This book is enjoyable and well-written, and contains a lot of useful information about evolution. It covers almost every argument in favor of evolution that one could imagine. My only critique of the book is that Coyne uses the "bad design" argument early on, and I object modestly to this point, as someone who believes in evolution. While I don't think the "design" of the body is proof of intelligent design or favors creationism, I don't think "bad design" necessarily works against it, either.

The human body may be a lot like coding. Sometimes, things just work and we leave it alone. Sometimes, removing or changing one line or instance can have unforeseen consequences on the rest of the code. Coyne uses the example of the circuitous path of the laryngeal nerve, which is commonly pointed to, as an example of bad design. Yet, we know that this nerve innervates other parts of the anatomy on its path, and that innervation itself is complicated and still not wholly understood by neuronatomists. He argues that the long path of the laryngeal nerve makes it more susceptible to damage, and yet if it connected directly to the brain from the larynx, whatever it would have innervated along its former path would still require innervation. Therefore, it would seem to me that there would just be something else there potentially susceptible to similar damage.

I think the case for evolution is powerful enough that speculative and subjective ideas about "bad design," when there is still so much we don't know, even about the brain, are unnecessary. I favor abandoning the argument and sticking to the other substantial proofs of evolution. Biogeography alone makes a better case than most metaphysical or any "bad design" arguments.

I would rate this book a 4.5/5 if I could. Great work.