In 1831, naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin joined the Beagle expedition to Tierra del Fuego. What he observed when he got to the new world would eventually lead him to formulate his theory of natural selection. Published in 1859, On the Origin of the Species is the controversial classic that revolutionized natural science and altered our understanding of the world.
On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, o...
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About the Author
Charles Robert Darwin FRS (12 February 1809 - 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist who established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
143 of 147 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Sham - Half the number of pages as the legitimate version, critical content omitted
January 8, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to admit, I'm astonished by the ease with which one can be fooled into thinking they've procured the full and legitimate content of Darwin's signature work. A couple of easy clues, though:
Darwin refers in this version to a diagram in chapter IV, to illustrate "The Probable Effects of the Process of Natural Selection Through Divergence of Character and Extinction, On the Descendants of a Common Ancestor." This diagram is absent in this version, and this absence is what started me on the road to identifying this version as a fraud. I began to search for other editions of "Origins" to see if they included the diagram. And that search found not only that most versions did contain the diagram, but that the full text of this work ran to over 550 pages - twice as many as are included in this version.
I should also have known better than to have procured a free version. You truly do get what you pay for.
Be aware, as you look for a reliable version of the work, that there are many fraudulent versions out there. I won't go into detail on this, as this review concerns this specific version. But I can say that I've purchased a version that I am satisfied is a faithful rendering of the complete content. The ISBN number is 978-0-451-52906-0. It's the 150th anniversary edition, with an introduction by Julian Huxley. Still, don't take my word for it, and do your own due diligence. There is another "150th anniversary" version with an introduction by Ray Comfort, who is a Christian prothselitizer. So be careful.
Hopefully this will prevent you from having to start reading the work again from the beginning, as I've had to do. But I'm glad to have figured it out and separated fact from fiction.
Darwin refers in this version to a diagram in chapter IV, to illustrate "The Probable Effects of the Process of Natural Selection Through Divergence of Character and Extinction, On the Descendants of a Common Ancestor." This diagram is absent in this version, and this absence is what started me on the road to identifying this version as a fraud. I began to search for other editions of "Origins" to see if they included the diagram. And that search found not only that most versions did contain the diagram, but that the full text of this work ran to over 550 pages - twice as many as are included in this version.
I should also have known better than to have procured a free version. You truly do get what you pay for.
Be aware, as you look for a reliable version of the work, that there are many fraudulent versions out there. I won't go into detail on this, as this review concerns this specific version. But I can say that I've purchased a version that I am satisfied is a faithful rendering of the complete content. The ISBN number is 978-0-451-52906-0. It's the 150th anniversary edition, with an introduction by Julian Huxley. Still, don't take my word for it, and do your own due diligence. There is another "150th anniversary" version with an introduction by Ray Comfort, who is a Christian prothselitizer. So be careful.
Hopefully this will prevent you from having to start reading the work again from the beginning, as I've had to do. But I'm glad to have figured it out and separated fact from fiction.
115 of 123 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Almost everyone has heard of this book. But, how many people have actually read it? If you haven't yet, it is well-worth reading.
Darwin spent over 20 years researching his ideas, preparing his arguments, and writing this book. He did a great job! "On the Origin" is surprisingly easy to understand. Just look at the beginning. Instead of trying to leap directly into his basic idea and premise, Darwin chooses to gradually lead the reader up to the basic idea of evolution by first point out how humans have caused evolution to occur in our domesticated animals (something very easy for all humans to see even in the 1850s). Darwin then goes on to point out some of the evidence that he and others had seen at that time that indicated that evolution had occurred. His leap in understanding the basic premise of evolution is amazing especially when you consider that he did not understand or have access to information about the basics of genetic passing of traits within species.
Darwin spent over 20 years researching his ideas, preparing his arguments, and writing this book. He did a great job! "On the Origin" is surprisingly easy to understand. Just look at the beginning. Instead of trying to leap directly into his basic idea and premise, Darwin chooses to gradually lead the reader up to the basic idea of evolution by first point out how humans have caused evolution to occur in our domesticated animals (something very easy for all humans to see even in the 1850s). Darwin then goes on to point out some of the evidence that he and others had seen at that time that indicated that evolution had occurred. His leap in understanding the basic premise of evolution is amazing especially when you consider that he did not understand or have access to information about the basics of genetic passing of traits within species.
84 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Can't help but notice that the Bible is one of the top downloads in the Kindle Store.
Actually, I'm a bit perplexed that Darwin's "Origin of the Species", which IMHO, is the Bible's touchstone naturalist complement, is not garnering as much attention and that this is the first review.
As we celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of this book, I'm still hopeful that the typical Kindle early adopter - who is often technically-inclined and highly literate, will find the time to read the book.
For such a landmark publication that is the basis of modern biology, its surprisingly readable and very accessible to the non-specialist.
Actually, I'm a bit perplexed that Darwin's "Origin of the Species", which IMHO, is the Bible's touchstone naturalist complement, is not garnering as much attention and that this is the first review.
As we celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of this book, I'm still hopeful that the typical Kindle early adopter - who is often technically-inclined and highly literate, will find the time to read the book.
For such a landmark publication that is the basis of modern biology, its surprisingly readable and very accessible to the non-specialist.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Has anyone actually read this?
Very straight forward and practical explanation of things that we, in the modern world, tend to over-complicate and politicize, sometimes to the detriment of Mr Darwin's great work... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Joe Gruberman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great science
Only by reading the original can you see his brilliance - the start of understanding of how the world became what it is
Published 5 days ago by Ian Pilz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good research withstands the test of time
When you read this book, it becomes immediately obvious that most of its critics have never done so, relying instead on quote mining by religiously motivated deniers. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Richard Beaumont
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
As a Christian I wanted to see what Mr. Darwin had to say in his own words. To be sure the political left has corrupted much of what he says in this book. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Todd Kinsey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bucket List Read
Every human being should read and study this book! No exceptions. Far more important than the Bible,or any other holy book for that matter.
Published 8 days ago by DAB
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Brief Synopsis of Darwin's The Origin of Species
In the book, The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, he presents his theory about evolution based on the idea of natural selection. Read more
Published 11 days ago by B. O'Neill
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic in the Sciences
This book has stood the test of time. Always pertinent. It has been around a long time but will always be meaningful.
Published 14 days ago by Gary Wayner
2.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle Edition
On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, or, *******the Preservation of Favoured Races****** in the Struggle for Life. Read more
Published 20 days ago by jan from spokane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darwin was paying attention
Charles Darwin was a kid who left everything and everyone he knew behind because he wanted to know more. About the real world in which he lived. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Fast Flo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
I highly recommend the Origin of Species. I own a hard and ectronically copy. Everyone should read and have a copy of this book.
Published 28 days ago by Pen Name
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