Another wishlist book I received as a gift over the holidays.

Andy Waite is a biology professor at a small college in rural New Jersey, where he landed after the sudden, tragic death of his wife. His research in evolutionary biology is designed to show a genetic basis for alcohol addiction, but the result aren’t quite what he was expecting. His daughters are growing up, with few memories of their mother, and with tenure seemingly assured, Andy’s life seems to have found a comfortable, but unexciting stasis.

But when he begins another semester teaching his course on evolution, where he tries to show his students why there is no need to believe in a Creator God, he finds himself challenged by students who insist that God is real. Through his interactions with these students, Andy finds himself questioning his own assumptions and conclusions, and in the process, unsettling many aspects of his life.

This novel explores the questions about the role of religion, belief, and science in our lives, and the impacts that challenging our fundamental beliefs can have on our lives. It also suggests that holding onto extreme, all or nothing, beliefs can have troubling consequences for ourselves and those around us.

This was a pleasant book to read, with characters who are generally sympathetically portrayed. It may challenge the worldviews of some readers, but mostly it will probably serve to shore up the beliefs the reader brings to it. Perhaps if the conflict between religion and science hadn’t been portrayed in such black and white terms, it might have provided a vehicle for a deeper exploration of those places where both can manage to exist.

This will be available at today's BC-in-DC get together.

Caught at the BookCrossing meet-up today at your home, ResQGeek. Thank you for your hospitality and this book!

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