History proves that the Earth is young.
I have read as many ancient texts as I could find about the start of mankind. There are many things these historians disagreed about. Their speculations were often laughable. There is a consistent theme, though. They all agreed that mankind had a beginning, and that beginning was inseperably tied to the birth stories of their gods. They unwaiveringly and unashamedly listed their genealogies back to common ancestors, kings, and gods. Their lists spanned hundreds or thousands of years, and they scoffed at the idea of an eternal earth. After reading the words of these ancient historians, the theory of evolution seems like ignorant, unsubstantiated speculation.

Before you read anything else:
I used to be of the opinion that people believe in evolution because of a lack of education. Anyone who was exposed to well placed, well articulated arguments would be convinced of the truth. After years of arguing a wide variety of topics, I have discovered that their stubbornness (or mine, for that matter) is not a matter of education or good arguments; it's a matter of blindness. It's not in how we present this evidence, but in how it's received. If you find this information compelling or convincing, do not be shocked when you find that others do not. There will be those who are inclined to believe it, and they will receive it with joy. There are those who are inclined to doubt it; expect irrational ridicule. There are those who are somewhere in the middle. For those who are not already inclined to a direction, this will be like a gentle wind that will blow them one way or the other. With a slow and gradual process of accepting one evidence, rejecting another, and keeping some for later, they will slowly expose the deeper workings of their souls. In the end, it usually doesn't have anything to do with whether Herodotus was trustworthy or the layers of sediment were laid down by fast flowing water. We choose our loyalties. We will answer for that choice.

"Let the man who does not see these things mock me for saying them; and I will pity him while he laughs at me." - Confessions of St. Augustine (Book 10, ch. 12)

So what? Why does this book matter to me?
Forgive the oversimplification, but if you are in one of these categories, this is why I think it matters to you. It matters to the atheist, because it shows that God sees us even when we can't see God. It matters to the Hindu, because it shows the origins of their gods. It matters to the Buddhist, because it makes sense of the world. It matters to the immoral; it reminds us of the past and coming judgment. It matters to the corporate fat cats; money won't satisfy us forever. It matters to philosophers; it shows us why we're here. It matters to theologians; it shows us how to interpret scripture. It matters to Muslims, liberal Jews, and old earth Christians; it confirms the truth of their religious history. Most of all, it matters to those who already believe a plain reading of Genesis. We have the choice between walking through the gallery to glance at the artistry, or we can study it. We can photograph the beauty, and tell our friends. We don't learn this information to hoard it for ourselves. We learn it to share it with others. There is hardly a greater gift you can give than showing your friend that Darwin was wrong. Simply put, it should matter to everyone. If only everyone looked into the things that matter.