Welcome to Hugh Dower's website, here is a short autobiography:

Born into a liberal-minded academic family, I attended a Quaker boarding school, where I became a convinced evolutionist when I first heard of it at the age of about 14. Not only was I convinced; I was also keen.

My decision to study Chemistry with Biochemistry at university was partly based on the desire to learn about the material basis of evolution. However, as soon as I did learn about genetics and cell chemistry, I started to doubt the orthodox neo-Darwinian theory. I remained totally committed to evolution, having become a devout adherent of Elaine Morgan's Aquatic Ape Theory of human evolution.

Over the years, my doubts about neo-Darwinism increased, despite regularly reading books by neo-Darwinists such as Richard Dawkins and John Gribbin. By 1993, I realised that I would have to classify myself as an evolutionary dissident, having not only become a neo-Lamarckist but also a wavering follower of Rupert Sheldrake.

Since then I have been almost single-minded in my quest to raise public awareness of alternative views of evolution. My first book, The Alternative Life, was published in 1996, being a radical, scientific reappraisal of evolution theory. Part of its first chapter is available on this website, along with the opportunity to order the book (See The Alternative Life).

My second book was first written in 1997, and has undergone frequent revision and updating, being as yet unpublished. It is an irreverent history of the evolution of evolution theory, from the Ancient Greeks to the present day. The biographical essays on this website are essentially extracts from it, and access is available via the buttons below.

This website also contains other essays I have written concerning Lamarckism, and a mail button, should you wish to contact me.