Book Review: It Couldn't Just Happen

This book review is provided by my wife, Hannah, who has an elementary education degree and works in a Christian preschool.

It Couldn’t Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards uses scientific facts and logic to prove that the universe could not exist without a creator. Eye-catching pictures with interesting captions, bold section headings, and chapter summaries make it easy to read. It looks like a textbook for 8th grade through high school. As it disproves evolution, it covers a broad range of topics, from the solar system to the validity of the Bible.

The author took a strong stand for a world-wide flood and creationism over intelligent design. Early on in the book he did not take a stance on a literal, 24-hour day creation, but towards the end he presents it as the preferable option to the gap theory or theistic evolution. I appreciated the biblical base and the author’s integration of theology into science.

This book would make a great addition to a Christian or homeschooler high school science curriculum. It provides a general overview of the topics in the evolution debate. Some of the most current key arguments, such as the time it takes star light to reach us, are not in the book. For those looking for answers to a specific question or a particular area of science, a more advanced book would be better.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their book review program, Booksneeze. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are mine.