On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Published amid a firestorm of controversy in 1859, this is a book that changed the world. Reasoned and well-documented in its arguments, it offers coherent views of natural selection, adaptation, the struggle for existence, survival of the fittest, and other concepts that form the foundation of evolutionary theory.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486450066
• ISBN-13: 978-0486450063
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,835 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need to know for cultural literacy, October 15, 2006

By	bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This is a quick review of the book not a dissertation on Darwin or any other subject loosely related. At first I did not know what to expect. I already read " The Voyage of the Beagle: Charles Darwin's Journal of Researches". I figured the book would be similar. However I found "Origin" to be more complex and detailed.

Taking in account that recent pieces of knowledge were not available to Charles Darwin this book could have been written last week. Having to look from the outside without the knowledge of DNA or Plate Tectonics, he pretty much nailed how the environment and crossbreeding would have an effect on natural selection. Speaking of natural selection, I thought his was going to be some great insight to a new concept. All it means is that species are not being mucked around by man (artificial selection).

If you picked up Time magazine today you would find all the things that Charles said would be near impossible to find or do. Yet he predicted that it is doable in theory. With an imperfect geological record many things he was not able to find at the writing of this book have been found (according to the possibilities described in the book.)
The only draw back to the book was his constant apologizing. If he had more time and space he could prove this and that. Or it looks like this but who can say at this time. Or the same evidence can be interpreted 180 degrees different.

In the end it is worth reading and you will never look at life the same way again.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the Origin of Species, February 26, 2008

By	Russell C. Smith "diverse reader" (El Paso TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a classic. It is very readable for such an important scientific work. Many people think they know what this book says, but they settle for second hand information--usually incomplete and sometimes just wrong. This book should be read by anyone interested in science, education, religion and planet Earth.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Darwin is still a worthwhile read, March 25, 2008

By	DonJ "Donrr" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I had never read this before. Darwin's rationale for devising the theory of natural selection is a masterpiece of logical thought applied to data.