So what do you think is right, the model or the book?
Well, the model is supported by a weight of evidence, it makes accurate predictions, and has great explanitory power - in fact, it's often been described as the "unifying theory of biology."
The book is a collection of 2000-year old oral histories, filtered through some obviously excellent people-watchers.
Which one is right? They both are, within the limits of what they can be expected to be right about.