Library Biological Sciences

Does the field of evolution differ from other sciences? The author, a reviewer for a major medical journal, scrutinized hundreds of scientific references in evolutionary literature, adopting the same standards used for studies submitted for medical publication. The data show that there are two types of evolution, microevolution and macroevolution, with a clear boundary between them based upon the presence and absence of empirical evidence, respectively. The surprising results show that there is a universal disconnect between the data and the conclusions that claim to show the larger changes of macroevolution. The author reveals patterns of deviations from standard scientific methods in these studies. For the first time, evolutionary data have been summarized to describe both what evolution can and cannot accomplish. The author shows the reader how to recognize the different ways in which the evidence for microevolution within and between some species differs from the unsupported macroevolution of most species.

Previous critiques of macroevolution have been debunked by advocates who have cited a multitude of scientific studies. This book goes beyond previous critiques by directly addressing the data from these studies to see if they do, in fact, support macroevolution-focused conclusions. Many expert counterarguments against this book’s thesis are presented to reassure the reader that the author has left no stone unturned in the macroevolution debate. A theory is proposed as to why there may be no empirical evidence for macroevolution. The book concludes with a section entitled “What we see differently.” There, the author shows the reader the differences in perspective between the evolutionist and macroevolution critic as they look at and interpret the very same set of data.

WORDS OF PRAISE and REVIEWS

[T]he over 650 [scientific] citations form an invaluable resource for the serious researcher and more than thoroughly support the book’s assertions; [finally,] challenges to Rask’s macroevolution criticism are presented in a robust “challenges and responses” section concluding the book.
--Dr. Vern Bissell, PhD Civil Engineering (water resources, PhD academic minor statistics and probability), University of Maryland 1975, BA Physics, BS Mathematics, Pepperdine College, 1967, Hydrologist and Registered Professional Engineer in Oregon, retired.

Rask is not a radical anti-evolutionist. He simply asks why erroneous beliefs have gone unchallenged for many decades. And he wants to know why evolutionary scientists fail to follow standard scientific methodologies that requires empirical evidence that can be tested and falsified. He supports these concerns with a clearly written, well-organized text that should be required reading by biology majors.
--Forrest M. Mims III, One of the "50 best brains in science," Discover magazine

I consider Rask’s book to be a fair and honest appraisal of what we really know about evolution, the impossibility of developing life from non-life and the impossibility of the origins of species in the ways so commonly taught.
--Ian Macreadie, B. Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., FASM, FHEA, Honorary Professor of Biotechnology, School of Science, RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University, Melbourne, Australia, Former National Secretary, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

I find it encouraging that [Dr. Rask] has solicited comments from well-informed opponents of his position—this is very unusual in anti-evolutionary literature.
---Nicholas Matzke, Ph.D., Former Public Information Project Director, National Center for Science Education

Bart Rask, MD has been an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Hillsboro, Oregon since 1998, and has been a principal reviewer for The American Journal of Sports Medicine since 1999. Dr. Rask has published several articles of original research in orthopedic surgery as well as chapters for medical textbooks. His other evolution book, titled Evolution by Affirming the Consequent, was published in 2013. Dr. Rask resides with his family in Hillsboro, Oregon.