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Billions of Missing Links: A Rational Look at the Mysteries Evolution Can't Explain
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$ 14.07
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$ 15.99 |
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$ 1.92 (12%) |
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| Item Number |
53126 |
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Item Description...
Dr. Geoffrey Simmons focuses on the millions of structures and systems on the Earth that came about all at once, entire...with no preceding links, no subsequent links, no "sideways" links. To illustrate, he surveys examples like... the hummingbird and its circulatory system insects and insect-eating plants the role of the thousands of species of viruses chemical signals and the sensory apparatus that detects them the self-regulating capacity of the Earth's ocean/air/soil system It's clear: "Nature contains"only leaps, not links. "Only the intelligence and purpose of an all-powerful Designer can explain the intricate "creatures, connections, and "coincidences"" everywhere. Excellent for students and parents, especially homeschoolers, and for educators who want to present the "full picture." |
Item Specifications...
Pages 288
Dimensions: Length: 8.42" Width: 5.54" Height: 0.65"
Weight: 0.74 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Feb 1, 2007
Publisher Harvest House Publishers
ISBN 0736917462
EAN 9780736917469
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Availability 100 units.
Availability accurate as of May 26, 2012 04:08.
Usually ships within one to two business days from La Vergne, TN.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Appreciating the marvels of our world Mar 28, 2007 |
| Dr. Simmons has done his homework, and collected into this one volume hundreds of astounding feats in nature. While covering many different areas of nature, he is concise and does not belabor any one point. It is a fascinating read and one that is sure to please anyone who wishes to better appreciate the magnifacent world that we live in. | | |  | And Just How Plausible is Darwin's Theory? Mar 14, 2007 |
Despite living a century before Karl Popper, the great philosopher of Science, Darwin understood that any genuine scientific theory had to include the possibility of falsification. He therefore suggested in 1872 that if any complex organ (or organism) existed which could not have evolved from successive small steps or "modifications" that his theory would "ultimately break down." The bulk of this book by Geoffrey Simmons is an attempt to do just that. In it he quickly surveys the plant and animal kindoms and finds numerous instances of living organisms with traits so unique and highly adapted that, he argues, they could not have evolved in short successive steps.
Repeating the many examples Simmons offers would be beyond the scope of this review, but in general Simmons suggests two versions of his critique to Darwin's theory. The first is the lack of fossil antecedents. In his discussion of bats, for example, Simmons notes that bat fossils can be found over a period of 50 million years but each fossil shows clearly defined bat characteristics, including echolocation abilities and unique tendons that allow bats to easily hang upside down. There are, he notes, no obvious predecessors which perhaps occasionally fell (darn those unevolved tendons) or flew into cave walls (better sonar next time...). Similar points are made about the dragonfly.
Simmons's second critique, far more common than the first, is that it is impossible to imagine successful intermediate steps for some plant and animal traits. He notes that many species are so highly adapted that they have symbiotic relationships with other plants or animals. Since these behaviors and accompanying physical characteristics are so closely bound together, one has a hard time imagining just how these relationships could have evolved independently. One example of this is the Mojave Yucca and the Yucca Moth. Although it is not mentioned in this book, the relationship between the two is characterized in popular literature as a "mystery" of the desert. But this is only a mystery if one assumes Darwin's hypothesis of slight modifications. Other examples Simmons offers include resident bacteria within humans that allow us to utilize vitamin K.
As I read through the book, I found myself wondering, "How would a biologist who accepted the theory of evolution respond to all this?" Having read some of the popular literature from this perspective, I can imagine 3 quick responses with varying degrees of effectiveness. As to the fossil record, at least a few Darwinists will respond that only a small portion of fossils are preserved. We could easily find a bat predecessor tomorrow and pointing to the lack of fossil predecessors in some species is simply a "Designer [not God] in the Gaps" hypothesis. (Simmons correctly notes there is nothing specifically Christian in the design argument, though many Darwinists will disagree--their views on this matter reflect more their ignorance of theology than their knowledge of biology.) This is a fair point, but it must be noted that they are placing their faith in a "Darwin in the gaps" hypothesis. More to the point, however, if Darwin is correct, we should expect to find mostly intermediate fossils since successive slight modifications would leave more intermediate than modern fossils, even if only a small portion of all fossils are preserved. We emphatically do not find this, and that point suggests the weakness of this argument. But other arguments raised by Darwinists could be more effective. It should be noted, for example, that natural selection as understood by Darwin and his followers is supposed to explain adaptation. Simmons, they might argue, is vindicating their own thesis in pointing to several dramatic adaptations. Moreover, Simmons does not "deny" natural selection as such. He merely suggests it is not fully sufficient to account for all the variation and uniqueness we find in the natural world. Readers can decide for themselves how effective Simmons's examples are in his chapter on adaptation. I personally found them persuasive, but am willing to consider alternative interpretations.
But perhaps the most powerful argument a defender of Darwin could offer would be to take the opposite approach to Simmons altogether. Where Simmons has pointed to hundreds of examples of uniqueness among plants and animals in the natural world, a Darwinist (not a term they like, but much nicer and more accurate than the descriptions they make of ID theorists) might point to similarities in the animal kingdom. The human genome, they note, is very similar to that of a chimp (90-98%, depending on which source you read). Indeed, our genome shares about half the DNA sequences of a banana. Positive proof, they might argue, for a single tree of life. But then again, it could be DNA sequencing is not a very useful measure. Here again, readers will have to decide for themselves how persuasive the argument from similarity is against the evidence marshalled by Simmons.
In the end, however, I enjoyed the book. Written for a popular audience, this book offers a whirlwind tour through the natural world and its many wonders. Whether or not you find evolution convincing as an explanation for all, or merely some, of what Simmons describes, this is a fun read. So if you want a popular introduction to one aspect of intelligent design, or if you are simply curious about the amazing diversity to be found in life on this planet, this book is a worth your time in reading it. | | | | Fascinating Book Mar 13, 2007 |
Dr. Simmons starts every chapter with an appropriate quotation, either funny or relevant. Following the title and quote comes a facts packed, humorous look into a different aspect of the animal and plant world. This is a literary work revealing science. The sprinkling of tongue in cheek comments throughout the book was totally enjoyable.
I learned more interesting information about the animal kingdom from this book than I have gleaned in the rest of my life. Stories of the cell from hell, cockroaches running 3 times faster than cheetahs, the weaponry possessed by insects, hibernation and estivation, migration, etc. etc. etc. kept me entertained, amazed, and edified all at the same time. My appreciation for bacteria and even viruses went from zero to 90 in 4 pages.
To top it off the book finished with the most succinct argument against common descent, nondirected evolution that I have seen. After having had time to fully digest this, I label it a culinary masterpiece.
I recommend that all home school and private schools use this book
and also What Darwin Did Not Know, Dr. Simmons similar book on the human race, for classroom material.
| | | | Darwin's theories have now become historical interest only Mar 10, 2007 |
| The book says it all. Darwin is truly dead. Modern science has not made the theory of evolution more believable, it has made it less believable, simply fiction. Forget the agenda by saboteurs who try to dissuade readers and see for yourself. You won't be able to put it down -- you won't ever think the same again. | | |  | An Evolutionist's nightmare Mar 10, 2007 |
Along with Dr. Simmons other book, "What Darwin Didn't Know", "Billions of Missing Links" is an astonishing rebuttal to evoutionary Darwinism. The amount of his data in the biological world is a staggering appraisal of factual biological information from a physician who has his facts straight.
It would be a wonderful book to be made available to students being seduced in our educational system by not having all the facts available.
It is that which freightens evolutionary "science", for this information would cause students to think.
Dr. Irvin Forbing | | | Write your own review about Billions of Missing Links: A Rational Look at the Mysteries Evolution Can't Explain
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