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
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