"Dear Pastor: We have not met, yet I feel I know you well enough to call you friend. First of all, we grew up in the same faith. Although I no long...
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Dec 16, 2009
Joey
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This is perhaps the best non-fiction book I've ever read. Ostensibly, it's an argument, an attempt to find common ground with fundamentalists in order to save the earth, but really it's a meditation on the universe and life on this planet.
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Dec 16, 2009
Cass
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I was recommended this book by a professer with a degree in soil or something...it sounded interesting. He told me I should rent it from the library, not buy it...but I love to write in books, so I looked all over and found it in a couple places for $20.00+. I wasn't about to spend that for a 170 page book...so I finally found it in a library.
Anyway, it's pretty interesting. I was hoping it would be more along the lines of: these are specific examples of what we're doing wrong, now More...
Anyway, it's pretty interesting. I was hoping it would be more along the lines of: these are specific examples of what we're doing wrong, now More...
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Jan 26, 2012
Roger
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A world-renowned biologist and self-described “secular humanist,” Wilson calls upon leaders in the various scientific fields and the widespread religious communities to put aside differences and endeavor together to save the natural world. His chief aim is to open up dialogue built upon optimism and mutual respect that uses the curiosity of science and the intellection of religion as the basis for understanding the connection of humans to nature and the inherent nobility and necessity to protect
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Feb 18, 2011
This book was not at all what I thought it would be. I totally understand and support the science behind what Wilson says. What bothered me was the way in which he says it.
The book purports to be a call for unity, for "bi-partisanship," if you will, between Scientists and Religious Leaders. Wilson even addresses the beginning (and sometimes the end, and sometimes the middle) of each chapter to a nameless Pastor. Things start out well: Wilson suggests that they each put aside More...
The book purports to be a call for unity, for "bi-partisanship," if you will, between Scientists and Religious Leaders. Wilson even addresses the beginning (and sometimes the end, and sometimes the middle) of each chapter to a nameless Pastor. Things start out well: Wilson suggests that they each put aside More...
Feb 17, 2011
Andrew
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Understanding the biological diversity of life on Earth should not be the exclusive province of a few (the Ph.Ds of our university zoology departments, namely). E.O. Wilson has made a career of two things: entomology, which is less accessible, and transmuting his love of the natural world into tomes imploring the average person to a sociobiological ethic. He does this most effectively when his books are barren of any appeals to the supernatural.
"The Creation" has magical mo More...
"The Creation" has magical mo More...
Jul 27, 2011
Aedan
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The apparent lack of concern of the religious for the state of this world has always niggled at me a little, and it seems that it also preys on far greater minds than my own, judging by E O Wilson's decision to frame his "appeal to save life on Earth" with the device of a letter to an unnamed Southern Baptist Pastor. A straw-man, of sorts, but one based on Wilson's own experience of growing up as a Baptist in the Southern USA, and one that explicitly calls on the spirit of Southern Hos
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Jan 13, 2012
Frits
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Sorry Wilson, didn't come through. The concept excited me but if there is a southern baptist pastor even remotely interested or capable of understanding or caring what you are talking about I have never met them. That sounds rude but really it is a criticism of Wilson's attempt. I did not ever get the a true sense that Wilson was having any real correspondence with a fictional pastor. I doubt any pastor would ever be moved by this analysis. That said, i enjoyed reading Creation. I complete
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Jul 27, 2011
It is a convincing read about the need to save the environment and I like his approach of trying to appeal to the religious leadership in USA. But I can't see that he succeeds in this. It is not really a dialogue between science and religion simply becuase he starts each chapter with "Dear pastor". he then goes on to take a naturalist argument on most things. He argues well, but never goes beyond his own perspective. I get more out of this book as a portrayel of a scientist's fascinati
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Oct 13, 2009
Stephen
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E.O. Wilson, one of America's foremost scientists and secular humanists, has
penned a moving appeal for religionist and scientist alike to set aside their
differences and focus together on preserving Earth's biological diversity for
the benefit of today's and future generations (which, in the case of many
bacteria and insects, will also begin and end today). In a beautiful prose
reminiscent – no doubt intentionally – of Aldo Leopold, Wilson moves directly
to s
Dec 18, 2010
Steven
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There's really only one thing wrong with EO Wilson's The Creation, but unfortunately, it's hard to avoid. The framing device, and voice throughout, is that of a personal letter to a hypothetical Southern Baptist pastor, attempting to find common ground between science and religion in the service of conserving the diversity of life on Earth. The device isn't a bad idea; saving Creation, be it nature's or God's, would seem to be of common interest to scientists and pastors. But in the body of t
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Jul 25, 2008
Chris
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This book is the author's attempt to bring scientists and Christian leaders together in saving the environment. The book is addressed "to a Southern Baptist pastor", which is the author's childhood denomination, and he seeks common ground between his own "secular" viewpoint and the Christian one. Personally, I don't think this book is likely to achieve the author's goals. It's a short book but I found it too obnoxious to read after just 4 chapters. Since I'm an evangelica
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May 11, 2008
Ben
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This extraordinary man has dedicated his life to the preservation and conservation of earth’s biodiversity, cataloging all of the wondrous plants and animals from microscopic to endangered species.
Edward O. Wilson focuses on the interaction of three problems that affect everyone:
1. The decline of the living environment
2. The inadequacy of scientific education
3. The moral confusions caused by the exponential growth of biology
We are prod More...
Edward O. Wilson focuses on the interaction of three problems that affect everyone:
1. The decline of the living environment
2. The inadequacy of scientific education
3. The moral confusions caused by the exponential growth of biology
We are prod More...
Jan 30, 2008
Mason
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Written by one of the most respected and accomplished biologists of our time (one of Time magazine’s most important people of the 20th century), The Creation is written as a letter from Wilson to a fictional member of the clergy, Pastor. It is an appeal for science and religion to put aside differences and work together to save The Creation (Earth, life, the biosphere…). There are lots of facts relating to biodiversity and the rapid loss of it since the agricultural revolution. His main argument
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Nov 30, 2008
Gary
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In a more extensive discussion of the importance of biodiversity, The Diversity of Life, E. O. Wilson explores the science of biodiversity, offers a thorough analysis of the interdependence of all life. In The Creation, Wilson offers a more summarized perspective framed as a discourse with the clergy in which he shows how the scientist and the cleric share a common desire to protect God's Creation. Thus, even the smallest and seemingly most insignificant life form must be protected.
Feb 20, 2009
More memoiry than his other books, this is another essential piece of thinking from one of our nation's greatest living philologists (is that the word for a lover of knowledge? that's what I mean to say). Wilson discusses his religious upbringing in Alabama, which makes him -- a scientist of almost unparalleled acclaim today -- a suitable interlocutor for Science and Religion. I guess he's not entirely unbiased, but I found him to be entirely well-intentioned and convincing.
Feb 21, 2010
Riley
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The man is an atheist, which I must disagree with. However his arguments for respecting and protecting the diversity of life are valid and true. I wish we could environmental stewardship in terms that conservative capitalists would understand and I fear this book has provoked more confusion and distrust among my conservative friends than it ought. How can we get people to understand that death for any species is a tragedy that should be avoided? This is a good attempted
Apr 14, 2009
FrankO
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I enjoyed many of the anecdotes that Wilson writes about in this book. As an environmental scientist, I support many of Wilson's ideas; however, this book didn't carry me. Sorry Bob. I didn't care for EO Wilson's attitude. He seems a bit condescending in his letters to the Southern Baptist pastor of his childhood religion. Wilson portrays science as the ultimate knowledge, with goals that include "creat[ing:] life" and "reconstruct[ing:] the steps that led to the origin of li
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Dec 08, 2008
Mark
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I was so offended by the condescending tone of the book - "let me tell you poor deluded Bible-believing fools the wiser way to look at the world" - that I could not wade through to his point. I think the idea behind the book was to approach the creation/evolution debate from a new perspective in orderto foster "green"management of our resources (something I think makes sense)... but don't treat me like I"m a candidate for the short bus, for crying out loud.
Feb 16, 2009
Hannah
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this is a nice simple letter written to a southern baptist minister to appeal for the religious community and the science community to accept their diffrences and work together for the good of the earth. one of the many books in my pile to prepare me to go get a science degree in the land of religious people.
Jul 27, 2010
Joel
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A cute little book that traces the discussion between a Southern paster and a naturalist, the latter of which urges the former to see the divine in the structure of the natural world. Good points, including the importance of embracing environmental issues in evangelical circles. Wilson is an incredible writer.
Aug 03, 2008
Kim
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I've read a lot of books in reasons-to-protect-the-environment genre, and this one didn't contain any new insights or especially eloquently phrased arguments. I also didn't like the way the book was formatted as a letter to a Baptist pastor—it felt disingenuous and somewhat condescending toward Christians. I did learn some interesting facts about insects, but it certainly wasn't enough to redeem the book. I think if I hadn't just read Last Child in the Woods, or didn't have the environmental edu
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Apr 26, 2010
Laurel
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This cleverly couched and beautifully executed book is a gem. It combines a love of biology and ecology with compelling logical arguments. It's scientific poetry intended to persuade. If more people thought like Wilson, the world would be a better place.
Dec 17, 2009
Jynn
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So far this is very similar to Earth in the Balance, except it's unrepetitive and more to the point. The basic premisises of the two books are dissimilar; this one is an appeal to the Christian Right to take up saving the world as a God-mandated crusade, while Al Gore's first book simply overwhelms you with the hurricane of information pointing toward unchecked-climate change as the end of civilized life as we know it. But the authors both swirl reverence for the awesome biodiversity and divine
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Jun 10, 2011
Stef
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It seemed like a slightly less sciency and more explicit iteration of Biophilia--which is okay because I loved both. Anyone curious about Wilson but wary about scientific jargon would do well to start with the Creation.
Aug 06, 2011
Rick
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Subtitled "An Appeal to Save Life on Earth," the book is putatively addressed to a Southern Baptist pastor. Wilson makes a valiant effort--successful, I think--to bridge the chasm between his scientific worldview and that of a religious believer, in recruiting allies in efforts to preserve the planet from the negative effects of human occupancy.
Jan 20, 2009
Lauren
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A wonderful argument for the need to get science and religion working hand-in-hand to save non-human life on Earth.
Jul 16, 2010
Danny
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A wonderful read and a must for religious leaders who take the moral imperative seriously to care for the earth.
May 25, 2011
Rubio
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Disfruté mucho este libro. En castellano existe una buena traducción en una edición de Katz Editores.
May 16, 2008
Sarah
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This book is full of a lot of information about biology and creation that is interesting and compelling at times, but the author sets up the book to be addressed to an imaginary Baptist pastor, which makes the first page of each chapter feel condescending. As someone that comes from a conservative Christian background, I felt like I was put on the defensive often rather than being invited into Wilson's understanding.
That said, there is important and helpful information in this book tha More...
That said, there is important and helpful information in this book tha More...
Jul 08, 2008
Jessica
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E.O. Wilson is compelling, as ever. But I bought the book for its premise of making a plea to a Baptist minister for science and religion to find common ground in the cause of conservation (and, thus, the obvious link to my current work). Unfortunately, this premise was the weakest part of the book. He couldn't stop justifying and defending his science-based point-of-view long enough to actually address the common ground with religion for more than a few paragraphs, and typically without any
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