Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science, and Bad Religion in a World Without God

After purchasing this book based on title and author alone over 5 years ago, I finally opened it up several weeks ago and steadily plowed through it, piece by piece, any free opportunity I had. I have never been so appreciative of an author's efforts as I am with Greg Graffin and Anarchy Evolution. Growing up a punk rock kid in high school, Bad Religion was and remains one of my favorite musical groups. The depth and intelligence of their lyrics, their hauntingly beautiful harmonies, and their stalwart dedication to improvement of their craft and society is a combination rarely found in any musical genre, and I credit their songs with advancing my views of social and environmental justice. The beauty of what Graffin does in this book is difficult to put into words. It offers something for everyone who is a fan of his work, and plenty for those who have never listened to a measure of "Suffer," let alone suffered a broken nose in the pit while stomping around to "Generator." Knowledge of Bad Religion and their songs is not a prerequisite for appreciating this book, but it certainly enhances the experience. I expected this to be a critique of static institutions and the status quo, but it is far more. Graffin seamlessly weaves between autobiographical anecdotes, evolutionary biology, contemporary philosplophy, and creates a manifesto of his naturalist worldview. He is confident in his opinions, yet leaves debate open in those areas where reasoned and rational views could differ. He does not shy away, however, from shutting down those perpectives based on fallacies, fairy tales, or misinformation. Rarely does one come across a book which offers so much in such a small volume. After reading it, I not only know much more about the foundation of one of the greatest bands ever created (had no idea Graffin went to middle school blocks away from where my parents did), but I also gained knowledge and insight on the origins of humans, the rainforests, and the universe itself. His strongest passages, in my mind, relate to how a naturalist perspective can enhance social institutions which are suffering from the negative consequences of religious faith-based reasoning. The concluding paragraphs of his chapter 5 on Tragedy as the Construction of a Worldview are emotional, heart-breaking and heart-mending, while presenting an irrefutable argument for dramatic and revolutionary changes to our justice system and how we apply and develop empathy. To present such cogent viewpoints alongside tales of punk rock mayhem, biological diversity, and ancient pre-history is a remarkable achievement. If you are looking at this page, Buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

I want to give it 5 stars since I found it enthralling and couldn't put it down... BUT... it's definitely not going to be that appealing to everyone. If you happen to love science and thinking about the philosophies that it impacts, as well as being a fan of this generation of punk music... you will probably LOVE this book. Greg is a very concise writer and has a very interesting, though sometimes jarring, way of linking in punk and cultural evolution with biological evolution. The autobiographical bits were fascinating as I grew up listening to these guys and reading their history was interesting, especially due to the way that Greg intertwined how his love of science and curiosity led to Bad Religion being what they are. As another review stated... it feels like reading two books in one: A review and critique of evolutionary science meshed with a biography of a punk band focused on it's singer. Well done and highly recommended if you like Bad Religion and take interest in science and the cultural impacts of both.

I've been a fan of Bad Religion since the early 90's. I have purchased all their albums. So when Greg Graffin wrote a book, I decided to order it and see what he had to say and how he was saying it. I enjoyed reading the book. I found the biographical information was the most interesting. His writings on his life's little twist and turn and how things turned out had me contemplating on events in my life. I found the information on Evolutionary Biology thought provoking. Although I am myself a scientist and am quite familiar with the scientific method, the studying I did on evolution was limited to what was presented in High School Biology. Evolution made sense to me back then, but I was thankful to read a different and updated point of view on it along with a refresher in thoughts on the subject from someone to whom this is their main field of study. I don't think the presentation of Evolutionary Biology was oversimplified in this book. I didn't agree with some of the presentation of Physical and Chemical ideas, but that is because those are fields I deal with and I'm a bit picky on how those fields are presented. I found the book had a nice balance of biographical, philosophical, and scientific ideas. In summary, an entertaining and thought-provoking book that I'm glad I purchased and read.

I enjoyed reading this book as both a scientist and a huge fan of Bad Religion. I found both portions of the book (memoir) and scientific ideas to be enjoyable, though the science side was very basic. Overall a quick read and an enjoyable perspective from the author.

Written by the singer of punk rocks most influential band, Bad Religion. If you are a fan of Bad Religion, interested in learning their back history and Greg Graffins educational background and thoughts on evolution, pick up this book. Looking fwd to reading Population Wars.

Where is a confluence between punk rock and evolution? It is in the person of Greg Graffin, the leader of the legendary punk band Bad Religion who also has a Ph.D. in zoology and teaches evolution to college students. "Anarchy Evolution" is an enjoyable, engaging and thoughtful essay on science and religion, exploring them through the lens of Graffin's personal experiences and development both as a musician and as a scientist. Underlying it all -- both Graffin's music whose lyrics question deeply held and fundamental beliefs and whose scientists' skepticism informs all of his work -- is what Graffin calls a "congenital distaste for authority." The clear and evocative writing by Graffin and co-author Steve Olson (author of the National Book Award-nominated

I must confess that i am fan of Bad Religion, but this dont change my critical opinion about the book. First the book it's really well written and easy to read, even though English is not my native language I don't agree with his opinion about the importance of evolution on the development of a specie. I prefer the classical position, as such Richard Dawkins wrote in on of his latest books. But this is how we make science, isn't ? If you liked this book, you will certainly love the " Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body (Vintage) " Thanks Greg for this wonderful group of "memes", I wish everyone shared the same way to look for the natural world ps: Kindle dictionary helped me a lot

I am a rather recent fan of Bad Religion (4 years now) not only because of their sound, but mostly because of the lyrics in their songs. This book has made me an even bigger fan because I've learned where many of these great songs originate, Mr. Greg Graffin. His writing of this book is just as addictive as his songs are. He has a way of making evolution easier to understand & ties in everyday life and how it affects all of us personally. Perspective is one of the most important things in life (in my humble opinion) & Greg is a master at this. I was sad when I finished it because I didn't want it to end. :)

This is a really great book. For me, it gave me validation for enjoying Bad Religion for so many years and it clarified why I liked the music and the lyrics so much. It was also really enjoyable to read about evolution from Greg's perspective (one that continuously challenges current perspectives). The book gave me a chance to understand Bad Religion in a way that I hadn't before, a chance to ask questions about faith, atheism, and beliefs, and a chance to learn some new things about the process of natural selection, fossils, nature, and life. I really recommend reading this one. I'm looking forward to more from Graffin.

Greg is an inspiring human. One of the special people who truly have contributed to the world in unique ways. This book is a great viewport into his thoughts and experiences.

After purchasing this book based on title and author alone over 5 years ago, I finally opened it up several weeks ago and steadily plowed through it, piece by piece, any free opportunity I had. I have never been so appreciative of an author's efforts as I am with Greg Graffin and Anarchy Evolution. Growing up a punk rock kid in high school, Bad Religion was and remains one of my favorite musical groups. The depth and intelligence of their lyrics, their hauntingly beautiful harmonies, and their stalwart dedication to improvement of their craft and society is a combination rarely found in any musical genre, and I credit their songs with advancing my views of social and environmental justice. The beauty of what Graffin does in this book is difficult to put into words. It offers something for everyone who is a fan of his work, and plenty for those who have never listened to a measure of "Suffer," let alone suffered a broken nose in the pit while stomping around to "Generator." Knowledge of Bad Religion and their songs is not a prerequisite for appreciating this book, but it certainly enhances the experience. I expected this to be a critique of static institutions and the status quo, but it is far more. Graffin seamlessly weaves between autobiographical anecdotes, evolutionary biology, contemporary philosplophy, and creates a manifesto of his naturalist worldview. He is confident in his opinions, yet leaves debate open in those areas where reasoned and rational views could differ. He does not shy away, however, from shutting down those perpectives based on fallacies, fairy tales, or misinformation. Rarely does one come across a book which offers so much in such a small volume. After reading it, I not only know much more about the foundation of one of the greatest bands ever created (had no idea Graffin went to middle school blocks away from where my parents did), but I also gained knowledge and insight on the origins of humans, the rainforests, and the universe itself. His strongest passages, in my mind, relate to how a naturalist perspective can enhance social institutions which are suffering from the negative consequences of religious faith-based reasoning. The concluding paragraphs of his chapter 5 on Tragedy as the Construction of a Worldview are emotional, heart-breaking and heart-mending, while presenting an irrefutable argument for dramatic and revolutionary changes to our justice system and how we apply and develop empathy. To present such cogent viewpoints alongside tales of punk rock mayhem, biological diversity, and ancient pre-history is a remarkable achievement. If you are looking at this page, Buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

I want to give it 5 stars since I found it enthralling and couldn't put it down... BUT... it's definitely not going to be that appealing to everyone. If you happen to love science and thinking about the philosophies that it impacts, as well as being a fan of this generation of punk music... you will probably LOVE this book. Greg is a very concise writer and has a very interesting, though sometimes jarring, way of linking in punk and cultural evolution with biological evolution. The autobiographical bits were fascinating as I grew up listening to these guys and reading their history was interesting, especially due to the way that Greg intertwined how his love of science and curiosity led to Bad Religion being what they are. As another review stated... it feels like reading two books in one: A review and critique of evolutionary science meshed with a biography of a punk band focused on it's singer. Well done and highly recommended if you like Bad Religion and take interest in science and the cultural impacts of both.

I've been a fan of Bad Religion since the early 90's. I have purchased all their albums. So when Greg Graffin wrote a book, I decided to order it and see what he had to say and how he was saying it. I enjoyed reading the book. I found the biographical information was the most interesting. His writings on his life's little twist and turn and how things turned out had me contemplating on events in my life. I found the information on Evolutionary Biology thought provoking. Although I am myself a scientist and am quite familiar with the scientific method, the studying I did on evolution was limited to what was presented in High School Biology. Evolution made sense to me back then, but I was thankful to read a different and updated point of view on it along with a refresher in thoughts on the subject from someone to whom this is their main field of study. I don't think the presentation of Evolutionary Biology was oversimplified in this book. I didn't agree with some of the presentation of Physical and Chemical ideas, but that is because those are fields I deal with and I'm a bit picky on how those fields are presented. I found the book had a nice balance of biographical, philosophical, and scientific ideas. In summary, an entertaining and thought-provoking book that I'm glad I purchased and read.

I enjoyed reading this book as both a scientist and a huge fan of Bad Religion. I found both portions of the book (memoir) and scientific ideas to be enjoyable, though the science side was very basic. Overall a quick read and an enjoyable perspective from the author.

Written by the singer of punk rocks most influential band, Bad Religion. If you are a fan of Bad Religion, interested in learning their back history and Greg Graffins educational background and thoughts on evolution, pick up this book. Looking fwd to reading Population Wars.

Where is a confluence between punk rock and evolution? It is in the person of Greg Graffin, the leader of the legendary punk band Bad Religion who also has a Ph.D. in zoology and teaches evolution to college students. "Anarchy Evolution" is an enjoyable, engaging and thoughtful essay on science and religion, exploring them through the lens of Graffin's personal experiences and development both as a musician and as a scientist. Underlying it all -- both Graffin's music whose lyrics question deeply held and fundamental beliefs and whose scientists' skepticism informs all of his work -- is what Graffin calls a "congenital distaste for authority." The clear and evocative writing by Graffin and co-author Steve Olson (author of the National Book Award-nominated

I must confess that i am fan of Bad Religion, but this dont change my critical opinion about the book. First the book it's really well written and easy to read, even though English is not my native language I don't agree with his opinion about the importance of evolution on the development of a specie. I prefer the classical position, as such Richard Dawkins wrote in on of his latest books. But this is how we make science, isn't ? If you liked this book, you will certainly love the " Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body (Vintage) " Thanks Greg for this wonderful group of "memes", I wish everyone shared the same way to look for the natural world ps: Kindle dictionary helped me a lot

I am a rather recent fan of Bad Religion (4 years now) not only because of their sound, but mostly because of the lyrics in their songs. This book has made me an even bigger fan because I've learned where many of these great songs originate, Mr. Greg Graffin. His writing of this book is just as addictive as his songs are. He has a way of making evolution easier to understand & ties in everyday life and how it affects all of us personally. Perspective is one of the most important things in life (in my humble opinion) & Greg is a master at this. I was sad when I finished it because I didn't want it to end. :)

This is a really great book. For me, it gave me validation for enjoying Bad Religion for so many years and it clarified why I liked the music and the lyrics so much. It was also really enjoyable to read about evolution from Greg's perspective (one that continuously challenges current perspectives). The book gave me a chance to understand Bad Religion in a way that I hadn't before, a chance to ask questions about faith, atheism, and beliefs, and a chance to learn some new things about the process of natural selection, fossils, nature, and life. I really recommend reading this one. I'm looking forward to more from Graffin.

Greg is an inspiring human. One of the special people who truly have contributed to the world in unique ways. This book is a great viewport into his thoughts and experiences.

Here's how nerdy I am: My introduction to Greg Graffin and Bad Religion came through his doctoral dissertation, which I purchased from Graffin and got autographed. And then I read it. And it wasn't very good. Since then I've read a couple of other things that Graffin has written or co-written (

Greg Graffin is known far more for fronting Bad Religion than fronting the lectern at Universities. So I'd suspect most readers of this book will tend to be more interested in the autobiographical details surrounding Greg's involvement with music than his discourse on Evolution. Of course, some readers are interested in both topics and will undoubtably be very excited to get their hands on this. I happen to be one of these readers. With that said, i found myself far more enjoying the autobiographical sections than the science/philosophy. Greg is a good, if unremarkable writer who offers a seemingly honest and accessible voice. I say "seemingly" only because i've never met the man so i've no clue how accurately these adjectives describe him. He offers up a portrait of a man who is anti-authoritarian, rebellious, and yet self-deprecating and humble. Clearly passionate about music and the world around him, his curiosity and earnestness may seem incongruous to those who may wrongly dismiss him as simply anti-religion and perhaps even nihilistic. If anything, Graffin makes it very clear that he is far from a nihilist (insert Lebowksi jokes here) and takes pride in the fact that Bad Religion was one of the few early punk bands that didn't follow that predictable and unproductive path. Being productive and creative is clearly a defining theme in Greg's life. Very few musicians have enjoyed Bad Religion's success and even fewer do so while pursuing a doctorate and subsequent academic career. The fact that he maintains both as well as a family is enough to make the stoutest of men weary. I must confess, I tended to give only a cursory glance to most of the science presented here as it tended to be understandably basic. I expected it to be approachable to the layman... but I was hoping these sections could somehow pick up the torch passed by the late Stephen Jay Gould who, along with his hero Isaac Asimov, was extremely adept at synthesizing everyday life stories with fairly obtuse elements of evolutionary science. It's an extraordinarily difficult task. But i was hoping Graffin could perhaps assume this now vacant mantle. To be fair, he makes several heroic efforts. Perhaps most plainly the prima facie parallel of anarchy and chaos in Punk Rock and Nature. Greg invites us along to look more closely at each, to recognize the "endless forms most beautiful" that reward those curious enough to look beyond the surface. I hope Greg continues writing and publishing books...I've every confidence he'll continue exploring his considerable curiosity and talents.

I found this book enjoyable to read. It is exactly the book I need. I have some friends that are musicians and artists, but they have spiritual and supernatural views. While they can be more open to alternate political and social beliefs, and claim to question mainstream opinions, they are ideologues when it comes to this supernatural outlook of life. I have been trying to open their minds. I have given them books on various subjects that are scientific and not pseudo-mystical, but I have not found a book on evolution that I think they would actually read. But now I have a book that they will be fighting over, an autobiographical work by one of the gods of Punk. For my purpose, I think the book is perfect. It has just the right balance of biographical material to keep their interest and enough science to expand their minds. It does not cram the science down their throats and try and force them to change their minds. It shows there can be fascination with nature without mystification of nature. As a bonus it even skims over ecology, cosmology and the vast depth of time, which are important topics also. I do not believe people should be forced into conformity of belief. I think people should be able to make up their own minds once they are presented with sufficient information. I was once religious. If someone had tried to force me to change my faith in god, I probably would have dug in my heels and stayed there. Instead, my thirst for knowledge drove me onward. My views were weathered and sculpted by this flow of knowledge. In the end, evolution was the only thing that made sense. I think evolution is a very important concept that I think everyone needs to understand in order to make sense of anything. This book may just be the spark needed to ignite interest in the subject for those unfamiliar. If not, I think most will still enjoy reading about Mr. Graffin's adventures in the fields of music, science and nature. Scott

Greg Gaffin's journey through high school and college is told here through the context of his growing affinity for science and the punk rock scene of California. Gaffin shows how each lens shaped him as he grew older. How his science influenced his music. It is a love story of a man discovering nature. The high point is, truly, Gaffin's recounting of his trip to South America.

I admit I was skeptical about this book. I saw the titles of the chapters included "The False Idol of Natural Selection" and "The False Idol of Atheism" and wondered just what Greg was going to be rambling about. Now, Bad Religion has been one of my favorite punk bands ( and maybe band in general ) for a few years now. Punk wise, their only competition for the title of favorite is the Misfits, but since the Misfit's lineup has been chaotic, Bad Religion's overall consistency ( apart from the few albums without Brett) makes them the current holder of that title. I've admired Gregg for balancing a band and a PhD with a career in both teaching and science. This book has led me to a whole new level of respect for Greg and Bad Religion. Greg tells you everything you could want to know. He talks about his childhood, his high school years ( which upon reading about, I STRONGLY relate to -- both of us had a small circle of friends, were into punk rock, but not the illegal shenanigans and drugs most are into, and have had a passion for science rooted in our childhoods ), how the band came about ( I'll leave the names that they almost called themselves as a surprise for you ) , how he got interested in science, and many other interesting things about his youth. As far as his adult life goes, I've come to apperciate that he balances school, science, and music with raising kids and having a wife. Greg is not arrogant about his life. He's honest about the difficulties in it, and about the mistakes he has made in his life. Other than getting to know the great singer, he presents some scientific views and philosophical views covered in the two suspect chapter names I listed above. Fear not, he's not out to destroy Natural Selection. In fact, he's just putting it in it's place. He acknowledges that random chance and chaos ( hence ANARCHY Evolution ) have as much or more to do with evolutionary change than the algorithm of natural selection. He's not trying to break new ground like Stephen J. Gould did ( Read

Book cover was scuffed and dirty looking

good read..

Great book

Well written and fun to follow along with. I've always appreciated the way Greg articulates his ideas. I like the way the book was put together and how well it took fairly advanced concepts and made them relatable to those that are willing to listen.

I never take the time to write and post reviews ..ever. However, this book deserves my time, and yours. I have been a Bad Religion fan since the early 90's so I might have liked this book even if it was only half decent, but it was so much more than that. Not only was it amazing to feel like I was along for the ride during some of Greg Graffin's (and Bad Religion's) experiences, but it was also great to get a lesson in Naturalism and Evolution as well. Some would probably say that Graffin is trying to persuade the reader to think what he thinks or that he is bashing religion, but I have to disagree. He is encouraging the reader to think for themselves, and that is worth a thank you. So thank you Greg.. what a great book!

Gift for my boyfriend and he devoured it the moment he got it. Great for any Bad Religion Fans

This is an insightful look into the life events that shaped Greg Graffin's personal and professional life. The book discusses the history of Bad Religion, some very basic evolutionary science and a little bit of religion and manages to somehow make them relevant to each other in a way that only Grag Graffin could. All in all, a very good read and certainly worth taking a look at. The only thing I didn't care for is Greg Graffin's excessive overuse of the term "Naturalist Worldview" as a means of not calling himself an atheist, which is interesting when a section of the book actually discusses how people refuse to call themselves an atheist despite actually being one.

Do you like Bad Religion? Do you believe in Science? Then this book is excellent. Didn't really teach me much that I didn't know about science, but it's more like a biography of Greg Graffin and the story of Bad Religion. I drew many parallels to my own life; seeing answers to questions of adolescence, and finding answers not in "the popular crowd" or religion, but rather in the nature truths of the world and companionship of punk rock music.

Although I don't agree with Graffin on some of his ideas regarding religion and evolutionary biology, this is a great book that deserves to be read. It is clearly written and one of those rare books that you feel like you can read for hours at a time. Graffin is an atheist, yes, or as he refers to himself : a naturalist. However, Graffin should not be lumped in with the "New Atheists" as one reviewer implied. This book takes a different approach than the more predictable NA's like Dawkins, Dennet, Harris, Stenger, and others. Agree or disagree with the author(s), this book is well-written, insightful, and thought-provoking!

A punk rocker and genius. This book delves into his biography as well as that of Bad Religion, his iconic punk band and is peppered with his thoughts on religion and evolution. I have never heard many of the stories in this book which were awesome to hear.

I ordered this after hearing an interview with Greg Graffin on NPR. I'm not a big Bad Religion/science fan but thought I'd give this a try and it's pretty interesting, nice to have a different perspective on evolution and I like how he incorporates his own stories about growing up and being in a punk band. :)

Great mind

This book is simply amazing. It gives a lot of information, and in a very relatable way. The book got here on the earliest estimated date, which was great. The book was in perfect condition and as a bonus it had Greg Graffin's signature on the inside. I didn't even see that in the description. Overall this book and seller is awesome. Theres no doubt in my mind that I'm going to this seller for future purchases and I would definitely buy this book again.

First off let me say, I have been a Greg Graffin/Bad Religion fan since I was in Kindergarten. Brought up and have lived in the punk scene for as long as I can remember. The problem with the punk seen in general is that the lifestyle is full a self destructive nature that is very hard to escape from. Inspired by the depth of the lyrics if Bad Religion, I began studying the band only to find out that they were not your typical punk band, Dr. Griffin was an educated man that could balance the life of a punk rocker as well as the life of a professional. This made me realize, what is the ultimate defiance of a punk rocker? It is success. I achieved my Masters Degree and continue loving the roots of my inspiration. I loved the book because it gave me great insight into the man that has inspired me throughout my life. Seeing the struggles that he went though, the items that inspired him, seeing the human aspect of a person that I would consider one of my greatest influences in life. The greatest gift humanity has is the ability to question everything and find truth through observation, experience, and the anarchy life presents us with. This book is this journey, definitely worth reading.

Such a great read. Graffin has a ton of insight on the workings of the world, scientifically and philosophically. This was a joy to read and I found myself not wanting to put it down. As a fan of BR's music, I found this to help me enjoy the content of the lyrics even more so. I wish he had more I could read!

This book is just awesome. I don't even know how to classify it. It's sort of a combination of an autobiography, a book on evolutionary biology, and philosophical explorations. Greg is just as insightful as ever, only this time, his ideas aren't confined by the length of a song.

Another great read by Greg for those in search of a different perspective. This copy, too, replaces one I gave away.

I love Bad Religion and subjects like these, so it was a no brainer...

Throughout Anarchy Evolution Doctor Graffin expresses a deep appreciation for the wonder and beauty of all life. Being a participant in this process and being able to observe the interworkings of life is a reward in itself. From his explanations of Evolution, his questioning of some conventional thinking regarding Evolution, and his need to reach further, Graffin will inspire many to pursue greater understanding of our biological beginnings. Graffin's discussions of Evolution are interspersed with stories from his personal experiences (from childhood to the present) that represent his thought process in relating his studies with the individual life experience. For those who understand the world by process thinking and how it functions this is a great book to read. There is also a fair amount of background info on Bad Religion and how it evolved through the years along with the process. I look forward to future writings by Graffin and those who speak up for the many people who are not adherents to organized religion yet still place great value on respect for all life, treat others with kindness, and seek to leave this world a better place by striving to enrich other's lives.

Having been a Bad Religion fan for about 16 years, Greg Graffin draws great parallels to his career as a scientist and a musician. He shows that it doesn't have to be all spikes, combat boots and leather to help change and influence the world we live in a positive manner. Thinking for yourself and asking tough questions. Truly anti-authoritarian.

Greg did a fantastic job on this book. If your a punk fan and/or a science fan, you'll love it. Good mix of the band history and human history.

Greg Graffin is simply one of the best lyricists in the rock history, specially when it comes to lyrics that make you think about high level stuff... His book is the proof that he is not just a good lyricist but a superb writer. Anarchy Evolution is a must have for anyone who likes Bad Religion and punk rock in general, as well as to those who are pursuing a more positive posture to nihilistic atheism.

Amazing book! Always loved the music and have questioned belief in God. As I struggle with certain areas of my life as all people do, others would try to turn me to God as if bad things wouldn't happen to me if I did so. It made me angry that there was nothing to turn to in that sense. Evolution likely won't ever mean as much to me as it does to Mr. Graffin (oh what the hell... Greg), but if it means one tenth that much it will help me immensely. I plan to read Origin of Species in the near future.

It’s ok

whether you already know that you are an atheist/monist/naturalist or you aren't so sure, this book is for you. Graffin explains each title thoroughly, yet succinctly. his background as a scientist lends him the experience and knowledge to easily tackle this difficult subject. he is even shrewd enough to form parellels btwn his life as a punk rocker and a evolutionary biologist/professor. the message is so clearly delievered, that i am hardpressed to believe after reading this book, any educated person could still believe in God. Brilliant!

This book was very informative and discussed religions influence in scientific discoveries from an perspective without bias. I enjoyed reading about the evolution of evolution.

Greg Graffin is a great musician and a very insightful scientist. He very creatively weaves those two aspects of his life together I'm this novel creating a very enjoyable read about the relationship between science and god.

Graffin has a very unique view of the world that would do well to spread. Bad Religion and Graffin never cease to put the ever increasing absurdities of the world into a not always agreeable, but acceptable explanation. Comparing a hypothesis to life experiences is always the superior way of viewing a subject that continues to be ridiculed. Anyone who has read Stienbeck's "Log from the Sea of Cotez" will enjoy this. Highly recommended to those of faith or not.

a naturalist world view, very well articulated. Greg Graffin is amazing! If you're a fan of Bad Religion or not, a worthwhile read!

fast shipping.great buy

I'd like to see Greg Graffin in politics. His unbiased way of looking at life and it's events is refreshing. This is why I've always loved Bad Religion. People take the band as an uneducated protest band when that couldn't be further from the truth. I wish I could take some of his classes at Cornell, but sadly that commute isn't feasible.

Excellent book I don't read a lot of book but this has my eyes

first of all, is very hard for me to do a review for this book, because still i'm reading it LOL, and second 'cause i'm latin american, and it's my first book that i'm reading on english. i've read "Manifiesto Punk" of Greg and he said everithing the same that i think about punk, (culture, moda, thinking, etc). Now, with "Anarchy Evolution" i've found the same. I think that Greg, besides punk singer and scientist, is a big social philosopher. Absolutely recommended!

Amazing book! Must have.

A must read! If you're intelligent and have always wondered how the universe came to be, this book will satisfy your curiosity.

Me fascinó el libro lo ame

I love Greg and his wonderful insights. This book not only makes a ton of sense but also is very relatable to my and my husbands beliefs. A must read.

Amazing book. Greg Graffin is an amazing musician and author. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Bad Religion.

Great book to read if you are a punk rock fan or love the band bad religion. Easy read for philosophy students but much more interesting and appealing if you are a punk fan interested in liberalism and going against the grain. Highly recommended gift for boys with short attention spans and anyone who is really into the music genre

Greg tells about the old days of punk rock and how it shaped his life. I recommend this to anyone athiest or believer.

Is a great lecture for a bad religion fan The perspective of the world is fantastic

Greg Graffin is a brilliant person, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his book. It toggles between his philosophies, his experiences, and straight science. It's a story about the life of Graffin, the birth of punk rock, Bad Religion, and the changes that have occurred in the world since the 1980's. For a book with such a strong title and cover image, I actually found it to be very inspiring.

This book helped renew personal hope for my generation, most of what you see in popular media these days is so dumbed down, you tend to lose "faith" that there are insightfull, inteligent, and alturistic people left out there. I've always been a fan of Bad Religion, but this book gives new depth to Greg Graffin's, (already thought provoking) song lyrics.

My son loved it

great book! would buy more for my brothers!! Looking for more signed first editions by this author. Anyone have one for sale?

Fantastic and accessible. Greg has some innovative and insightful ideas.

good one,like it.

In this book Greg Graffin writes about three (to me) equally interesting topics: his band Bad Religion, the science of evolution, and religion/faith and how to live a good life without one. His attempts at connecting these subjects to one coherent narrative are some times a bit far fetched, but it really doesn't matter, because I think he makes many good points throughout, and his telling of the story of the band Bad Religion is interesting. And certainly he inspires further reading and reflection on many occasions. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in any of the topics mentioned.

Great read. Great points and I like his views.

As expected, could not put it down. Greg Gaffin truly out did himself. Don't even have to be a Bad Religion fan to appreciate this matter-of-fact piece of work. All that punk rock angst is channeled into something that seems to matter. Truly eye opening and thought provoking.

If you're interested in naturalism as an ideology but are not a Bad Religion fan, not the right book for you--a good 70% of the book is about Graffin's band, not the "process of [dis]belief." However, those with no interest in atheism and evolutionary theory in a sociohistorical context will likely be bored with the other 30% of the book. As a fan AND an academic, I did enjoy the book but found the "worldview eloquently expressed" (as quoted on the cover) to be rather simplistically expressed. Graffin's intended audience appears to be those with some intellectual curiosity, but in no way is he writing to his fellow PhDs.

An awesome book, through and through.

Definite must read.

AS described! Thanks!

It's by Greg from Bad Religeon nuff said.

Excellent read

Great fusion of two great academic minds into one book. Definitely check it out.

I bought this book this morning and read the whole thing in one sitting. It was amazing, I couldn't put it down.

I love this book.

Amazing book to read if you wanna know more about this subject,and if you are curious this is for you,great one

I received it on time and perfect conditions. My first book from one of my favorite artists. I really enjoyed it. Thank you!

For anyone that can think objectively about things, this will be an awesome read. For those of you blinded by dogma and set in your ways, you may not enjoy it.

An astonishing insight into a man who is not only a legend in the punk rock scene, but also a doctor in evolutionary biology. Graffin shares tales of life as the front man of Bad Religion and his years of study and fieldwork. He also discusses his insights on evolution, as separate biological and cultural phenomena, and how they relate to his naturalist worldview. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the sciences or into Bad Religion.

This was a great book. Insightful and personal from a very talented man. This one is going in my top 10 list.

Punk Rock intellectual Greg Graffin details his emergence of science as it relates to musical inspiration. A must read for every thirty-something across the globe.

... but if I had, it likely wouldn't be as good, and it definitely wouldn't have the same mass appeal. This book should be read by every high-school student in America.

I enjoyed hearing about Bad Religion's history and Greg Graffin's development as scientist and musician. However, the voice of the book can be jarring and doesn't seem to flow well. The biology sections seemed to drive the same point home throughout the whole book instead of building to something bigger. The best parts, in my opinion, were the explanations of some of the song lyrics.

His son had recommended this book and I ordered it for him. He thought the first few chapters were a little slow reading but enjoyed it after that.

Brilliant!

I finished reading my signed first edition in copy in less than two days. Dr. Graffin blends his experience as a punk rocker together with the world of Naturalism. He explains how and why he came about believing no deity exists and our world as we know it can be explained quite simply by space, time, matter and energy. (pg. 6) Any Bad Religion fan and/or non theist will enjoy this book. However, the arguments Dr. Graffin presents are written in a very respectful yet simple tone which I believe can be read and respected by any deist who wishes to take the book on.

I forget how exactly I came across this book, but I've been a Bad Religion fan for some years now and it has since become one of, if not my favorite non-fiction book. The way Prof. Graffin ties religion, science and his personal anecdotes together is quite good. This book (along with the band's songs) have also helped me to adopt his view of the world. In addition, Prof. Graffin has also become one of my top role models for not only being in a fantastic band, but also being a very intelligent human being. On the flip side however, I did find a few passages to be a bit dull at times and did not move as well as I felt they could have. I haven't read it for a few months so I'm unable to remember which ones exactly but I remember there being some. TL;DR I highly recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in this subject in any way. It's well worth the read

I was really looking forward to this book as I am a huge Bad Religion fan, as well as a huge fan of atheism, but I could not get past the introductory chapters. Why? Because Graffin's constant praise of himself and disparaging of everyone else was just intolerable. He essentially says that a lot of musicians work is worthless because unlike him and his bandmates they don't attempt to tackle weighty topics but instead just have fun with their music. While serious work is important, music can just be fun and carefree as well, nothing wrong with that. Overall Graffin's attitude and narrative is unlikely to win anyone over, he is essentially, to borrow a phrase, "preaching to the choir". Give this book a pass.

Dear, The estimated date of arrival of the product was 1 January, but still not arrived. What was the problem? When will arrive my product to my home? Thanks Cristian Pichuntrú

Reading this book was nostalgic. I was a punker in the 80's and I loved Bad Religion. And now in my 40's, I am a big fan of science and read mostly books on evolution, atheism, biology and astronomy. Greg discusses the 80's and the punk scene at the time with clarity. The drug culture, the goofy times of the 80's and how people acted. I laughed out loud at, "Dude do you party" because I was the guy doing this. He later discusses his failed marriage while being mature enough to take responsibility for his own failings. He discusses his mom and dad's divorce. He recalls his days of feeling like a loner, not quite fitting in with the California kids when he moved from Wisconsin to California. He goes in depth upon the infancy, growth of Bad Religion and discusses his love for music, the band and even singing in the car with his dad. He also shows what a nerd he was by playing counting games with a friend in the car until the dates they had were plainly looking for the chance to make a run for it. And let's not forget his love for studying evolution and science. From fossil cleaning as a kid at the LA Natural History Museum to his mountain trips to his lonely Boliva trip which somewhat disillusioned him as he was seemingly ditched and left in a country which had political tension occurring. His scary experience with some natives just "popping" on his boat having never seen a "white man". I feel a connection with Greg through his experiences and his music though I have never met him personally, which is kind of odd as I was a punk kid in the 80's and I loved his band. How you can go from southern California to Ithica though astonishes me :-) Recommended reading to fans of Bad Religion, science, evolution. Now, while I am at Amazon let me look for the Bad Religion CD's I don't have.....

I have never been much of a reader, but this book has made a imprint on my overall thinking. The book has opened my mind to see the views of a naturalist. After being a fan of Bad Religion and constantly trying to understand the meaning of the lyrics, this book has answered questions to meaning the songs have. From beginning to end, this book can help you determine new perspectives of a worldview. Not only does Dr. Graffin use his research, and the evidence gathered in the years pursuing his Phd., he also allows readers to get a deeper understanding of how his music is connected to his research. Like his follow up book, Population Wars: A new perspective on competition and coexistence, Dr.Graffin continues his naturalist view with more evidence to support how science has a primary role in life today. As an educator, Anarchy Evolution has given me a different view, with many great quotes embedded in the text, the book has helped me introduce new ideas to my educational philosophy that my students need in a poverty school. This book helps those who are looking to expand their naturalist view and those who just want to see how science answers so many questions.

I came very late to exposure to Dr. Graffin as an intellectual and to Bad Religion's music. I've come to appreciate both. Most punk leaves me wondering how anyone over sixteen could listen to it, but BH is the real deal musically. Having said that, the book under discussion here, Anarchy Evolution, is an interesting read and furthers an appreciation of the longevity of BH. As a means to an expanded world view, an ontology or enlightenment, it's unfortunately of limited value. He's had an interesting life, is obviously intelligent, a high energy personality and therefore a role model; albiet for a subset which patently rejects role models. If one take the punk ethos as a having core values, then could be they'd say the book is just GG self-gratifying in public. As a manual for living in a world without god, again, the question begs itself. If no god, no hereafter reward, then being nice is nicer than being not nice? OK, Greg, that's pretty obvious. Don't trash the planet? How many rational, educated people disagree? An entertaining read for those who already like Dr. GG, listen to BH. One is reminded of Dr. Samuel Johnson's statement: "I told him I had been that morning at a meeting of the people called Quakers, where I had heard a woman preach. Johnson: 'Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.'" That the leading punk band front can be also a working PhD and write well and intelligently is surprising to find it done at all. He's one of one.

Greg Gaffin went from a punk rock boy interested in science, to well, a punk rock man with his doctorate in the science field. I never knew that about him, having grown up listening to bad religion i thought it was just intelligently written punk music. My favorite part of the book is where he states that he does not like using the term Atheist. Atheist refers to something i am not, not something that i am. What a powerful proclamation! What a great life he has had being able to pursue two great passions in life.

Greg Graffin, Steve Olson, and everyone did a wonderful job exploring aspects from nurture-nature, adolescents, tragedy, to anarchy and of course evolution. This book is a great read, no matter your religious or scientific standings. Everything is explained so beautifully that it flows nicely into the perfect flow of anarchy, evolution, living, science, nature, and family. "Evolution creates a tremendous number of opportunities through the endless, profligate creativity" (p.76)

If you're a Bad Religion fan, this is easily a 5-star book. Bits of insight about the creation of "Suffer," along with the biographical sections, are worth the price of admission -- plus there are some "easter egg" references to BR material that I have to believe were intentional. On the other hand, if you've never heard of Bad Religion or have no affinity for punk rock, the science and philosophy, while solid, probably won't bowl you over. Still, it's a fun, thought-provoking and surprisingly gentle read. Recommended for general audiences; required reading for fans.

if you’re interested in evolution/philosophy/biology and street punk thought. This book merges all the connections between all that. I know you’re super busy with your work but if you get chance read it. Like it’s not like you’ll learn super important life lessons from it, but you’ll be glad you read it lol.

There is an intellectual challenge as science forms character, but the ideas that get investigated by a survey of religious ideas that 149 evolutionary biologists, 116 of whom identified themselves as pure naturalists, responded to, were not supernatural enough to suit me. A tremendous amount of positive thinking keeps people going, like Kierkegaard attempting to defend his father, who earned the family's money, for as long as the money lasted. Kant was critical of supernatural powers as fictions that come naturally to writers, however far-fetched our social systems have become in miraculous expectations. Situations in which people dance as fast as they can still inspire expectations like "Gotta Serve Somebody," as Bob Dylan sang in a tour that did not feature his big hits. Social systems attempt to control what is considered supernatural or demonic. Confusion surrounds me when philosophers cling to distinctions like, "Belief in a god who exerts an influence on the natural world has not dropped to zero among prominent biologists, but believers in this group of scientists have become a small minority." (p. 41). Belief is like laughter: not associated with the way animals deal with life. Our subjectivities are victims of our early upbringing in ways that influence attitudes that plague our minds like earlier superstitions became heretical for institutions that associate religion with strict doctrines. Science as a form of mental activity that condemns others as being sick for slamming into each other to celebrate feelings of anarchy is still common in a world that doubts the story in the Bible about a great flood wiping out those not chosen by God and Noah for the ark. I am appreciating this book like an effort at cognition that rivals extreme comedy.

Anarchy Evolution is an honest, inspiring, and well organized book. Before I review the book, I'd like to explain why and how I became a fan of Bad Religion and Greg Graffin. I have been a Bad Religion fan since I was 12 (I am 24 now) and feel as if I have grown as a person through their music. I remember listening to some of their songs as a freshman in college and having to look up some of the words in the dictionary as a result of my limited vocabulary. Now I am a graduate student in Linguistics and not only do I understand their lexicon now; but their songs have a new meaning for me. I will be honest and say that my background in evolution and science was limited prior to reading this book. I understood the basic concept of evolution and accepted it; however, I did not have enough knowledge of it to think critically about aspects of it, or apply to other concepts. Anarchy Evolution uses the backdrop of Bad Religion, music, and anecdotes of Graffin's childhood to explain evolution and the naturalist worldview. Graffin uses personal stories and events to explain how evolution is relevant and meaningful to people's lives. Further, he offers his own philosophy on how to live a meaningful life as a naturalist. I would recommend this book to Bad Religion fans, people interested in evolution, and punk fans in general :). Good job, Greg!

Love Love Love this book...As a long time fan of Bad Religion I could not wait to get my hands on this book...It did not disappoint. I was fascinated by the back story and personal content of the singer of one of the worlds greatest punk bands. I was equally excited to devour not only the religious information but the science as well. This book is the perfect mix. It not only has given me a better understanding of different religious views, but I will never look at the natural world around me quite the same way again.

This is a review of the kindle book. I love the book, but there are a lot of footnotes which I would love to read except that they are not actually linked in the kindle version. It's a pain in the behind to have to manually go through all of the notes every single time to read each one.

I was initially skeptical about the literary and scientific intentions of the book. My skepticism was allayed, however, by the first few chapters. The science writing outshines the autobiographical portions. Graffin's personal reflections, however, often dip into platitudes and cliches, especially in the latter chapters, which detrimentally contrasts against the more streamlined science writing (obviously due to the co-author's contributions). I'm left with the speculation that Graffin intended the book for high-school and college students, as well as quintessential punk rock fans (hence the overly-simplistic memoir prose). In general, I think the book offers a great introduction to naturalistic philosophy, as well as trenchant insights for the more knowledgeable atheist. The concluding chapter on "eternal life" is one of the more poignant and reflective sections of the book.

Much like the read itself, the short and sweet of Anarchy Evolution is that it was more autobiographical than I had expected; but it a very informative and entertaining read. If you've already made your mind up that there's something "more" to the universe, you'll probably not enjoy Anarchy Evolution as much as someone who has even a passing interest in Naturalism. I, myself, was by no means completely informed on the subject, but Graffin's science-nerd joy bursts forth from the passages and I find that I am compelled to learn more. I think some will take this as a Bad Religion/Punk Rock tell-all book for one reason or another and while Graffin tends to make parallels between his dual life as Science teacher and Bad Religion's front man, the "juicy stuff" won't be found here. Make some room between Richie Dawkins and those crazy Huxleys, Graffin's going to fit right in.

Great, easy to read book is an evolutionary primer as well as a memoir of a punk rock legend. For fans of Bad Religion (obviously) and those interested in evolution and atheism. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Greg for ChuckPalahniuk.net. We spoke about everything from music to the new book to evolution to the existence of god. He gives a great interview. [...]

great book

As a BR fan myself, I found this book biographically interesting and appealing, in order to see what it took to shape one of the greatest minds from the punk rock scene. However, as a scientist myself in Biochemistry, it is impossible not to notice how Graffin simply had an incomplete, yet I might say misunderstood, view of some aspects of Evolution. Specially in Chapter 3, where Graffin tries to discredit many aspects of Natural selection. I could number several examples, but I will stick to one for the sake of space. At some point Graffin discuss that birds with nice plumage, for example, which confers to the animal sexual advantage only, and not survival advantage, are a example that Natural Selection is not the only way of Evolution 'modus operandi'. The mistake here is that Graffin ignored the fact that there are great energetic cost to maintain a nice hair, fur or feathers. Meaning that such animals should be kept well fed to succeed (any visit to a SPCA can tell a non-biologist that an underfed dog fur is weak and falling apart, f.ex.). The plumage itself does not bring survival advantage, but is a very efficient way to tell the potential sex partner that the organism is fit for survival. Natural selection at its best. Don't get me wrong, Natural Selection is not the only way Evolution works, Graffin made no mistake there. It is well know by any Biology student that the Environment, f.ex., is equally important to shape an organism. The issue was that some of the topics/examples picked by Graffin were a bit incorrect. In few moments, I had the impression that Graffin was just following his own non-conformist nature and wanted to "challenge the system" (the scientific one, he is already good enough challenging society/human nature/government in his songs), but with ideas that required better thought. Again, if you are a BR fan looking to know more about the band and the man behind it, buying this book is a must. But if you are looking for something else in the Science part, read it with a grain of salt.

This is worth the read. Buy it! It's Greg Graffin! So intelligent. Makes you think with his books and his songs.

This book is okay, all things considering. The guy is the frontman of Bad Religion and an evolutionary biologist, so he's got an interesting perspective, but, and this is a big but, he has an axe to grind when it comes to natural selection. This is typical of American biologists, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised, and he's one of the less strident critics I've seen. Still, the problems he has with natural selection has been addressed time and again by Dawkins. For example, he says that other selections go on. No one denies that. He says they can be interesting. Dawkins thinks so too. But then he talks about how leaves are pretty in green for no reason, and I think to myself, "So?" In that context evolution is interesting to an artist, but why Dawkins talks about natural selection is that it's the only mechanism that can explain adaptive complexity, a topic I could not find in this book. He also talks about fitness being both necessary and fatal to adaptationists, when Dawkins devoted an entire chapter in a book to dismissing fitness as a concept. He also got other facts wrong: Darwin did not embrace the term "survival of the fittest"; Darwin did not see suffering as acceptable (Darwin had in fact lost his theism due to suffering in his own life, a fact he himself mentioned several times, as well as seeing the suffering of caterpillars); and he talked about sexual and artificial selection as alternative theories to natural selection, when they are just subsets. Hell, Darwin wrote a whole book on sexual selection. And he claims that humans have few features that have been naturally selected for--big surprise. And since the book is primarily about evolution, I cannot recommend it. Read it in the bookstore, and pick up a real science book.

Great read!

Anarchy Evolution opens your eyes to the world of a punk rock, evolutionary biologist with love of nature and music. Greg Graffin derives similarities between his music and science with a detailed description of his life growing up in pursuit of both. Very enjoyable.

First of all I enjoyed this book and I really hesitated giving it only 3 stars. I found the final few chapters very inspiring and wonderful. The evolutionary ideas are pretty basic and the author tells too many biographical details of his punk rock experiences. They were interesting in the beginning of the book, but by the middle I just wanted him to get on with it. Even though it is a short and easy read, it could have done without so much irrelevant biography; in that case I probably would have given it 5 stars. I think the reviews here are mostly too glowing, so I'm offering a less enthusiastic thumbs up. You probably won't regret it, but you aren't going to have a WOW experience either.

It's great to read the meeting of the minds of a band I've listened to for decades...I respect Greg for not bringing more of his beliefs into his music with Bad Religion but this book is an awesome view of behind the scenes. It's funny, I grew up on the east coast but a lot of the memories he shares, like the house crashing fight, etc...It happened on the east coast as well...Thanks for solidifying my beliefs...guess I'm a Naturalist. Awesome read and his solo work is great too! Also look up Johnny Two Bags, The Specials just came out with a new record (first in 30 years!)

Bad religion had influenced my life in so many ways and GREG griffin helped me to understand about my life and how religion effects this world, as a Jewish who lives in israel a country which did not separated church and state It help me navigate in this god forsaken country and believe in my self not an imaginary friend!

item as described

What I really loved was the history of Bad religion tied into Greg Graffin's studies and perspective on life. You get more exposure to Greg Graffin the human being by reading this, rather than Greg Graffin the Bad Religion frontman and it made me appreciate one of my favorite bands of all time even more.

It pains me greatly to give this book a lowly three as Greg Graffin is a bit of a hero of mine; but I couldn't honestly give it more. As a previous reviewer mentioned, this book is a mixture of autobiography and basic evolutionary biology - both subjects I am very interested in as a big fan of Bad Religion and an atheist. Unfortunately the author(s) tends to chop arbitrarily between the two and never goes into enough depth on either. There's also the odd extremely clunky and toe-curling occasion where a comparison between evolution and life in Bad Religion is made... All of this could've been avoided by taking a bit longer and making this two completely separate books. The first time I've been disappointed with anything Mr. Graffin has done. I even like Into The Unknown.

If you love Bad religion you won't mind the long science bits! a brilliant insight into Greg's life and his band bad religion as well as his ideas about religion and his alternative naturalist view of the world. All in between bits explaining about evolution the universe and how life on earth works.

Excellent minus 1 star !

Great book

Great content by cool author. Ordered used copy. It arrived without dust cover as was likely written in the description, but I missed it. Somewhat disappointed with that.

Quando li a mistura de assuntos abordados pelo autor, não achava que poderia funcionar bem. Porém, Graffin aborda brilhantemente os assuntos, revelando suas interconexões até então desconhecidas para mim. Tudo isso de uma maneira didática e descontraída. Vale cada centavo e cada minuto. Recomendado!