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Darwin's Notebook: The Life, Times, and Discoveries of Charles Robert Darwin

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The main title is a little misleading; it suggests that this book is a record of Darwin's notes. The subtitle is more accurate. This is really a short biography of Darwin and a summary of his work and influence. What makes it interesting and helpful are the many maps, illustrations, photographs, and other graphic elements. For example, as you work your way through Chapter 3 ("Aboard the Beagle"), you can follow the track of Darwin's five-year journey around the world. A very enjoyable little book. It would make a great introduction to a study of Darwin.

Do notice the subtitle, it, not the main title, describes the book. "Darwin's Notebook" is a short biography, by Jonathan Clements (the SiFi author?). It does contain scattered, one line remarks, penned by Darwin, but not his records. It is an interesting book that seems to give us a quick view into Darwin, his incite and his problems. I am a biologist and chemist, but neither an expert on Darwin nor on evolution. Although the format is unusual, with all "chapters" broken into separate, two page subjects, it is easy and fun reading. It seems accurate until well into the last chapter, #9. Under the subject title "Eugenics," Clements, in a sentence completely out of step with both Darwin and previous remarks, seems to suddenly praise the Roman Catholic Church. Clements states: "Regardless, eugenics programs ensued in many other countries, although their implied endorsement of abortion and contraception ensured that few Catholic countries became involved." At the top of the next page is a photo of children from (now)-Slovenia being shipped, in box cars, to be taught Nazi eugenics in predominantly Catholic Austria! "The Selfish Gene" pages are sufficiently confusing to suggest that Clements did little research for the pages, He suggests that nothing was known of nucleic acids until 1937, however, Levene and Bass published, Nucleic Acids, American Chemical Society Monograph 56, in 1931. Another problem in "The Selfish Gene" is that Clements confuses mutation and gene bioengineering with Lamarck's ideas. Unfortunately, as I finished reading, I wondered if all I thought I had learned about Darwin was as confused as the end of the book.

The title might be a little misleading to some expecting to read an actual notebook kept by Darwin. This is in fact an easy to read mini biography of Darwin and a sketch of the "scientific" milieu of his times. I found it a really enjoyable read because of the clever format used by the author. I'm not a scientist so I was not put off by the light coverage of various issues but found myself wanting to explore further some of the issues raised in the notebook. Any lay reader of this book will come away with a good overview of Darwin's life and times and the ongoing implications of his work.