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Shattering the Myths of Darwinism
Compelling evidence that the most important assumptions on which Darwinism rests are wrong.
The controversial best-seller that sent Oxford University and Nature magazine into a frenzy has at last come to the United States. Shattering the Myths of Darwinism exposes the gaping holes in an ideology that has reigned unchallenged over the scientific world for a century. Darwinism is considered to be hard fact, the only acceptable explanation for the formation of life on Earth, but with keen insight and objectivity Richard Milton reveals that the theory totters atop a shambles of outdated and circumstantial evidence which in any less controversial field would have been questioned long ago. Sticking to the facts at hand and tackling a vast array of topics, Shattering the Myths of Darwinism offers compelling evidence that the theory of evolution has become an act of faith rather than a functioning science, and that not until the scientific method is applied to it and the right questions are asked will we ever get the true answers to the mystery of life on Earth.
The controversial best-seller that sent Oxford University and Nature magazine into a frenzy has at last come to the United States. Shattering the Myths of Darwinism exposes the gaping holes in an ideology that has reigned unchallenged over the scientific world for a century. Darwinism is considered to be hard fact, the only acceptable explanation for the formation of life on Earth, but with keen insight and objectivity Richard Milton reveals that the theory totters atop a shambles of outdated and circumstantial evidence which in any less controversial field would have been questioned long ago. Sticking to the facts at hand and tackling a vast array of topics, Shattering the Myths of Darwinism offers compelling evidence that the theory of evolution has become an act of faith rather than a functioning science, and that not until the scientific method is applied to it and the right questions are asked will we ever get the true answers to the mystery of life on Earth.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Richard Milton
25 books66 followersRichard Milton is a journalist and writer who writes stories most sensible people wouldn't touch with a bargepole.
His best-selling critique of Darwinism as an ideology, Shattering the Myths of Darwinism, caused a storm of controversy. His study of Anglo-German relations, Best of Enemies, has been turned into a film for German and British television. His latest non-fiction title, The Ministry of Spin, reveals how the Post-war Labour government used the facilities of the wartime Ministry of Information in secret for propaganda purposes.
His book about corporate misbehaviour, Bad Company, was chosen by The Sunday Times as its Book of The Week.
Milton also writes offbeat fiction: Dead Secret, is a mystery of the paranormal in everyday life. Investigative journalist Tony Gabriel stumbles onto his biggest ever story when he inherits the papers of a long-dead historian - and finds himself the target of an ancient secret society. Are they just rich, powerful people playing an elaborate game, or have they truly gained the power to see into the future?
His book, The Glass Harmonica, is a mystery thriller. Concert pianist Julia Franklin is heir to an inheritance worth a billion dollars - enough to bankrupt America's oldest bank when the trust matures. Miles Bartholemew, of Bartholemew Equity and Trust, has to find the heirs of the Franklin trust and deal with them permanently, before his family's bank is ruined.
A third crime thriller is, Conjuring For Beginners. When legendary con-artist Ferdy Daniels dies alone and penniless, his daughter, Rosa, inherits his victims, who are convinced she was his partner in crime. To keep one jump ahead of them - and stay alive - Rosa must unravel Ferdy's web of deceits. But to re-trace her father's footsteps, she must learn to become as quick-witted and cunning as Ferdy, the master magician.
Finally, True Stories: Mysteries of Crime and Punishment, is a collection of short stories with a difference. Every story in the book is true - except one. Some tell of crimes that have gone unpunished by the law. Some are crimes against laws that are unwritten. And some are crimes that exist only in the mind.
His best-selling critique of Darwinism as an ideology, Shattering the Myths of Darwinism, caused a storm of controversy. His study of Anglo-German relations, Best of Enemies, has been turned into a film for German and British television. His latest non-fiction title, The Ministry of Spin, reveals how the Post-war Labour government used the facilities of the wartime Ministry of Information in secret for propaganda purposes.
His book about corporate misbehaviour, Bad Company, was chosen by The Sunday Times as its Book of The Week.
Milton also writes offbeat fiction: Dead Secret, is a mystery of the paranormal in everyday life. Investigative journalist Tony Gabriel stumbles onto his biggest ever story when he inherits the papers of a long-dead historian - and finds himself the target of an ancient secret society. Are they just rich, powerful people playing an elaborate game, or have they truly gained the power to see into the future?
His book, The Glass Harmonica, is a mystery thriller. Concert pianist Julia Franklin is heir to an inheritance worth a billion dollars - enough to bankrupt America's oldest bank when the trust matures. Miles Bartholemew, of Bartholemew Equity and Trust, has to find the heirs of the Franklin trust and deal with them permanently, before his family's bank is ruined.
A third crime thriller is, Conjuring For Beginners. When legendary con-artist Ferdy Daniels dies alone and penniless, his daughter, Rosa, inherits his victims, who are convinced she was his partner in crime. To keep one jump ahead of them - and stay alive - Rosa must unravel Ferdy's web of deceits. But to re-trace her father's footsteps, she must learn to become as quick-witted and cunning as Ferdy, the master magician.
Finally, True Stories: Mysteries of Crime and Punishment, is a collection of short stories with a difference. Every story in the book is true - except one. Some tell of crimes that have gone unpunished by the law. Some are crimes against laws that are unwritten. And some are crimes that exist only in the mind.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 10, 2008
Another one that's hard to actually label non-fiction. A horrible mishmash of made up stuff and wild speculation. How anyone could so firmly throw decades of good science out the window just because he doesn't want to believe it, is beyond me.
Don't look for reason and rationality in this book.
Don't look for reason and rationality in this book.
April 13, 2011
Ahh..Mr Milton joins the hallowed league of Mr. Michael Behe & The Discovery Institute....This books famously celebrates his ignorance in evolutionary biology and shatters the myth that he is of a sound, rational & scientific mind!!!!
January 2, 2008
What a brilliant book!
I was with a Geophysicist in Paris last year and he was one of the Scientists who mapped out the Techtonics Plates on the Ocean Bed. It was in the 70's and they used a 'mobile' computer on board, which measured about 15' by 12'!
When I read Milton's book I was staggered that the 'fact' of evolution had never been seriously questioned before.
It takes a great deal of faith to believe in the great Darwin.... that we came from primates....why aren't they still changing then...pretty convenient if you ask me....that they are all either primates or humans....or dogs or giraffes.....or elephants or tigers.....need I go on?
Read this book if you want to think again....and if you are brave enough to consider that there might, just might, be a Great Designer, after all.
Anyway, back to my Geophysicist...after he had lovingly and painstakingly shown me around the Museum of Paleontology and the Museum of Evolution....I remember asking him a question....we were in a glass lift and falling slowly....
"This evolution stuff," I asked, "what good does it do?"
For once he was stumped....totally speechless.
Enjoy the book! CK
I was with a Geophysicist in Paris last year and he was one of the Scientists who mapped out the Techtonics Plates on the Ocean Bed. It was in the 70's and they used a 'mobile' computer on board, which measured about 15' by 12'!
When I read Milton's book I was staggered that the 'fact' of evolution had never been seriously questioned before.
It takes a great deal of faith to believe in the great Darwin.... that we came from primates....why aren't they still changing then...pretty convenient if you ask me....that they are all either primates or humans....or dogs or giraffes.....or elephants or tigers.....need I go on?
Read this book if you want to think again....and if you are brave enough to consider that there might, just might, be a Great Designer, after all.
Anyway, back to my Geophysicist...after he had lovingly and painstakingly shown me around the Museum of Paleontology and the Museum of Evolution....I remember asking him a question....we were in a glass lift and falling slowly....
"This evolution stuff," I asked, "what good does it do?"
For once he was stumped....totally speechless.
Enjoy the book! CK
January 5, 2015
Several scientific theories have been condemned by religions, since Galileo and Copernicus. But Darwin´s hypothesis (I prefer to call it hypothesis rather than theory) is probably the only one that has been turned into a religion itself. Darwinists react with emotion to any data suggesting that evolution has not been totally explained by Darwin.
In Shattering the Myths of Darwinism, Richard Milton lists a number of scientific data, which he accumulated after years of research as a journalist, together with some logical arguments of his own, showing that evolution is far from being explained. Milton is not motivated by religious beliefs like others before him, nor does he fall into the most common trap used by Darwinists represented by the phrase “if you think this is not the explanation, what is your explanation?” As any of us who know epistemology, he clearly knows that in investigative science, as in criminal investigation, you can refuse to believe in one explanation even if you don´t have a better one; “We don´t know” is a statement that scientists have forgotten recently (and unfortunately). Some of Milton´s arguments are discussible, but doesn´t this fact emphasize that the whole hypothesis cannot be accepted without discussion? This book is a must-read.
In Shattering the Myths of Darwinism, Richard Milton lists a number of scientific data, which he accumulated after years of research as a journalist, together with some logical arguments of his own, showing that evolution is far from being explained. Milton is not motivated by religious beliefs like others before him, nor does he fall into the most common trap used by Darwinists represented by the phrase “if you think this is not the explanation, what is your explanation?” As any of us who know epistemology, he clearly knows that in investigative science, as in criminal investigation, you can refuse to believe in one explanation even if you don´t have a better one; “We don´t know” is a statement that scientists have forgotten recently (and unfortunately). Some of Milton´s arguments are discussible, but doesn´t this fact emphasize that the whole hypothesis cannot be accepted without discussion? This book is a must-read.
November 28, 2007
Takes a truly scientific approach to Darwinism. Without getting 'preachy'. There may be evidence that the earth is younger than we are currently teaching in our school systems and no one is listening. Just because this evidence supports a 'religious' theory, does not make it less valid.
This book doesn't go too far into the religious part of the debate. Just the evidence that Darwinism and the theories based on it, could be completely off base.
Very interesting.
This book doesn't go too far into the religious part of the debate. Just the evidence that Darwinism and the theories based on it, could be completely off base.
Very interesting.
March 29, 2020
Why would somebody who is not a Creationist (or vitalist) spend 10 years to write a book that deconstructs Darwinism?
It's actually quite simple. Milton says his immediate reason for writing it was because his 9-year-old daughter was developing an interest in natural history and was beginning to have science lessons at her school in England. Milton writes:
"The fact that Julia is beginning to absorb the general theory of evolution has been giving me sleepless nights. Is Julia being taught the truth? Or is she - and are we - being serious misled?"
Milton assures us that his "serious" concern has nothing to do with religion, that it arises from "purely rational grounds." And he is true to his word. Milton spends the rest of the book methodically and rationally picking apart all the central pillars of Darwinism:
The myth of radiometric dating
The myth of uniformitarian geology
The myth of the gradualist fossil record
The myth of beneficial mutations
The myth of natural selection
The myth that evolution is blind
The myth of the beak of the finch
The myth of biogenetic law
The myth of vestigial organs
The myth of homology
The myth of the 'missing link'
Prior to this book, I didn't realize that orthodox Darwinism relies on uniform gradual accumulation of sediment (uniformitarianism); it does not allow for cataclysms that could significantly alter the geological record (catastrophism).
Yet the geological record does not in any way support the orthodox gradualist view. Milton proves this well.
One of the more interesting parts of this book is where Milton describes the reaction of the scientific community to the publication of his book. Surprise: It was not good. In fact, Milton faced ad hominem attacks, slander, and censorship. He was shocked by this.
I suppose if it's your first time challenging the status quo, you might expected a different response. But I've been in Milton's shoes many times, and I've come to expect the sort of irrational retaliation Milton experienced.
Although it took me a couple of chapters to get into this book, I found it to be quite compelling once I got going. Ultimately, it's a very stimulating and gratifying read. I highly recommend it.
NOTE: I read the Kindle version, which does have some occasional minor formatting and punctuation issues. But please do not let that color your opinion of the content of this book.
It's actually quite simple. Milton says his immediate reason for writing it was because his 9-year-old daughter was developing an interest in natural history and was beginning to have science lessons at her school in England. Milton writes:
"The fact that Julia is beginning to absorb the general theory of evolution has been giving me sleepless nights. Is Julia being taught the truth? Or is she - and are we - being serious misled?"
Milton assures us that his "serious" concern has nothing to do with religion, that it arises from "purely rational grounds." And he is true to his word. Milton spends the rest of the book methodically and rationally picking apart all the central pillars of Darwinism:
The myth of radiometric dating
The myth of uniformitarian geology
The myth of the gradualist fossil record
The myth of beneficial mutations
The myth of natural selection
The myth that evolution is blind
The myth of the beak of the finch
The myth of biogenetic law
The myth of vestigial organs
The myth of homology
The myth of the 'missing link'
Prior to this book, I didn't realize that orthodox Darwinism relies on uniform gradual accumulation of sediment (uniformitarianism); it does not allow for cataclysms that could significantly alter the geological record (catastrophism).
Yet the geological record does not in any way support the orthodox gradualist view. Milton proves this well.
One of the more interesting parts of this book is where Milton describes the reaction of the scientific community to the publication of his book. Surprise: It was not good. In fact, Milton faced ad hominem attacks, slander, and censorship. He was shocked by this.
I suppose if it's your first time challenging the status quo, you might expected a different response. But I've been in Milton's shoes many times, and I've come to expect the sort of irrational retaliation Milton experienced.
Although it took me a couple of chapters to get into this book, I found it to be quite compelling once I got going. Ultimately, it's a very stimulating and gratifying read. I highly recommend it.
NOTE: I read the Kindle version, which does have some occasional minor formatting and punctuation issues. But please do not let that color your opinion of the content of this book.
May 27, 2015
What amazes me most is that when a scientific theory is called into question, people generally respond, "Well, that's how science works. We test, re-test, re-examine, and re-evaluate the evidence." However, when this theory is Darwin's theory of evolution, anyone questioning it is automatically labeled "a creationist" or "stupid" or "anti-science."
Milton's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the neverending evolution/creation debates in schools and in the media. The problem is not so much Darwinism as a scientific theory but, rather, Darwinism as an ideology or dogma: something that cannot be questioned. Richard Dawkins once insinuated that anyone who didn't believe in Darwin's theory was stupid or insane or wicked. An intelligent scientist, armed with incontrovertable evidence that evolution has occurred, would simply argue the evidence at hand; Dawkins, instead, slings ad hominem attacks at Darwin detractors. That's not science. That's dogmatism and I would expect better from a Ph.D.-level Oxford professor.
The fact that Dawkins campaigned to have an article written by Milton suppressed shows his true intent: in this case, science has become ideology. Scientists and science journalists like Milton should be able to rationally and intelligently discuss and debate the problems with Darwinian evolution. Unfortunately, today the theory has become politicized and polarizable: you're either a Darwinian atheist or a born-again fundamentalist who hates science. There should be room for a middle ground where rational discussion takes place.
Milton's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the neverending evolution/creation debates in schools and in the media. The problem is not so much Darwinism as a scientific theory but, rather, Darwinism as an ideology or dogma: something that cannot be questioned. Richard Dawkins once insinuated that anyone who didn't believe in Darwin's theory was stupid or insane or wicked. An intelligent scientist, armed with incontrovertable evidence that evolution has occurred, would simply argue the evidence at hand; Dawkins, instead, slings ad hominem attacks at Darwin detractors. That's not science. That's dogmatism and I would expect better from a Ph.D.-level Oxford professor.
The fact that Dawkins campaigned to have an article written by Milton suppressed shows his true intent: in this case, science has become ideology. Scientists and science journalists like Milton should be able to rationally and intelligently discuss and debate the problems with Darwinian evolution. Unfortunately, today the theory has become politicized and polarizable: you're either a Darwinian atheist or a born-again fundamentalist who hates science. There should be room for a middle ground where rational discussion takes place.
July 30, 2009
one of the first of many scientific refutations of darwinism .. augmented later by chaos and complexity computation at places like santa fe institute in the 1990's [e.g. kauffman, langton, goodwin:] darwins definition of a mainframe would have been an abacus !!!
December 2, 2018
I read this book in high school, was very impressed by it -- I launched into a long running argument with a school mate about whether evolution was true. I particularly recall the over-the-top criticism from Richard Dawkins which the publishers had printed on the back cover!
February 10, 2014
Excellent reading. It amazes me that elementary schools and the like still teach so definitely that the earth is so old when there is no instrument that can estimate such numbers. This book makes one want to delve further into the real truths.
Read
July 28, 2011Excellent, scientifically-accurate book that asks some hard questions.
April 30, 2014
Another book that easily disputes the myth of Darwinism in a easy to read work.
December 29, 2019
The reason that the theory of Evolution has such an uncontested ride is that all the objections to it are simply ignored as if they don't exist. Richard Milton has assembled a compelling and serious case that Darwinian Evolution, or NeoDarwinian Evolution if you prefer, is so seriously flawed as to be not worth accepting. Many of these objections are so longstanding as to go back to Darwin's own time, such as the lack of fossil evidence for intermediate stages of evolutionary development, while other objections are of much more recent origin. Taken together as a whole Milton presents a damning case. The facts of the matter are that Evolution depends on the same kind of bullying and political machinations as other such authoritarian ideologies ranging from the Christian Right to the Secular Left. Darwinism is a kind of Marx-Engelism or Calvinism set loose in science. There are those who will be extremely skeptical of this kind of claim. Well, I advise them to read this book and make up their own mind on the matter. I read this book with great care and found it very impressive and persuasive.
November 21, 2019
Urban legend
Milton has a list of 7 or 8 myths that Darwin's theory consists of, like evolution on a long timeline with natural selection and mutation that builds better species. The really big thing he points out is that no remains have been found of transition species. And this applies to all animals, including Man. This book was a great read!
Milton has a list of 7 or 8 myths that Darwin's theory consists of, like evolution on a long timeline with natural selection and mutation that builds better species. The really big thing he points out is that no remains have been found of transition species. And this applies to all animals, including Man. This book was a great read!
July 17, 2022
SPOILER: No, this is not a creationist book.
There are some dry chapters (all science is not exciting) but there are also many quite interesting chapters. Just remember, science should not be a religion that is taken on faith when evidence is lacking.
If you fear thinking, don’t read this book. If you wish to examine rational, logical evidence and thought, give it a go!
There are some dry chapters (all science is not exciting) but there are also many quite interesting chapters. Just remember, science should not be a religion that is taken on faith when evidence is lacking.
If you fear thinking, don’t read this book. If you wish to examine rational, logical evidence and thought, give it a go!
June 5, 2013
Extremely interesting. Writing style flows nicely and is not overly complicated.
January 30, 2019
Fine read from a Secular science writer on the serious flaws in Darwinism!! Great stuff! It also makes Richard Dawkins froth at his mouth so that is an extra plus! Ha ha.....
May 26, 2020
Ignorant, anti-scientific garbage, easily refutable by anyone with a basic high school education in biology.
August 14, 2020
An excellent Critique
A brilliant , intelligent critique of Neo Darwinian dogma. In depth research , great depth and really well written. I found this book very inspiring.
A brilliant , intelligent critique of Neo Darwinian dogma. In depth research , great depth and really well written. I found this book very inspiring.
June 6, 2021
This book goes through numerous scientific studies that are presented as challenging Darwinism. This is an excellent book to read if you wish to understand scientific arguments against Darwinism.
March 12, 2024
This is a very profound look at the very old view of evolution. Interestingly, it doesn't matter what your view is spiritually speaking, all you really need is an open, logical, inquisitive mind and you can glean much from this book. "Shattering the Myths"... re-examines time lines, fossils, archeological, geographical evidence as well as scientific studies and research from many different sources to see if the hard facts jibe with the theory of evolution. It may be time for a reimagining of how things evolve, how long evolution takes, and how old the earth may actually be and what the evidence is truly telling us about this theory, unchallenged and unchanged in more than a century of scientific discoveries and advancement in technologies. Is Darwinism right or wrong or somewhere in between? This book will leave that up to the reader to decide. No matter what your opinion this is definitely a very interesting, and intriguing book that ALL inquiring and curious minded and truth-seeking, "make up my own minders" should WANT to read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews