Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7830 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 560 pages

Customer Reviews

Gorgeous edition of the classic text, crammed with goodies
This edition of "On the Origin of Species" is invaluable to anyone who has been suffering without Darwin's most important work, or getting by with only a stripped-down version. The text is the first edition of the six editions Darwin oversaw in his lifetime. It's the version scientists now regard as the most powerful and passionate statement of Darwin's views. But besides the full (unabridged) "Origin," this large-format book is replete with other materials. There are hundreds of amazing illustrations, maps and diagrams, many in full color. Also included are scores of substantial excerpts from other works by Darwin and correspondence between him and his contemporaries. This makes the book a treasure to have, because it is so incredibly rich in contextual materials.

For instance, pictures of T.H. Huxley are included along with Huxley's letter to Darwin, where Huxley asserted his (not altogether unconditional) support for Darwin's argument and added that he was sharpening his claws and beak in readiness - that is, to help defend Darwin from his opponents. I was also delighted with the many beautiful photographs taken in the Galapagos Islands and of life forms found there, to say nothing of the pictures of Darwin, his family, colleagues and adversaries that are interspersed throughout the book, and Darwin's own drawings, the pictures of Darwin's home at Down, his desk, models and a detailed diagram of the H.M.S. Beagle, and so on. There is also a chronology of Darwin's life. Reading this, you are getting far more than one book: the many excerpts from Darwin's earlier and later writings, and all the illustrations and other materials, provide considerable historical context for the "Origin," its development and reception, making this almost certainly the definitive edition.

If you have never read Darwin's masterpiece, this book is a first-class reason to do so. His prose is elegant - even, at times, eloquent. The argument unfolds logically and clearly. Darwin was an utterly unpretentious English gentleman, after all, who lived during the Victorian era; he was, and remains, a highly agreeable companion. (If you enjoy travel literature, Darwin's earlier "Voyage of the Beagle" is also highly readable and fascinating. It sold well in his lifetime and reads almost like an adventure story. Many excerpts from "Voyage" appear in the book under review. They may tempt you to read the other book.) "On the Origin of Species" was written to be read by anyone - it is not merely for scientists or experts. Small wonder that the first edition sold out the same day it was released. One of the most striking things about the "Origin" is how careful, even cautious, Darwin is in drawing inferences from the piles of data he had before him. His argument thus has more force than it would if he made claims that the data did not so clearly support. Darwin's great virtue as a scientist is that he did not let his own beliefs prejudice his investigations: he let the evidence speak plainly for itself. He was humble, painstaking and forthright.

It is wonderful to note that since I prepared this review, another excellent edition of "On the Origin of Species" has been published by Harvard's Belknap Press, which provides excellent and substantial annotations to a facsimile of the original 1859 text, on the same pages as the text itself. That is a handsome volume which is immensely helpful because the annotations (prepared by James T. Costa, a biologist himself) explain so much. Darwin's writing is excellent and clear but the lay reader often has questions - or would, if we knew what to ask - that are answered in the annotations. Professor Costa updates much of what is being said in the text with current scientific knowledge, explains why Darwin is saying what he is saying, and generally offers superb insights. The result is to make Darwin's book even more accessible to the general reader. Regrettably, that volume does not have all the rich contextual materials, illustrations and selections from other works that distinguish the edition under review here. Thus, while it would be ideal if both of these books could be combined, we should be vastly grateful that two such outstanding editions of this important work are available at reasonable cost in this, the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of "On the Origin of Species." You can take your pick, or if you really love Darwin and science, get both (as I did).

While I recommend reading "on the Origin of Species" in any edition, this is a lavish and eminently worthwhile volume, which I have added to the several editions I already own.

ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION
First of all, this particular edition is a magnificently illustrated edition that includes much information and images related to not only Origin, but also Darwin's life. The first edition included is the edition that is most recommended by scholars, for historical significance, but as well for being less diluted by conciliatory remarks toward the religiously offended.

Published in 1859 initially, this was the defining publication for Darwin's life's work. It is no wonder. After reading it for the first time, I had to admit that anyone against evolution likely has never read the book, however they may be educated. His arguments are very cautious, cogent, detailed, and persuasive. All of the arguments I ever heard against evolution, he introduces in this work as possible detriments to his theory, then soundly quashes every one of those arguments with pages of reasons and examples for why those arguments are untenable, and in a completely humble and careful manner.

An example is the "irreducible complexity" of the eye. He gives examples of various stages of organs of sight that exist in the living world, from very complex, as with ours, down to stalks with the most primitive sensing organs that can only tell the difference between light and dark, and shows the relation from one stage to another. He also wonders what we are to do with animals with vestigial eyes, such as moles, with eyes covered in skin and hair in many instances.

It is suspected, after reading this work, how little it is read by Christian and ID apologists. It is also seen how sound evolution is, and though Darwin did not originate the idea - as many scientists before and during his time knew there had to be something like it - he is the one that carefully examined and put forth a workable mechanism - Natural Selection.

Ideal for the whole family
I will always be grateful that my parents gave me Darwin's books at the age of 9. I still treasure the works decades later. I can only imagine how much greater the impact on a young mind to have such a richly illustrated version.

We owe it to the younger generations to awaken an appreciation of the wonders of the natural world. The genius of Darwin, and the importance of his work, are too often underestimated. This volume is ideal for the whole family, particularly the children. It can not fail to inspire the reader to a greater understanding of the inter-relatedness of life on this planet, and hopefully create a desire to care a little more for our fellow creatures.

The concepts are easy to understand, and clearly explained in Darwin's own words. Indeed, his clear prose and careful reasoning make the book an excellent example for budding scientists of how science writing should be done. The illustrations and extra information really bring the man and his insights to life.