It’s not often that you think of punk rock and PhD’s mixing, but they meld perfectly in Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science, and Bad Religion in a World Without God. Co-author Greg Graffin has a PhD in Zoology, teaches Evolution at UCLA, and is the lead singer of punk band Bad Religion.

Anarchy Evolution is my February book from the backlog read for the Bookish Resolutions challenge. I’ve been reading this one on and off for a year. It’s part memoir, part celebration of the punk scene, and part approachable science text. I wouldn’t call this one a page turner, but if like me, you have an interest in music and science, I think you’ll understand the appeal.

Graffin explores his own evolution into punk rocker and scientist, while also exploring the disconnect between faith and scientific evidence.  Unlike Dawkins, Graffin comes across less antagonistic to believers, but explains how a blind faith in a literal creation story is at odds with science.  He delves into the debate between a guiding creator and the evidence of the impartiality (and sometimes the illogic) of nature and evolution.

This book wasn’t what I expected it would be when I bought it, but I am glad that I finished it. I learned about some nuances of evolutionary theory that I was unaware of. And I’ve added some Bad Religion to my Spotify account- Graffin actually sings about some of his scientific experience, and there’s an intellectualism to some of his lyrics that is missing from a lot of other songs.

I recommend this one for people with an interest in science and a fascination with how that can mix with something as creative as music.