When Charles Darwin finished The Origin of Species, he thought that he had explained every clue, but one. Though his theory could explain many facts, Darwin knew that there was a significant event in the history of life that his theory did not explain. During this event, the “Cambrian explosion,” many animals suddenly appeared in the fossil record without apparent ancestors in earlier layers of rock.
In Darwin’s Doubt, Stephen C. Meyer tells the story of the mystery surrounding this explosion of animal life—a mystery that has intensified, not only because the expected ancestors of these animals have not been found, but because scientists have learned more about what it takes to construct an animal. During the last half century, biologists have come to appreciate the central importance of biological information—stored in DNA and elsewhere in cells—to building animal forms.
Expanding on the compelling case he presented in his last book, Signature in the Cell, Meyer argues that the origin of this information, as well as other mysterious features of the Cambrian event, are best explained by intelligent design, rather than purely undirected evolutionary processes.
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“It is hard for us paleontologists, steeped as we are in a tradition of Darwinian analysis, to admit that neo-Darwinian explanations for the Cambrian explosion have failed miserably. New data acquired in recent years, instead of solving Darwin’s dilemma, have rather made it worse. Meyer describes the dimensions of the problem with clarity and precision. His book is a game changer for the study of evolution and points us in the right direction as we seek a new theory for the origin of animals.”
— Dr. Mark McMenamin, paleontologist at Mount Holyoke College and coauthor of The Emergence of Animals
“A wonderful, most compelling read.”
— Dean Koontz, New York Times bestselling author“Darwin’s Doubt represents an opportunity for bridge-building rather than dismissive polarization–bridges across cultural divides in great need of professional, respectful dialogue–and bridges to span evolutionary gaps.”
— Dr. George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and author of RegenesisDr. Stephen C. Meyer received his PhD from the University of Cambridge in the philosophy of science. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute in Seattle. In 2004, Meyer ignited a firestorm of media and scientific controversy when a biology journal at the Smithsonian Institution published his peer-reviewed scientific article advancing intelligent design. Meyer has been featured on national television and radio programs, including The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CBS’ Sunday Morning, NBC’s Nightly News, ABC’s World News, Good Morning America, Nightline, FOX News Live, and the Tavis Smiley show on PBS. He has also been featured in two New York Times front-page stories and has garnered attention in other top national media.
Derek Shetterly is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a BA in radio/television and a double-minor in theatre and Spanish. He spent twenty-three years in radio as an on-air talent and production director, and it was the creative process in writing, performance, and production and his love for acting that evolved into a passion for voice-over work. He now works as a freelance, full-time voice talent out of his home studio in Oregon. When he’s not in the voice booth, you might find him traveling, fly fishing, mountain biking, or cross-country skiing (depending on the weather).