The Secrets of Life: From Big Bang to Trump is an amazing quartet of books by SS O'Connor.
He starts at the beginning, talking about the story of the theory of evolution, including why biologists talk about the 'gene-based theory' and the problems associated with DNA, how evolution works, especially considering how flawed DNA is, as a process?
He also raises some very interesting questions: How come genes, if they are merely a bunch of chemicals, can be so sophisticated?
Hoe come nothing good ever lasts forever? What has evolution allowed everything to develop a fatal weakness?
What's the point in parasites if they kill off their host? Why does death exist? Why does reproduction cease when we become older?
What is it that makes different organisms help organisms of other species? What is it that makes organisms sacrifice themselves for others?
Natural selection. Is it enough to explain the theory of evolution?
If mankind did evolve from animals, how come humans are so different to everything else? How come after humankind only arrived on the scene after 99.995% of the existence of the Earth that mankind is now so totally dominant?
Mutations take generations to have any impact, why did humans manage to change in such a short period of time?
Humans trade. Why? How did this develop?
Was an apple tree really the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden?
What was the truth about the hunter-gatherer lifestyle? How violent were they?
China invented so many fantastic devices and concepts. If this was the case, what on earth went wrong?
It's believed that printing and reading changed our world. How did this happen? What took place as a result?
Learn about the mind-blowing and amazingly impactful ideas and theories of Adam Smith? Have you heard of Game Theory? If not, SS Connor will explain it all in a way that you can understand it.
If it's considered that humans are bad, why is everyone so obsessed with the concepts of trust, fairness and the care of others?
Would you reject free money? If so, why?
Life is like a game of poker. Well, is it? If so, why?
Have you read "Lord of the Flies?" If so, does it really explain human nature and human behaviour?
Is violence getting worse or not?
Are people becoming less moral? Or not?
How does capitalism work?
A reader has described the book as "As if I was sat round a table with three very good, intelligent friends, debating philosophy over a bottle or two of Merlot!"
There are four books in the series priced at £10.99 each and are published by the Otium Press.
They'll make an ideal Christmas present for the philosophically minded person in your life.