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Evolution: The Grand Experiment #1
Evolution: The Grand Experiment: The Quest for an Answer
A thorough study of the current evidence both for and against the theory of evolution is timely. This Teacher's Manual is designed for student from grades 6-12 (and adults) and is intended to accompany the book The Grand Experiment. It has been specially designed to be easily used and adapted for a variety of educational applications. Expertise in the theory of evolution is not required to teach this specific unit study. As one of the most controversial topics of our day, it is appropriate for learning institutions and home educators to address this issue, and advantageous for students to be part of this important discussion.
255 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2007
17 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Carl Werner
44 books7 followersDr Carl Werner is the Executive Producer of Evolution: The Grand Experiment video series and author of Evolution: The Grand Experiment book series and curriculum. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology, with distinction, at the University of Missouri, graduating summa cum laude. He received his doctorate degree in Medicine at the age 23.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 7, 2021
Extremely informative! Please read this book, whether you’re an evolutionist who only wants to learn how to debate opponents, someone who doesn’t really know what they believe about the creation of the world, or someone who is blatantly against evolution and wants arguments to oppose evolutionists.
This book covered all the details with appendixes updating the reader on more recent scientific news. Of course, it’s a few years old, so not everything is perfectly up to date, but that is justifiable.
Many times questions are asked specifically to the reader simply to make them think about what they truly believe in. Questions such as: what should be stated as fact? and others such as that.
I was truly challenged to think I about what I believe, as well as left with I feeling that I now know how to answer people when tough questions come up in the future.
This book covered all the details with appendixes updating the reader on more recent scientific news. Of course, it’s a few years old, so not everything is perfectly up to date, but that is justifiable.
Many times questions are asked specifically to the reader simply to make them think about what they truly believe in. Questions such as: what should be stated as fact? and others such as that.
I was truly challenged to think I about what I believe, as well as left with I feeling that I now know how to answer people when tough questions come up in the future.
December 6, 2010
Book Review ~ Evolution: The Grand Experiment Vol. 1
By Dr. Carl Werner Photographs by Debbie Werner
Nonfiction ~20 chapters~ 257 pages
This is a phenomenal resource for examining the views of Evolution vs. Creation! It is well-thought out, beautifully illustrated, and easy to understand. The high quality pictures, charts and illustrations used in this book skillfully illustrate several concepts that can be very difficult to grasp.
This book is designed to teach a critical examination of the theory of evolution to students of public and private schools from grades 8 and up. However, I think it is also great reading for anyone on the quest to discover more about the origin of life.
The book has an excellent layout. Each page is full of information that is set up in an easy to read and spacious format. The artwork directs your eyes on a journey through each page. The artwork is also a wonderful “hook” to draw the reader into the subject. This book is an excellent resource for students that are very visually oriented.
The different topics are well designated into twenty chapters. Each chapter is broken down into sections. I think this makes the book very reader friendly, easily readable in small sections at a time.
To give you a taste of the feast of information in this book, I have included a small glimpse of five chapters of the book. I’ve also included a few comments.
Chapter 1 The Origin of Life: Two Opposing Views “How did life begin? One view is that an all powerful God created the universe and all forms of life. Another view proposes that the universe began billions of years ago as a result of the big bang.”
Chapter one summarizes the pros and cons of the Creation vs. Evolution debate. I love the Gallup poll chart that shows American’s beliefs about Creation vs. Evolution. I also enjoyed the many quotes shared from both sides of the debate.
Chapter 2 Evolutions Fall Start: Spontaneous Generation “Even Scientists Can Be Wrong.” Chapter two shares three “proofs” for Spontaneous Generation. A picture is worth a thousand words in this section. This chapter demonstrates the faulty thinking about spontaneous generation in an excellent manner. Not to mention that I did get a chuckle out of one of the proofs.
Chapter 3 Darwin’s False Mechanism for Evolution: Acquired Characteristics Chapter three shares four examples of acquired characteristics and how the idea was eventually proved wrong. Each example is well illustrated.
Chapter 4 Natural Selection and Chance Mutations Chapter four offers thought provoking questions and illustrations about natural selection. The use of a bit of humor in this chapter is well done. I really enjoyed the discussion on how many parts of a hyena would have to change to become a whale. To make this chapter even better, it calculated the odds of a hyena type creature mutating into a whale – and illustrated this difficult concept spectacularly.
Chapter 5 Similarities: A Basic Proof of Evolution? “Many scientists believe that similarities in animals are evidence for the theory of evolution.” Chapter 5 offers the thought provoking question: “Do similarities prove Evolution?” Then it gives specific examples of how scientists have been proven wrong when using similarities as evidence for evolution. It beautifully diagrams several unrelated animals with similar features.
Dr. Carl Werner and Debbie Werner have done a fabulous job weaving multiple learning styles throughout this book. Evolution: The Grand Experiment, is a book that is interesting and understandable, with balanced scientific information that is well worth the investment!
Note: A teacher’s manual and video series are also available to go with this book.
By Dr. Carl Werner Photographs by Debbie Werner
Nonfiction ~20 chapters~ 257 pages
This is a phenomenal resource for examining the views of Evolution vs. Creation! It is well-thought out, beautifully illustrated, and easy to understand. The high quality pictures, charts and illustrations used in this book skillfully illustrate several concepts that can be very difficult to grasp.
This book is designed to teach a critical examination of the theory of evolution to students of public and private schools from grades 8 and up. However, I think it is also great reading for anyone on the quest to discover more about the origin of life.
The book has an excellent layout. Each page is full of information that is set up in an easy to read and spacious format. The artwork directs your eyes on a journey through each page. The artwork is also a wonderful “hook” to draw the reader into the subject. This book is an excellent resource for students that are very visually oriented.
The different topics are well designated into twenty chapters. Each chapter is broken down into sections. I think this makes the book very reader friendly, easily readable in small sections at a time.
To give you a taste of the feast of information in this book, I have included a small glimpse of five chapters of the book. I’ve also included a few comments.
Chapter 1 The Origin of Life: Two Opposing Views “How did life begin? One view is that an all powerful God created the universe and all forms of life. Another view proposes that the universe began billions of years ago as a result of the big bang.”
Chapter one summarizes the pros and cons of the Creation vs. Evolution debate. I love the Gallup poll chart that shows American’s beliefs about Creation vs. Evolution. I also enjoyed the many quotes shared from both sides of the debate.
Chapter 2 Evolutions Fall Start: Spontaneous Generation “Even Scientists Can Be Wrong.” Chapter two shares three “proofs” for Spontaneous Generation. A picture is worth a thousand words in this section. This chapter demonstrates the faulty thinking about spontaneous generation in an excellent manner. Not to mention that I did get a chuckle out of one of the proofs.
Chapter 3 Darwin’s False Mechanism for Evolution: Acquired Characteristics Chapter three shares four examples of acquired characteristics and how the idea was eventually proved wrong. Each example is well illustrated.
Chapter 4 Natural Selection and Chance Mutations Chapter four offers thought provoking questions and illustrations about natural selection. The use of a bit of humor in this chapter is well done. I really enjoyed the discussion on how many parts of a hyena would have to change to become a whale. To make this chapter even better, it calculated the odds of a hyena type creature mutating into a whale – and illustrated this difficult concept spectacularly.
Chapter 5 Similarities: A Basic Proof of Evolution? “Many scientists believe that similarities in animals are evidence for the theory of evolution.” Chapter 5 offers the thought provoking question: “Do similarities prove Evolution?” Then it gives specific examples of how scientists have been proven wrong when using similarities as evidence for evolution. It beautifully diagrams several unrelated animals with similar features.
Dr. Carl Werner and Debbie Werner have done a fabulous job weaving multiple learning styles throughout this book. Evolution: The Grand Experiment, is a book that is interesting and understandable, with balanced scientific information that is well worth the investment!
Note: A teacher’s manual and video series are also available to go with this book.
July 17, 2017
I ordered this book to review as a textbook supplement. I was very impressed. This is a great family read or even individually. The chapters are short, full of vibrant pictures and excellent content to explain and understand. This is definitely a book to buy and keep on your bookshelf to read yearly. It held the interest of elementary through highschool. Though its content isn't enough to stand alone as a textbook, its worth the read. I look forward to reading more by this author after reading this book. New Leaf Publishing and Master Books have other great books to coordinate with this one to make this a full curriculum or study.
July 12, 2025
A great resource for examining the evidence for/against evolution.
October 20, 2020
This is a fascinating book full of gorgeous pictures. It examines the theory of evolution in light of fossil evidence. Great resource!
November 23, 2024
This book was good at showing how Darwin would not believe his theory if he was alive today. Great at pointing out how natural selection can only remove genes but not add new ones.
July 2, 2025
This is a textbook but reads very easily. A great addition to school that teaches why evolution theory is false and scientific evidence that supports creation. It’s important to know the facts and to understand the falsehoods of evolution theory.
January 27, 2019
This book while giving lip-service to present both sides of the evolution argument, is definitely slanted towards anti-evolution. This book does an excellent job of presenting the major arguments against evolution. It does so strictly from science, and from direct interviews with scientists who support evolution, and not from any religious text. The book does not give support to any specific evolution alternative. The book is also well referenced, and has helpful appendixes, glossary, and index. The book does tend to be annoyingly repetitive in parts. The book has large type and lots of "white space", so the read of it is shorter than would be indicated by the page numbers. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn more about the criticisms of evolution.
December 17, 2012
It was okay. A lot of repetition.
February 3, 2026
What sets this book apart are its helpful and beautiful illustrations. The format is fresh and unique. A great complementary guide that provides visuals alongside the information. I have read plenty of books documenting the many flaws of bacteria-to-biologist evolution but they mostly use a canvas painted in words. This is a refreshing change of pace. The first book in what is shaping up to be an incredible series.
March 28, 2024
Insane creationist propaganda that blatantly and willfully misunderstands a variety of scientific theories.
January 16, 2017
Great textbook to argue against the theory of evolution, but it was very repetitive and my sons (ages 10 and 12) found it boring.
February 13, 2017
Một cuốn sách rất chi tiết, cụ thể, logic phản bác lại những cơ sở của thuyết tiến hóa. Con người cần có một lý thuyết mới, hoặc quay về niềm tin tôn giáo về một đấng sáng tạo.
May 24, 2009
Wow, what a fantastic book. The presentation is top notch, it looks like a coffee table book, but oh so much more! The photographs are top quality and definitely add as perfect examples for the explanations. The writing is plain, the scientific examples easy to understand and comprehend. The author has taken each type of distinct life form on earth and showed what fossils have proved or disproved about it's development. He has included remarks from both pro-evolution and pro-creation scientists and then ended each chapter with a question: "What do you think?" Very effective. He has included the different theories of life over the centuries and pointed out how and why they originated and disappeared. He has an excellent chapter on what the scientists have proven in the last century since Darwin and includes a very understandable explanation of DNA and proteins. A wonderful book that could be used as a student textbook or as an adult reference book ~ 5 stars
April 24, 2013
Non-biased overview of the two sides for how the world began; creation and evolution. Though I already knew where I stood when I began reading, I appreciated the way they stated facts from both sides and allowed the reader to engage in his own thinking. But of course, for me, it further confirmed my already ardent belief that God created the world in 6 literal days, and that the scientific evidence scattered across earth is in sync with the Biblical account.
July 25, 2016
This book explains what evolution really is; a theory that has virtually no evidence. I would find it hard to believe that anyone, after they read this book, would think evolution is even partially true! Before I read this book I just thought, 'Evolution is not true' now I know just how unbelievable it really is! I recommend taking the time to read this, I had to read it for science, and now I want to read the second book for fun! Read it!
June 17, 2016
Re-read. 2016 with Steph.
February 4, 2012
and Werner shows how that grand experiment has failed miserably
April 11, 2012
A destroyer book for evolution :)
June 24, 2012
Awesome! My daughters used this in their creation science class, but this is a great coffee table book to get your guests asking questions. This is a must-have book!
January 25, 2011
More like a 2 1/2
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews