This book investigates how the persistent conflict over teaching evolution in American public schools serves as a proxy for broader cultural struggles between science and religion. Jeffrey P. Moran, a historian of American culture, examines the evolution of these controversies from the 1925 Scopes Trial through the early 21st century. He argues that these debates are not merely about biology curricula but are deeply rooted in shifting American attitudes toward authority, expertise, and the role of secularism in public life.

Historians and educators frequently cite this work as a balanced, comprehensive account of the social and political dimensions of the evolution debate. Experts highlight the author's ability to contextualize localized school board disputes within the larger framework of American cultural history.