On the Origin of Species (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Charles Darwin (Author), Gillian Beer (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009 | Series: Oxford World's Classics

In The Origin of Species (1859) Darwin challenged many of the most deeply-held beliefs of the Western world. Arguing for a material, not divine, origin of species, he showed that new species are achieved by "natural selection." The Origin communicates the enthusiasm of original thinking in an open, descriptive style, and Darwin's emphasis on the value of diversity speaks more strongly now than ever. As well as a stimulating introduction and detailed notes, this edition offers a register of the many writers referred to by Darwin in the text.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Originally published in 1859, Darwin's revolutionary idea is revisited in this spirited and profoundly enthralling reading by Professor Richard Dawkins, who in reading Darwin's material aloud manages to rediscover old ideas and unearth some dramatic subtleties in his prose. Dawkins offers a well-pronounced, pitch-perfect delivery and smartly never attempts to turn the reading into a performance from Darwin's point of view. Instead, Dawkins delivers the material from his own context as a modern-day interpreter of the classical work. Dawkins also splendidly adapts this abridgment, leaving out sections of Darwin's original theories that have been discredited by modern science. Dawkins says he believes his alterations are what Darwin himself would have wished for the recording, and the final result is an absolutely astounding glimpse into life as we know it. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review

"Dawkins is a mellifluous and naturally authoratitive reader" The Daily Telegraph "Dawkins brings the famous words to life" Audiofile Magazine ...one of the most arresting narrations of non-fiction I have ever heard...the great naturalist's arguments come over with lucidity and charm.A" Christina Hardyment, The Times. "Having Richard Dawins read it makes a huge difference...if Darwin via Dawkins tells me that the laws of co-relative genetics decree that cats with blue eyes are often deaf, that hairless dogs have bad teeth and that pigeons with short beaks have small feet, I'll buy that..." Sue Arnold, The Guardian. "Dawkins reads engagingly, and the whole effect is like David Attenborough without the pictures" Karen Robinson, The Sunday Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; Revised edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199219222
• ISBN-13: 978-0199219223
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No better way to experience this, November 10, 2008

By 

B. Kemper "Buzz" (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On The Origin of Species (A CSA Word Classic) (Audio CD)

Okay I am a bit embarrassed; how have I gotten to this age without having read this vital book? Well, I am a bit behind on my reading (the stack of books waiting to be read looks almost big enough to ski down), so when I saw this audiobook version of Darwin's classic, I could not resist. The original text (with original title, by the way: the word "On" later being dropped by Darwin), abridged and read by Professor Richard Dawkins: what could be better? Dawkins presents this material, about which he is quite passionate, and reads it in his always-pleasant, somewhat musical voice. This book--and I know this is cliche--should truly be read by everyone, and this is a very agreeable way to expose oneself to this brilliant material.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does not waste time with controversy; just read the book., September 3, 2006

By 

bernie "webviator" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On the Origin of Species (Paperback)

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" (see my review). 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.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully read by Dawkins, August 20, 2009

By 

E. Taylor (Sunland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On The Origin of Species (A CSA Word Classic) (Audio CD)

I am not here reviewing the book, but rather the reading and abridging by Dawkins. I have just received this and although I have in the past read this material, it has now come to life as Richard Dawkins has done a splendid job.

Not only do I find his voice pleasing, his slight English accent (to an American) gives me the feeling that Darwin himself is speaking. Dawkins has spent a great deal of effort to emphasize words so that the intended meanings come across more clearly. It is a bit like the difference between a 2d movie and the same one in 3d.

The nearest comparison is to some of the works of the late Carl Sagan, who when reading aloud his own material was head and shoulders above anyone else who didn't really understand the material, but was simply reading it.

The only negative is that he speaks a bit too fast for me. However, I solved that by converting the files to mp3 and using my audio software to slow them down to 85% of original speed. I now am listening to these on my daily exercise walk via an mp3 player with shure sound isolating earphones. I expect to listen to some of it again and again, as it is still difficult to grasp all of it at once while busy watching where I am walking.

As to Darwin, it is refreshing to see how so much of his theory is backed up by first hand information. In this day of high tech, it seems all information is really 3rd, 4th, or Nth hand summaries of other peoples works. When Dawkins reads the part on the struggle for existence, you can actually visualize Darwin crawling around that fenced in plot of ground getting dirty as he measured the height of the plants (or trees) and counted the rings himself to determine how many years the cattle had been keeping the vegetation from growing.

And I find his prose to be almost poetic; reading it just doesn't have the same affect as hearing Dawkins speak it aloud. It's the feline population that keeps the mice down, allowing for more bees to pollinate the flowers. Not just cats eating mice. I didn't quote this exactly, but I think you get the idea.