I note the author says nothing about whether evolution as described proceeds forwards or backwards. My belief is that it is becoming retrograde and much of what formerly passed as “advanced civilization” is actually going backwards. And yes, it can definitely go quickly.
Second Law of Thermodynamics says you’re on to something.
Evolution cannot be described as going backwards or forwards.
I saw recently that the size of the human brain has been shrinking. This can be explained by the effect of civilization: since so many survival functions are now delegated to society, people do not have to devote as much brain mass to survival. So people with smaller brains can still survive and pass their genes to their offspring.