Looking for books which explain the following concepts

[mr friendly guy]

Basically I have been reading some science/philosophy base books to increase my knowledge on evolution, the intelligent design "arguments", biblical errancy. I basically have a few more books I am going to buy on evolution, religious history etc.

What I want to know if there are any books for the laymen ( my extent of science is high school level, although I feel the board's main site help me understand science better than high school ever did) on the following topics.

1) Abiogenesis, with reference to experiments eg Miller-Urey experiment, how the early RNA molecules formed, and then evolved into the more complicated life of today

2) Chronological Dating methods - eg explaining the limitations of each, the principles of each. Also it would be helpful if there was a spill on how we measure the distance of stars and hence arrive at the age of the universe.

Preferably if these are covered in details rather than just as an after thought when discussing some other topic.

[Setesh]

Basically I have been reading some science/philosophy base books to increase my knowledge on evolution, the intelligent design "arguments", biblical errancy. I basically have a few more books I am going to buy on evolution, religious history etc.

What I want to know if there are any books for the laymen ( my extent of science is high school level, although I feel the board's main site help me understand science better than high school ever did) on the following topics.

1) Abiogenesis, with reference to experiments eg Miller-Urey experiment, how the early RNA molecules formed, and then evolved into the more complicated life of today

Off the top of my head:

Abiogenesis: from molecules to cells by Paul D Thompson

2) Chronological Dating methods - eg explaining the limitations of each, the principles of each. Also it would be helpful if there was a spill on how we measure the distance of stars and hence arrive at the age of the universe.

Quaternary Dating Methods : An Introduction by Mike Walker

Preferably if these are covered in details rather than just as an after thought when discussing some other topic.

The first one is only on that topic, the second 'introduces the basics of dating, the range of techniques available and the strengths and limitations of each of the principal methods.

Coverage includes:

* the concept of time in Quaternary Science and related fields
* the history of dating from lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy
* the development and application of radiometric methods
* different methods in dating: radiometric dating, incremental dating, relative dating and age equivalence

Presented in a clear and straightforward manner with the minimum of technical detail, this text is a great introduction for both students and practitioners in the Earth, Environmental and Archaeological Sciences. '

[mr friendly guy]

The abiogenesis book by Paul Thompson looks like its hard to get hold of. Even on amazon.com I have to get it from second hand sellers - and hence on description of the title. Is there any other book which would explain Abiogenesis?

[Darth Servo]

Will this help?

[mr friendly guy]

Will this help?

I am somewhat doubtful about the "complete idiot's guide books". I remember browsing through one on the beginnings of the universe, when it started mentioning evolution - never a good sign when they confuse evolution with big bang. It got even worse when it started saying "evolution is only a theory" showing the author has a poor grasp of science if not down right pseudoscience tendencies. Suffice to say, I stopped reading it then.

[Lucifer]

This isn't exactly on those two things you mentioned, but it is related to evolution, and it is a bit easier to read. It's called Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice for All Creation. It's funny too, and I think you can just get it at chapters. We had to read it for the first year biology class.