The Origin of Species (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature) (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature)

To a certain extent it suffers from the Hamlet problem--it's full of cliches! Or what are now cliches, but which Darwin was the first to pen. Natural selection, variation, the struggle for existence, survival of the fittest: it's all in here.

Darwin's friend and "bulldog" T. H. Huxley said upon reading the Origin, "How extremely stupid of me not to have thought of that." Alfred Russel Wallace had thought of the same theory of evolution Darwin did, but it was Darwin who gathered the mass of supporting evidence--on domestic animals and plants, on variability, on sexual selection, on dispersal--that swept most scientists before it. It's hardly necessary to mention that the book is still controversial: Darwin's remark in his conclusion that "Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history" is surely the pinnacle of British understatement. --Mary Ellen Curtin, Amazon.com

Some claim that Darwin admitted of the possibility of Lamarkian mechanisms. They have not read the original. Darwin knew nothing of the molecular basis of genetics, but knew that natural selection did not need a Lamarkian mechanism. He simply did not rule it out, although he found it improbable. Everything that is stated in this great classic is as true today as it was at the time of first publication.

It is also said that Charles Darwin was a lesser intellectual when compared to most other great names of science; that he was a plodder, a naturalist, a sort of gentleman stamp collector who pressed flowers into his books and barely a scientist in the contemporary sense. This is nonsense. Darwin was one of the giants of rigorous systematic thinking; the kind of rigorous thinking and critical attitude that asks the right questions and provides the capacity to answer them. Let me buttress this claim with one example.

At the end of chapter six Darwin noted that the theory of natural selection could not account for structures or behaviors found in one species that exist solely for the benefit of another unrelated species. In setting out the theoretical terms for the refutation of the theory in this way, he anticipated Karl Popper, that analytical non-nonsense philosopher of science, by more than a century.

I recommend you read this book with an attentive curious analytical mind. You will find yourself walking in the footsteps of an intellectual giant.


A landmark in science writing.   January 17, 2003
A. J. Watson (Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK)
31 out of 34 found this review helpful

A well-written, well-argued treatise on the volatile subject of the evolution of new species by natural selection. At the time, this flew in the face of accepted theories, and especially upset current theological doctrine, Archbishop Ussher would be particularly upset!.

Darwin agonised for years over the publication of his book, and it was only at the urging of his friends (that he was about to be upstaged by Wallace) that he finally published. The delay was of his own making - torn between the evidence of his notes and correspondence with Wallace, and the furore that would inevitably result. The furore was bound to happen anyway, surrounded as he was by small-minded bigots, so he should have published earlier. But ... this might have deprived us of the brilliant arguments he puts forth in support of each section in the book.
He obviously knew what he was up against, so he tried to present his case as lucidly as possible - and here's the unusual aspect of the work - in layman's language! This was almost unheard of in a Victorian Scientific treatise - they were meant to be read by Scientists, not the hoy-poloy! He tries to counter every conceivable objection to each statement, as nicely (in both senses of the word) as possible, without any of the fervour and tunnel vision that one expects from a convert to a new ideal. He takes us by the hand and gently walks us through the evidence in support of his theory, helping us to realise that, yes, he is talking sense, no matter what our pre-conceptions of life might be.
Discover for yourself that evolution is not 'survival of the fittest', but 'survival of the most fit' - that is, fitted for that particular ecological niche - fittest being a Victorian word that has taken a different modern meaning.

An amazingly good read, even for our enlightened times, but recommended reading - I'll bet there are hundereds of copies on dusty bookshelves that have never been read - time to dust it off and find out for yourself the genius of the man.*****


The most unfairly misjudged book in history.   October 1, 1998
32 out of 37 found this review helpful

I started reading this book expecting to find offensive, disrespectful, and vicious material throughout it. What I came to realize instead, was that people have criticized this book based on offensive, disrespectful and vicious accusations. I can't identify how people have linked this work to God and blasphemy. It has nothing to do with religion, faith, or creation. This is a work of observation, logic, and adaptability. It makes perfect sense, and trust me, it is in no way offensive.

To think that for a century people have been debating, fighting, and cursing Charles Darwin over this work seems comical once you read his book. The book is written in easy to understand common language, allowing the not so biologically or anthropologically astute to understand it as well. Even if you are not convinced by Darwin's observations, you will be convinced that there is no threat to anyone's beliefs from this book.

I found this work to be very convincing and highly compatible with my faith in God. It does not threaten God, and it certainly does not require me to abandon any beliefs even though I fully understand and agree with Mr. Darwin. Read this book, it is worthy of consideration and it is only fair to hold judgment until after you have read it.


A Piece Of History   January 12, 2003
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

An excellant book. However, if you know a bit about evolution and want to know more this is not the ideal book. This is a piece of history rather than a science book. It is famous for being inaccurate with the fine details, as those details weren't known at that time. If you forget that Darwin gives that fact to you bluntly in the first chapter. When I was reading this book I found myself saying out loud to the book "ok, I get the point, now get to the interesting stuff!" This is because Darwin tries his best to convince the audiance that Evolution is fact and tries to prove this to the reader. reading this in the 21st century I never doubted that evolution is fact. However, I eventually sat back and realised the real beauty of this book. It was Darwin's attempt to convince the world that evolution and not divine intervention control nature. The book is essentially one big argument and for that reason it is excellant read as a piece of history. If you know absolutly nothing about evolution then this is a good place to start, since it's audience had never heard of evolution. However, I would advise reading The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins immediatly afterwards as this will bring you up to date.

Another piece of beauty from this book lies in Darwin's mention of Man. He makes hardly any references to Man, and doesn't mention that Man is descended from apes, but makes major hints that he believes that natural selection is just as applicable to man.

This is an excellant read.


Excellent edition of a supreme scientific achievement   October 29, 1998
11 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is a handsome hardcover edition; the type is easy to read. Anyone who vilifies Darwin and claims that evolution is untenable hasn't read The Origin of Species. Christian fundamentalists should read this work: once they grasp the powerful connections Darwin makes between animaland plant breeding (intelligent selection) and how the environment gradually eliminates individuals less suited to its conditions (natural selection), they might see that arguing against Darwin's theory is like arguing Netwon's theory of gravity is wrong. Read Darwin before you cast the first stone!