The Greatest Show On Earth

The Mad Hatter · 03-09-2009 12:36am #1

Didn't know this was out yet - it's on special offer in Waterstones (or at least in Waterstones on Good Bookshop St.) for less than a tenner.

I've read a few extracts online, and the first chapter - it seems very good.

Turtwig · 03-09-2009 12:40am

It's out:eek::eek:

Eh so is this just lOOK THERE EVIDENCE!!!

Or the wonders of evolution??

marco_polo · 03-09-2009 12:53am

I thought this was a week from now?

* Breaks open piggy back

Actually at only a tenner I could probably stretch to getting a copy for Kevin Myers too.

Zillah · 03-09-2009 1:22am

marco_polo wrote: »

Actually at only a tenner I could probably stretch to getting a copy for Kevin Myers too.

Why bother, he's probably already written a response to it. Hell, I could have written his response by now.

Galvasean · 03-09-2009 1:34am

Kevin Myers wrote:

But what the emminent high priest of Atheism fails to realise is; this is not the greatest show on Earth. That honour goes to Fawlty Towers. With Dawkins having so much trouble grasping such a simple concept it is small wonder his book fails to ignite a sense of wonderment.

Not far off I'll bet.

Turtwig · 03-09-2009 1:47am

Right Extracts are good,

What saddens me though is that this book is somewhat necessary in todays modern society

Anyhu, bedtime for me, eyes are burning

Dave! · 03-09-2009 1:54am

aww deadly, will have to drop into Waterstones, thanks for the heads up !

Overblood · 03-09-2009 2:08am

Savage Cabbage.

MrPudding · 03-09-2009 8:44am

Sweet. Will have it tomorrow, god bless you amazon... er I mean um, way to go amazon!

MrP

Dades · 03-09-2009 9:29am

Mad Hatter - to clarify - this book is out and available in Waterstones?

All stores or just the one you were in?

The Mad Hatter · 03-09-2009 9:44am

Dades wrote: »

Mad Hatter - to clarify - this book is out and available in Waterstones?

All stores or just the one you were in?

The book is out, yes, and I got it in Waterstones on...er...can never remember the name of the street, but it's around the corner from Nassau St., and is the street with Waterstones and Hodges & Figgis on it (hence Good Bookshop Street).

Dawkins posted on Twitter that the book is out "today", so I have a funny feeling WS took it out of the package early.

The Mad Hatter · 03-09-2009 9:50am

Malty_T wrote: »

Right Extracts are good,

What saddens me though is that this book is somewhat necessary in todays modern society

Anyhu, bedtime for me, eyes are burning

Maybe, but this book is just what I need, I think. I've read some of The Selfish Gene and found it interesting but heavy; GSOE is very straightforward, and even has illustrations and photos.

Dades · 03-09-2009 1:44pm

Just back from Waterstones on Dawson St - I can confirm they have stacks of them (less one) at half-price... €16.99 reduced to €8.50!

I'm wondering what the heck is all that about - but happy days nonetheless.

Tim Robbins · 03-09-2009 2:00pm

Dades wrote: »

Just back from Waterstones on Dawson St - I can confirm they have stacks of them (less one) at half-price... €16.99 reduced to €8.50!

I'm wondering what the heck is all that about - but happy days nonetheless.

Is it not just another book about evolution?

He's done about 8 or 9 already.

Dades · 03-09-2009 2:28pm

There's a name for people who read one book about where we came from and call it a day.

Tim Robbins · 03-09-2009 2:47pm

Dades wrote: »

There's a name for people who read one book about where we came from and call it a day.

There's also a name for people who have to keep reading about the same thing which forms their world view :-)

I have read a few of his books already. Including 'The Ancestors Tale' which took a jolly while.

I am just wondering is this just more belief massaging for the Dawkins' brigade.

Dades · 03-09-2009 3:31pm

I find your attitude odd, and clearly prompted by a dislike of Dawkins.

I haven't read a book concerning evolution since the Blind Watchmaker many years ago. Time and alcohol have wiped out most of what I read, and undoubtedly the science has been updated since it was published.

The Blind Watchmaker (1986) -- > The Greatest Show On Earth (2009)

Hardly fanboyism to decide to read Dawkins' latest given he is one of the most prominent writers in the realm of popular biology. Or is Dawkins just sooooo 2007?

Zombrex · 03-09-2009 3:56pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Is it not just another book about evolution?

He's done about 8 or 9 already.

Would you prefer he wrote a book about Lego?

Turtwig · 03-09-2009 4:11pm

Wicknight wrote: »

Would you prefer he wrote a book about Lego?

Well now, Lego happens to be the most ingenious toy in the world

That's gonna be my book:p

Tim Robbins · 03-09-2009 4:16pm

Dades wrote: »

I find your attitude odd, and clearly prompted by a dislike of Dawkins.

I think he's a brilliant writer but I think it's sad that all he writes about is evolution.

I haven't read a book concerning evolution since the Blind Watchmaker many years ago. Time and alcohol have wiped out most of what I read, and undoubtedly the science has been updated since it was published.

The Blind Watchmaker (1986) -- > The Greatest Show On Earth (2009)

Hardly fanboyism to decide to read Dawkins' latest given he is one of the most prominent writers in the realm of popular biology. Or is Dawkins just sooooo 2007?

I read Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, Blind WatchMaker and River out of Eden in the last 2 years. I also started another:

"Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder" hoping it might be about some other aspects of Science but it was just the same old stuff about DNA, evolution and fossils.

If someone keeps saying the same thing - does it not get a bit monotonous after a while?

Other science writers, e.g. Carl Sagan would write about a wider range of topics. It's a pity Dawkins doesn't do that because he's a fantastic writer.

Tim Robbins · 03-09-2009 4:17pm

Wicknight wrote: »

Would you prefer he wrote a book about Lego?

There's a good analogy with lego and atoms in Sophie's World so I am sure he has brought that into his writing somewhere.

Turtwig · 03-09-2009 4:42pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I think he's a brilliant writer but I think it's sad that all he writes about is evolution.

I read Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, Blind WatchMaker and River out of Eden in the last 2 years. I also started another:

"Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder" hoping it might be about some other aspects of Science but it was just the same old stuff about DNA, evolution and fossils.

If someone keeps saying the same thing - does it not get a bit monotonous after a while?

Other science writers, e.g. Carl Sagan would write about a wider range of topics. It's a pity Dawkins doesn't do that because he's a fantastic writer.

I'm with Tim on this one, Dawkins is a brilliant individual but his books seem to be trotting over the same ground again and again. I want something new, you know, about recent discoveries/theories in biology.

OT,
Yeah that lego analogy about Lego, is simply brilliant,
even if it only goes as far as protons,neutrons and electrons ....

Dades · 03-09-2009 4:44pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I read Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, Blind WatchMaker and River out of Eden in the last 2 years...

Well then you'd be forgiven for not reading his latest. I've been reading Sci-Fi for the last two years.

Tim Robbins wrote: »

If someone keeps saying the same thing - does it not get a bit monotonous after a while?

Only if you've read them.

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Other science writers, e.g. Carl Sagan would write about a wider range of topics. It's a pity Dawkins doesn't do that because he's a fantastic writer.

I don't think Dawkins has the charisma to carry it off like CS could, tbh. He too much of a frustrated scientist rather than a populariser. Carl Sagan also had the imagination.

Tim Robbins · 03-09-2009 5:24pm

Dades wrote: »

Well then you'd be forgiven for not reading his latest. I've been reading Sci-Fi for the last two years.

Sci - fi = yuke.
Don't know how anyone can read this genre. Glorified psuedo-science.

Dave! · 03-09-2009 5:31pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I think he's a brilliant writer but I think it's sad that all he writes about is evolution.

I read Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, Blind WatchMaker and River out of Eden in the last 2 years. I also started another:

"Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder" hoping it might be about some other aspects of Science but it was just the same old stuff about DNA, evolution and fossils.

If someone keeps saying the same thing - does it not get a bit monotonous after a while?

Other science writers, e.g. Carl Sagan would write about a wider range of topics. It's a pity Dawkins doesn't do that because he's a fantastic writer.

You may find his previous book to be on a topic other than evolution..... the God Delusion......

Anyways got my copy in Eason for €18... Not quite the same bargain as Waterstones

That is unless you consider €8 + €2 + €2 (bus fare each way) + €5 for the effort of having to go into town, and the lack of being able to read it tonight

= €17

Pretty much the same

Dades · 03-09-2009 5:31pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Sci - fi = yuke.
Don't know how anyone can read this genre. Glorified psuedo-science.

There are loads of types of sci-fi.

Have you read (not watched) "Contact" by Carl Sagan?

You just might like it.

marco_polo · 03-09-2009 5:58pm

Dave! wrote: »

You may find his previous book to be on a topic other than evolution..... the God Delusion......

Anyways got my copy in Eason for €18... Not quite the same bargain as Waterstones That is unless you consider €8 + €2 + €2 (bus fare each way) + €5 for the effort of having to go into town, and the lack of being able to read it tonight

= €17

Pretty much the same

8 Euro + ten minute walk home = 10 Euro extra for beer and ample reading time :P

The Mad Hatter · 03-09-2009 6:31pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Sci - fi = yuke.
Don't know how anyone can read this genre. Glorified psuedo-science.

Seems like a gross generalisation to me. I don't think it's wise to bracket any genre under a single umbrella.

Also, you assume that the science is the point.

The Mad Hatter · 03-09-2009 6:33pm

Malty_T wrote: »

Well now, Lego happens to be the most ingenious toy in the world
That's gonna be my book:p

The Selfish 4-dot Brick?

Naz_st · 03-09-2009 6:43pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Sci - fi = yuke.
Don't know how anyone can read this genre. Glorified psuedo-science.

No, it's not pseudo-science, it's science fiction - the clue is in the name!

Dades wrote: »

There are loads of types of sci-fi.

Have you read (not watched) "Contact" by Carl Sagan?

You just might like it.

Cracking book. Way better than the movie.

sink · 03-09-2009 7:22pm

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I think he's a brilliant writer but I think it's sad that all he writes about is evolution.

Do you realise that his profession is in evolutionary biology? I would think that Evolution is a fairly logical topic for an evolutionary biologist to write about. He could write about other topics but is probably sensible enough to not write outside of his area of expertise for want of avoiding looking foolish.

The Greatest Show On Earth

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