Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology www.jsecjournal.com org - 2009, 3 (1): 62-67. Book Review EVOLUTION FOR EVERYONE: AN UNDERGRADUATE PERSPECTIVE Alina Corrigan Community Mental Health & Mental Health Counseling Program 1 Southern New Hampshire University Erin Crooker Department of Counseling and School Psychology Boston University Abstract The concept of Evolution For Everyone by author David Sloan Wilson, is to establish a foundation for those who have a very limited knowledge of evolution. Wilson is able to convey to the reader the fundamentals of natural selection. The target audience is collegeaged students who have had little to no-prior educational background with the subject. Wilson is able to go beyond the basics and get the reader to think in depth about the world around. The book does not restrict the reader to one school of thought, but attempts to incorporate other ideas. However, it also establishes the relevance of natural selection by stating that the reader really cannot ignore the facts and instead should integrate those facts into their own beliefs. Keywords: Evolutionary theory, undergraduate teaching Evolution for Everyone Evolution For Everyone (Wilson, 2007) opens with the assertion that it is a book of tall claims about evolution: that it can become uncontroversial; that the basic principles are easy to learn; that everyone should want to learn them, once their implications are understood; that evolution and religion, those old enemies who currently occupy opposite corners of human thought, can be brought harmoniously together (Wilson, 2007, p.1). These are bold claims. As two college seniors about to graduate, who have never taken an evolutionary course, we approached this topic with a basic knowledge of the evolutionary perspective. Before reading this book we both knew the concept of evolution and we had heard of Darwin s theory of natural selection but we had. AUTHOR NOTE: Please address all correspondence to : Erin Crooker, University of Massachusetts Boston, Department of Counseling & School Psychology. Email: erin.crooker001@umb.edu 2009 Journal of Social Evolutionary and Cultural Psychology 62
no real training in the subject. We probably knew what the average person on the street understands about evolution. The goal of the book is to teach the basic concepts of evolution to an audience who has little to no prior learning of evolution, and we were that audience. Wilson, within the first few pages, explains his reasoning for writing this book. He discusses a college course that he developed for students just like us, who have a general knowledge of the concept of natural selection. His goal was to teach this course in a way that was not only interesting, but comprehensible for college level students who have had really no prior formal schooling of the subject. Wilson states that ever since he started this course he had students every year who opt to take it and come away with an appreciation, understanding, and new found knowledge of the subject. Since we are not able to be students of Wilson s, he has written this book on the basis of that course. It is with this book that Wilson tries to cover everything that he would within a semester. The students who take Wilson s course vary considerably; they all have different views in regards to the material. The goal of the course is not to condemn creationism or smite it. It also does not brainwash the students into believing that evolutionary theory is the only answer. Instead, Wilson presents the facts for his students. He takes his students into a world that is explained through careful observation and experimentation which allows the students to become engrossed with the development of species. It is about learning the facts and applying them in a way that is understandable, interesting, and does not jeopardize a person s beliefs. Students who have taken his course in the past sing its praises. One student stated that the course provides evidence that evolution is evident in everything. It revolutionized my way of viewing problems (http://evolution.binghamton.edu/dswilson/teaching.html). Another student recalls Wilson s course by stating I came into the class not knowing a lot about evolution. I now have an entirely new outlook on how evolution can be applied to many aspects of life (http://evolution.binghamton.edu/dswilson/teaching.html). Wilson s students seem to have thoroughly enjoyed the course and came away with a newfound appreciation and outlook on evolution. Teaching Methods In the book, Wilson comments that one of the first things he does each semester with his students is to have them make a list of traits that they consider evil and a list of traits that they consider good. After the students make their lists he asks them three questions; What will happen if you put a good person and an evil person together on a desert island?, What will happen if you put a group of good people on one island and a group of evil people on another island?, and What will happen if you allow one evil person to paddle over to Virtue Island (Wilson, 2007, p.31)? The student provide what most would consider typical responses. To the first question the students answer that the good person on an island with an evil person would end up dead. To the second question the students answer that the evil group on the island will essentially destroy itself, whereas the good group on the island will band together to either leave the island or exist on it. To the third question the students answers are not so certain. Will the evil person join the good people and contribute to the good of the civilization, or will the evil person take without giving anything back? The purpose of this exercise is for Wilson s students to understand evolution, especially concerning evolution occurring in groups. 63
Throughout the book Wilson asserts that evolution is understandable even at the basic level. One way he illustrates this point is by discussing the three points that comprise Darwin s theory of natural selection. The three points include variation, consequences, and heredity. To highlight these principles, Wilson uses an example of a moth, discussing the variation in appearance, capacity for survival, and the effects of heredity on survival and evolution. Wilson explains this concept with a style that is concise and easy to understand. Even without prior knowledge of the subject, we were able to read and interpret this example. Wilson gives numerous examples to highlight topics in evolution, such as the aforementioned moth example. However, he also teaches evolution by explaining various studies that he and other colleagues have done. He not only describes these studies to the fullest of detail, he also expresses that anyone can do them, and proceeds to explain how. For example, for the section on infanticide Wilson describes his experience studying the burying beetle. Wilson explains that because the burying beetle feeds off of dead carcasses that it drags to its home, and because the size of the carcass can vary, infanticide is necessary. In order for some of the offspring to survive to full adulthood, the burying beetle parents must eat some of them. The dead carcass may not be able to feed all of the offspring, so it is necessary for the burying beetle parents to practice infanticide. Wilson explains his experiment and tells the reader how to make their own burying beetle experiment. He encourages others to learn the facts for themselves and to question his assertions. Creationism and Evolution Prior to reading this book, we knew that the topic of creationism was going to be introduced. From the start Wilson expresses his notion that creationism and evolution can co-exist in the same world together. After describing his burying beetle experiment, Wilson explains the importance of facts. In this world there are numerous facts that give us explanations.. Without those facts we would have no understanding of how we became the species we are today. Wilson is not demeaning a person s belief of creationism. However, what he is trying to do is establish the fact that creationism does not answer the ultimate question why, whereas, natural selection at least makes predictions as to the question why. Religion itself is not a problem, but the facts need to be conveyed. We cannot ignore the scientific facts that are under our noses. Conclusion As we previously stated, we both have never taken an evolutionary course. We began reading this book knowing that it had something to do with evolution just by reading the title and seeing the pictures of the half Darwin- half monkey on the cover. Wilson s title conveys that the concept of evolution can be understood and accepted despite a person s background or beliefs. Does he successfully prove his claim? Did we come away with a gained knowledge of the subject? In our opinion, yes, Wilson does accomplish what he sets forth to do. He presented material in a way that allowed us to gain an understanding of the basic concepts of evolution and how they may be applied to everyday life situations. He goes beyond the basic concepts and expands the information with examples and research. 64
Before reading this book, we both thought of evolution in terms of the ape and its transformation into man. The images of the big bang theory entered our heads, with tiny organisms emerging and continually forming into new species. We knew Darwin s theory, but Wilson was able to break it down and explain it in terms that were simple, by giving examples that arose from his experiences with the subject. An exercise such as the good and evil people on the islands took the topic of social evolution and explained in great detail what it is. Wilson does this not by feeding his students or the reader the answers, but by having them critically think in depth about the subject. He has us come up with our own perceptions. His method is very effective. The topic of evolution, which for us, was never something that we were extremely interested in, was presented in a way that even the most uninterested person could appreciate. This book makes evolution more meaningful to us today. There are many reasons why this book is well written. In his book Wilson spends the first few chapters not only explaining his intentions for the purpose of the book, but also explains why learning about evolution is important. This is essential in that the reader is not only learning about evolution, but can also appreciate its role in our world. Readers do not feel like they are being lectured but are given the opportunity to explore a topic with the author. He establishes the topic and his own credibility. His candor can be greatly appreciated when he tries to incorporate creationism without being offensive or disrespectful towards those with non-evolutionary viewpoints. His casual tone can be appreciated by the reader when he addresses most researchers by their first name instead of formally. When he introduces each of the researchers the first time, he does so formally, but then he quickly establishes how he knows the researchers and from that moment on addresses them informally. He does not do this to be disrespectful, instead he explains that since he knows these people well, and when they are working together he addresses them by their first name, that it seems awkward to address them formally. This allows the reader to gain a sense of Wilson s relaxed atmosphere. It also gives the book a more relaxed conversational feel, as opposed to the reader feeling as though they are reading a research article. Another component that could attest to why Wilson has an affinity for writing literature could be the fact that his father was a writer himself. Although his father wrote such novels as The Man in the Gray Flannel Suite, Wilson determined that he couldn t be a novelist and so turned to science (Henig, 2007, p. 10). However, although he considers himself a scientist, Wilson proves his capability as a writer. The organization of Evolution for Everyone allows for smooth transitions that keep the reader engaged. As two undergraduates we were not intimidated by Wilson s writing because he outlines the book according to the course; it is very user friendly. The entire atmosphere of the book does seem to be geared towards a target audience. Since the book is based on his course that he teaches to college undergraduates, the reader is able to get the sense that he keeps this in mind when he explains and discusses the topic. The atmosphere is not stuffy and the material is not difficult. Instead of making the topic complicated and undesirable for his students, which may often be the case for other evolutionary courses, Wilson uses the appropriate vocabulary for his target audience. He also lightens the mood by making references to beer and orgasms in order to get his points across. This allows the reader to relate better to the author and the subject. 65
There is however, one shortcoming with this book. Wilson unfortunately is slightly redundant with his examples. The examples that he gives, some of which were mentioned earlier in this review, are very helpful in that they establish his points clearly. However, he does not need to give so many examples. The reader can surmise what he is driving at with one example. It is not a major shortcoming; however, it is noticeable to the reader and does take away some interest. It also makes the book longer than it really needs to be. After reading Evolution For Everyone, we became curious as to what others thought about this book. We wanted to compare what we gained from the book to what others gained. We were able to find two book reviews online which reflect what some members of Wilson s audience thought about this book. However, we did keep in mind that two book reviews is a small sample compared to the numerous readers that comprise Wilson s audience. The first review that we read came from the International Herald Tribune of the New York Times. Angier (2007) opens up this review with numerous analogies that all lead up to the existing dichotomy between creationism and the theory of evolution. Angier seemed to have some of the same conclusions that we did, but expressed them more eloquently. Angier stated that the book is a sprightly, absorbing and charmingly earnest [one] that manages a minor miracle, the near-complete emulsifying of science and the "real world," ingredients too often kept stubbornly, senselessly apart (Angier, 2007, p. 1). The author did state that when Wilson incorporates religion into his book that he sounds like a [ ] political candidate glad-handing the crowd (Angier, 2007, p. 1). Aside from a couple of gripes Angier seemed to enjoy reading the book. The second review came from a man who stated he was disappointed (Teich, 2007, p. 1). The reviewer, claiming to be an evolutionist, had read some reviews of the book and decided to read it. One of the things that frustrated the author was the lack of real examples (Teich, 2007, p. 1). The author states that his chapter on laughter is a good example: Lots of muttering, no scientific linkage and then a claim it must be evolutionary (Teich, 2007, p. 1). Teich seemed quite displeased with Wilson s book. He even asserts that readers will not learn about evolution by reading it. The final insult is when he states that as an evolutionist this book damages [the] cause, and [he] suggest[s] people avoid it (Teich, 2007, p. 1). Although Teich seemed displeased with the book, being readers who are typical of Wilson s target audience we strongly disagree with his opinions. In conclusion, the good far outweighs the bad with this book. The reader comes away with a newfound appreciation and understanding of the world around her. David Sloan Wilson is able to establish his point that natural selection is an essential theory that needs to be applied throughout all parts of life. In addition, he is able to establish his points without being offensive towards other people s beliefs, truly making this book for everyone. Overall, Evolution For Everyone is an instant classic for anyone who is looking for an introductory reading on evolution. Received April 1, 2007; Revision September 27, 2008; Accepted November 19, 2008 66
References Angier, N. (2007). Book review: Evolution for everyone. The International Herald Tribune: The Global Edition of the New York Times. Wilson, D. S. (2003). Teaching. Binghamton University website. Retrieved April 11, 2007 from: http://evolution.binghamton.edu/dswilson/teaching.html Henig, R. M. Darwin s God. (2007). The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2008 from http://www.nytimes.com Teich, D. A. (2007). Evolution as religion. Retrieved January 23, 2008 from: http://www.amazon.com/review/r2e7rvc20w32vm/ref=cm_cr_pr_vi ewpnt#r2e7rvc20w32vm Wilson, D. S. (2007). Evolution for everyone. New York: Delta Trade. 67