A book called "Falling For Science" written by a local (from Wellington).

It is the most readable science book I have read

He takes facts, and talks about the stories we create around them and how these stories become myths which people then begin to argue as scientific fact (when actually, the stories we make up to explain our world are often unprovable).

He looks at evolution, creation, migration of people and all sorts of other things. Some really great provocations which have made me think about what I believe and why I believe it and whether I still actually do.

Example:a piece of pottery is found in an excavation. It can be carbon dated. Where the clay is from can be identified.

Then someone starts to tell us what this piece of pottery might have been used for, who might have made it, why it got broken or the reason for it being discarded. None of this is provable, but the story helps build a picture of people, of a way of life, and we like that. Suddenly, the story comes to be believed and accepted as factual.

Its a great book. I'm part-way through my second read of it. If I could I would buy everyone I know a copy of it.