Billions of Missing Links: A Rational Look at the Mysteries Evolution Can't Explain

Dr. Simmons is one of the rare people in the discussion of Intelligent Design versus Evolution that has a significant knowledge of both sides of the issue. While most have a grade school education of either the biology and theology and a developed understanding of the other, Dr. Simmons is a medical doctor (a doctor of internal medicine) and a dedicated student of origins science and theology. To truly understand a problem, one must understand both sides, hence the importance. Simmons begins with a brief discussion of the scientific method and then means of recognizing design from accident. Then the author digs into the examples he spends the rest of the book discussing. The premise of the book is to highlight examples of irreducible complexity and impossible linkage to anything in "evolution's history." For instance, the improbability of randomly occurring animals like the elephant that has so many special attributes that it boggles the mind that they could evolve in parallel. Also, some design items outstrip the boundaries of biology and step into areas of astronomy, physics and chemistry. The strength of the book is the diversity of the examples brought to bear. The examples are left to those to recognize on their own as being a problem with conventional Evolutionary thought. The author does not explicitly point to the problems for the theory of Evolution. One thing the book assumes is an understanding of genetics. This is not to say the book discusses genetic components in detail that only the initiated could understand, but is to say that if one understands genetics driving these supposed evolutionary changes, there simply is not enough time for them to occur regardless of the age of the earth. Simply put, there is a wealth of evidence in this book that is assumed because of the mammoth genetic Mt Everests needing to be repeatedly hurdled to create such biological diversity. This is not necessarily where I would recommend a study of Evolution versus Intelligent Design. There are too many things the reader must understand prior to digging in to this work. I would recommend either digging into Sanford's "Genetic Entropy" or any of Hugh Ross's and/or Michael Behe's works first. This works as a good supplementary text to those works.

While not all examples are compelling (some perhaps inaccurate), overall this is an incredibly well written book worth your time and consideration. Very far from a God-of-the-gaps argument, this book takes you on a journey through the natural world and compells an intellectually honest person to ask whether or not natural selection acting on random mutuation can really account for the complexity of life. To put it another way, is there really compelling EVIDENCE for random mutation and natural selection creating the biological machines and co-dependent mechanisms that exist in nature and are described by this book. The variety and abundance of lifeforms and components of lifeforns is enormous. Shouldn't there be an equally enormous body of evidence to demonstrate how mutation resulted in positive, co-dependent functions? Shouldn't there be evidence of abiogenesis, abundant living evidence of speciation, abundant living and fossil evidence of failed mutations, and the ability to demonstrate how co-dependent systems co-evolved, etc. etc. etc.? Whether you believe in God as a Creator or mutation as a creator, you'll enjoy reading this book.

I was surprised by this book and that is why I decided to write a review, which usually I don't. Billion of missing links is a long list, describing what we call in one word "Nature". I think mostly we think that we know what is going on around us, or at least we think that someone knows. We take our precarious inexplicable existence on earth for granted and try not to think about it. I enjoyed opening my eyes to the wonderful, amazing world we are part of, the constant changing of everything, while keeping the delicate equilibrium of existence. I choose to believe chance (what does that word really means?) is not the only mechanism behind the fact that you are reading now on your computer the words I am writing right now.

I call this ID light because its not as in youre face as some of the other ID literature. I don't think someone who is against ID would be compelled to change their minds after reading this book. If you are an evolutionist, I think you should still find some beauty in this book, and not think of this as a direct insult on youre intelligence. This is a book filled with all kinds in neat facts that I think everyone can enjoy. Yes he clearly promotes ID, but he says you be the judge, could this model fit in with a design or do you think evolution has a better explination? What really sold me on this book was scamming through it in the book store. I didn't even really want to buy it till I flipped through. It seems almost every sentence has something interesting. For example I just opend it to get a random quote and here it goes on page 212 about halfway down the page states "The bristle millipede is covered with tiny tufts and rows of velcro-like bristles that easily detach when the insect is attacked." Not that its the best part or anything, but I hope you can see how this book reads. My overall favorite part is about ratios and symmetry. The fibonacci sequence is incredible! The bodys symmetry, The body mass and blood volume in mammals are intricately related. Even the heart size is dependant on the animal. There were better facts than that, but thats what sticks out currently in my mind. Sounds to me like a design! Like I said before, that may not convince you, but these are great facts and a fun read!