Thank you; I appreciate it.
Now, just to check, Google yielded two books with similar titles: “Darwin’s Ghost: The Origin of Species Updated” and another by the name of “Darwin’s Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution” - I assume you mean the former, which is listed as an update on the prose and data involved; is that correct? The latter appears to be a history lesson going over evolutionary thought and natural history from Aristotle to Darwin.
I’ll admit, I’ve actually not read much in the way of literature on evolution aimed at laymen; I always cringe a little whenever someone asks me to recommend them a book to explain evolution to them, since my education on the topic was academic; textbooks and professors and primary papers (oh my!). Amusingly, I do list among those who has never actually read On the Origin of Species; I may have to pick up a copy as you suggest - thanks again for that.
A quick question: I’ve been a little nervous about making an account, as I figured the evolutionary position wouldn’t have a lot of fans around here, and that might get me some animosity. Would you say that’s true?
It's impossible to do or say anything and not offend someone somewhere. If it happens just ignore. Human evolution as it's commonly taught does not add up right, so creationists have a valid point. Modern humans did not evolve by natural selection, but by tribal warfare. Almost all human-specific traits are the result of a competitive advantage during combat, and that includes religion and having an intelligence far in excess of that needed to find food and shelter. War acts like a God regulated IQ test that provides just the right amount of pressure to push human evolution along at unnaturally high speed but not so fast that everyone fails. Most of academia refuses to accept any of that. The words "humane" and "man-kind" are laughable and show man's vanity, and academia is near the top of that list. A side effect of vanity is envy, and it's envy that leads to hate, destruction, terrorism, murder, war, voting Democrat, and advances in human evolution. If academics came around to a more viable explanation of how it works they would have more credibility.
That's it, and it will probably be of help in getting your genetics credentials.
One genetic story (inside one of nine pages associated with genetics) involves Madeline d'Auvermont who ... "assured her son's succession by her claim that she had become pregnant when her husband was away, just by thinkiing about him." Another is the fact that "it takes about a hundred thousand genes to create a man."
The book is a treasure in many ways ...Hope you enjoy it.
Keep it civil and you'll probably be OK.