NCSE Resource

Reviews of Icons of Evolution

Jonathan Wells's book Icons of Evolution has generated a number of critical responses. Below are links to several informative reviews.

ICONS OF EVOLUTION?
Why much of what Jonathan Wells writes about evolution is wrong
The most comprehensive, understandable analysis of Icons of Evolution to date. An excellent resource for parents and teachers.

"The Talented Mr. Wells"
Review of Icons by Kevin Padian and Alan Gishlick (March 2002 Quarterly Review of Biology):
"This kind of distortion, misleading by the omission of important information, is the basis of Icons of Evolution."

"Icon of Obfuscation"
Nic Tamzek's take on Icons at Talk Origins:
"Purporting to document that "students and the public are being systematically misinformed about the evidence for evolution," ... Icons in fact contains a bevy of its own errors."

"No Icons of Evolution"
Massimo Pigliucci's review of Jonathan Wells' book:
"[Icons of Evolution] is another astonishing example of the fact that evolution-deniers seem to consider attacks on science popularizing as genuine intellectual feats..."

"Icons of Evolution: Legitimate Questions of Evolution, or Stealth Creationism?"
Dave Ussery's Review Page:
"Using the same type of criteria from the Appendix in "Icons of Evolution", I would give Wells' book a grade of an "F", because he distorts and mis-quotes scientists and does not write to encourage people to build upon a logical foundation, but rather to blindly accept his "proofs" that evolution is wrong."

"Fatally Flawed Iconoclasm"
A review by Eugenie C. Scott (originally published in Science June 2001):
"Textbooks are, alas, far from perfect, but authors and publishers would do little to improve their wares by altering their texts to suit Wells. This is because Wells presents a systematically misleading view of evolution."

"An Iconoclast for Evolution?"
World and I review by Larry D. Martin on Access Research Network:
"[Wells] is crusading to take the teaching of evolution out of schools, although he might be willing to settle for just not teaching it very seriously."

See Also:

"Responses to Jonathan Wells's Ten Questions to Ask Your Biology Teacher "
"Jonathan Wells, the author of Icons of Evolution, composed "Ten questions to ask your biology teacher about evolution", based on the antievolutionary claims he makes in his book...In the interest of responding to Wells's erroneous claims and setting the record straight, NCSE has prepared answers to his ten questions."

October 31, 2002

		Reviews of Icons of Evolution Jonathan Wells's book Icons of Evolution has generated a number of critical responses. Below are links to several informative reviews. ICONS OF EVOLUTION? Why much of what Jonathan Wells writes about evolution is wrong The most comprehensive, understandable analysis of Icons of Evolution* to date. An excellent resource for parents and teachers.* "The Talented Mr. Wells" Review of Icons by Kevin Padian and Alan Gishlick (March 2002 Quarterly Review of Biology): "This kind of distortion, misleading by the omission of important information, is the basis of Icons of Evolution." "Icon of Obfuscation" Nic Tamzek's take on Icons at Talk Origins: "Purporting to document that "students and the public are being systematically misinformed about the evidence for evolution," ... Icons in fact contains a bevy of its own errors." "No Icons of Evolution" Massimo Pigliucci's review of Jonathan Wells' book: "[Icons of Evolution] is another astonishing example of the fact that evolution-deniers seem to consider attacks on science popularizing as genuine intellectual feats..." "Icons of Evolution: Legitimate Questions of Evolution, or Stealth Creationism?" Dave Ussery's Review Page: "Using the same type of criteria from the Appendix in "Icons of Evolution", I would give Wells' book a grade of an "F", because he distorts and mis-quotes scientists and does not write to encourage people to build upon a logical foundation, but rather to blindly accept his "proofs" that evolution is wrong." "Fatally Flawed Iconoclasm" A review by Eugenie C. Scott (originally published in Science* June 2001):* "Textbooks are, alas, far from perfect, but authors and publishers would do little to improve their wares by altering their texts to suit Wells. This is because Wells presents a systematically misleading view of evolution." "An Iconoclast for Evolution?" World and I review by Larry D. Martin on Access Research Network: "[Wells] is crusading to take the teaching of evolution out of schools, although he might be willing to settle for just not teaching it very seriously." See Also: "Responses to Jonathan Wells's Ten Questions to Ask Your Biology Teacher " "Jonathan Wells, the author of Icons of Evolution, composed "Ten questions to ask your biology teacher about evolution", based on the antievolutionary claims he makes in his book...In the interest of responding to Wells's erroneous claims and setting the record straight, NCSE has prepared answers to his ten questions." October 31, 2002