On the Origin of Species (Paperback)

by Charles Darwin (Author), Joseph Carroll (Editor)

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 the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 630 pages
• Publisher: Broadview Press; 1 edition (April 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551113376
• ISBN-13: 978-1551113371
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #104,399 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 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 (REAL NAME)

This review is from: On the Origin of Species (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.

4 of 5 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 "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

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.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On the Origin of the Species, November 16, 2008

By	Louis Levy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: On the Origin of Species (Audio CD)

On the Origin on the Species was exactly what I ordered - I wish it were not so hard to get original text for classic readings.