Shaking The Foundation: Charles Darwin and The Theory of Evolution

"I cannot think that the world, as we see it, is the result of chance; & yet I cannot look at each separate thing as the result of design." English naturalist Charles Darwin wrote this in 1860, a year after publishing his theory of evolution. His words show the personal struggle of a man forced by his own observations to answer the fundamental question—Where do we come from?—in a revolutionary new way.

Darwin's internal battle reflects a broader public struggle—the attempt to reconcile scientific fact with religious faith. Shaking the Foundation: Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution follows this battle, from the supporting theories of fellow scientists, to the opposing voices of clergymen, to twenty-first-century supporters of Intelligent Design. Through quotations from letters and other contemporary sources, you'll meet the personalities and ideas involved in the debate. You'll also examine some of the legal cases that brought evolution into the U.S. courtroom. These cases include the famous Scopes trial in 1925 and the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case in 2005, which tested a school policy requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design. Through these and other debates, you'll learn more about the struggle over one of life's most profound questions.

"Part biography, part science, part history, this provocatively titled book takes readers from the Industrial Revolution through today, explaining how Darwin developed his theory of evolution. Although Darwin never actually used the term 'evolution' (he most often used the phrase 'descent with modification') his theory 'shook the foundation' of long-held religious beliefs and scientific theories. Many important and fascinating primary source photos, illustrations, and diagrams, as well as interesting sidebars, add to the accessible and well-written text. In eight chapters, Johnson presents the information in a factual, informative style. Johnson also discusses the work and ideas drawn from Darwin's work, including transmutation, uniformitarianism, eugenics, social Darwinism, and intelligent design. Back matter includes a glossary, source notes, selected bibliography, suggested reading, and an index." --BayViews

"Author Sylvia Johnson brings her experience as an award-winning writer and editor of nonfiction science and history titles for young people to her biographical account of Charles Darwin. In a perfectly outlined text complete with historical facts, pictures, and informative sidebars, Darwin's theory from its conception to its promotion are explored. The book begins with a brief discussion on the Industrial Revolution and leads into an overview of the social conditions of Great Britain and the struggle to gain independence from the crown. It discusses the struggles between science and theology--how radical scientists were exploring and unearthing the earth's layers and discovering fossils and animal remains that would oppose the Book of Genesis upheld for centuries by the church. This is all backdrop to providing an understanding of the social disagreement scientists and free-thinkers had to face with the awakening of discoveries that lent support to evolution. These discoveries were confrontational and largely refuted by those associated with the church; however, despite this controversy, the new information fueled the passion of lead scientists and naturalists, such as Darwin, to forge new paths in science.

"Darwin's original conclusions on natural selection/evolution were controversial from the start, with even Darwin initially finding his research at odds with the religious convictions of his youth. Controversy still remains, as Johnson notes in her lucid text, with the scientific world agreeing with Darwin and other scientists, and a good portion of the religious sector in adamant support of intelligent design. Johnson takes on the 'evolution' of Darwin's original theory and presents a history of the social and scientific uproar it has engendered over the years. Embellished with small information boxes (many containing brief biographical notes on other scientists or persons related to Darwin's work), graced with numerous quotations, and liberally sprinkled with black-and-white photos and illustrations, the text follows a historical procession to the present day, including the quarrels of creationists and evolutionists in regard to school curricula. The author's research is revealed in her source notes, and in a 'selected' bibliography, as is a solid list of websites and further readings. Unfortunately the latter does not include Laurence Pringle's excellent Billions of Years (Boyds Mills, 2011). All in all, this is a clear, forthright look at the startling conclusions drawn from a scientist's research and the enormous ramifications of his conclusions. Well done, and well worth reading." --School Library Journal

"This book provides a fresh look at Charles Darwin's life and work, including the controversy that has surrounded his ideas up to the present day. Johnson chronicles Darwin's childhood influences, his education, and the five-year voyage that was the basis of his theory. She includes the progression of Darwin's theories by others into social Darwinism, which influenced segregation laws and Hitler's policies. The ensuing controversy between Darwin's origin of life theories and religious organizations is well-documented from the early 1900s to current theories of intelligent design. Johnson provides a balanced and well-researched book on a complex and controversial subject. She includes extensive end notes including suggested reading, source notes, and a selected bibliography. Primary source documents such as diary entries, letters, and sketches by Darwin and other well-known scientists of the era complement the text." --Library Media Connection

"Perhaps no other man of science has proven to be so socially and academically controversial in the modern era as Charles Darwin. This title is not about Darwin's specific scientific theories but rather his attempts to reconcile his own notions about nature with the belief systems of himself and the society in which he lived. Readers may be surprised to learn that Darwin was not the first scientist to fall out of line with official church teachings on topics such as the age of the earth, transmutation, and intelligent design, or that he has been tied to many thoughts that never existed during his own lifetime, like eugenics and social Darwinism. Johnson's clear text draws heavily on primary source material, including Darwin's own scientific works and autobiography, and the red-hued design, with plenty of black-and-white photos, is excellent. This book presents Darwin in the context of a scientific community and successfully clarifies his personal impact on a variety of philosophies and controversies now synonymous with his name." --Booklist