A Origem das Espécies, de Charles Darwin

Books That Changed the World

by Janet Browne

Charles Darwin’s foremost biographer, Janet Browne, delivers a vivid and accessible introduction to the book that permanently altered our understanding of what it is to be human. A sensation on its publication in 1859, The Origin of the Species profoundly shocked Victorian readers by calling into question the belief in a Creator with its description of evolution through natural selection. And Darwin’s seminal work is nearly as controversial today. In her illuminating study, Browne delves into the long genesis of Darwin’s theories, from his readings as a university student and his five-year voyage on the Beagle, to his debates with contemporaries and experiments in his garden. She explores the shock to Darwin when he read of competing scientist’s similar discoveries and the wide and immediate impact of Darwin’s theories on the world. As one of the launch titles in Atlantic Monthly Press’ “Books That Changed the World” series, Browne’s history takes readers inside The Origin of the Species and shows why it can fairly claim to be the greatest science book ever published.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Evolution, Biology, History Of Science

185 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Elizabeth Janet Browne (née Bell, born 30 March 1950) is a British historian of science, known especially for her work on the history of 19th century biology. She taught at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine, University College, London, before returning to Harvard. She is currently Aramont Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species is one of the books that changed the world. It played a pivotal role in our understanding of evolution. Janet Browne, in this book, tells us the story behind the origin of Darwin's theories and some details about his personal life. Sadly, she doesn't delve deeper into his life and fails to touch on many controversial topics that needed more discussion. Still, it will be a good introductory book for someone new to the concept of evolution.


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[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I searched for a term for “a book about a book” and the closest thing I could find was bibliology. Until someone tells me otherwise, let’s roll with that.

Janet Browne’s “bibliology” of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species begins with the backstory of how it was conceived, moves forward in time to how it was published (including the catalyst that was Alfred Russel Wallace), and ends with the indelible impact the book had, and continues to have, on science and society.

Has any other nonfiction publication been more consequential than On the Origin of Species? I can’t think of one. It’s not a perfect book, there was still a lot to be learned about the mechanisms of natural selection in 1859, but it laid the foundation upon which all our life sciences are based.

To her credit, Browne doesn’t shy away from delving into the negative fallout that followed Origin’s publication—much of which continues to this day. She writes about the warped interpretations that spawned Social Darwinism and Eugenics, and she touches on the false arguments put forth by the proponents of creationism and ID (intelligent design).

For me, a person with a deep respect for Charles Darwin and his contributions to science, this was a thought provoking read. 4 stars.

[Dillwynia Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m divided about this book. I heard it as an audiobook somewhere in the Outback & so couldn’t judge the thickness. It’s a slim book & as such I would not have taken it off the shelf. This probably sounds snobbish, but it isn’t meant to be, and I shall explain.

I read Darwin’s Origin of Species not long after its 1st edition – it was some years ago, let’s just say. Actually, if this little book is correct, I probably read the 6th Edition (Darwin constantly re-wrote chunks of this till he died) sometime in the early 1990s. I have also read some of Wallace’s works, Hooker’s introductory essays on southern hemisphere biogeography, and something by Huxley (my paper book diary isn’t at hand); and I have a book of his essays stashed in the library awaiting to be read. I would like to think I know a bit about these earlier writers etc.

What I was thinking I was getting was another essay on interpreting the impact on the world on Darwin’s work etc. You do get that, but not as a critical analysis based on new insights & thought. What you **do** get is a lovely overall review of Darwin, his times, those people he worked with & the consequent affects in both the wider community, but also for evolutionary biologists.

What I liked about the book was the easy digestible bits about Darwin: his personal & professional life, and the effect he had on science. Then there are his close friends – Hooker, Huxley & Lyell. We do sidestep the very thorny bit about Wallace’s treatment after publication of Origin of Species. Wallace is given his due, and his later studies are commented on – but this is about Darwin, after all. I really liked the last portion that dealt with his influence into eugenics, business and sociobiology (survival of the fittest mantra); and I liked the commentary regarding the New Science movement of Julian Huxley, Ernst Mayer & George Gaylord Simpson. It brought back those days in Honours & MSc days when I read all this & much more – based primarily from the initial readings made as an undergrad.

What I didn’t like was the lack of depth. For me, it gave me no new insights nor in depth analysis. I ended up knowing only one new piece of info (listed above regarding editions) and was a big disappointment for me. The matter of Darwin's health issues - which is always fun to speculate, is also given a whitewash job; not something I would expect from an eminent biographer. (Actually, I think the Desmond & Moore biography [from the early 90s] to be the acme of them all.) It took me a little time to realise that this book should be treated as either a general intro for those that don’t know the field and want to learn, or as a crib to some undergrad doing a general evolution course at uni. This is fine, but not what I, the grumpy well read botanist, wanted. It has made me, however, hunt out those books and articles that I do need to read that are missing from my previous readings. That isn’t a bad thing.

[Jeff Koeppen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of nine books in the "Books That Changed the World" series, and the second one I've read after Hitchens' Thomas Paine book Declaration of the Rights of Man. These short books are great introductions to the books they cover and the circumstances resulting in to them being penned, but maybe a bit of a review if one is already familiar with them.

Being a Darwin devotee (made the pilgrimage and spent a day at the Down House in southern England and visited his grave at Westminster Abbey in 2018) I found Janet Browne's take on On the Origin of Species mostly review but for the most part it was well done and she touched on most of the key points of what led up to the publishing of Darwin's book and the after effects such as push back from creationists (still an issue to this day - 74 years later!).

This was really well written and researched and is fully notated, and contains a nice long list of sources and suggestions for further reading (including three more of the author's books) along with full index. That being said, I was surprised to read an error in the second sentence. She got Darwin's birthday wrong, stating he was born in "April 1809" when his birthday was February 12th, 1809. How did this error make it through to the final edition? Another complaint I have is I thought relatively too much ink was devoted to social Darwinism and Eugenics.

Especially good was the author's portrayal of Darwin the man - his personality, relationships with fellow scientist friends, and health problems. Also excellent was the long final chapter "Legacy" in which the author explains how scientific advancements since On the Origin of Species was published support what Darwin theorized in the mid-19th century: discovery of DNA and understanding what drives heredity, advances in molecular biology and chemistry, better understanding of human behavior, etc. Evolution is now a scientific fact, bolstered by scientific knowledge Darwin had no way of knowing.

Browne's book was published in 2006 and unfortunately there is still push back against evolution from creationists, maybe even more now 17 years later, due to the current rise of anti-intellectualism in the United States. I happen to know a middle school science teacher in a conservative district who gets push back from parents when they learn that their students are being taught evolution. The same parents who believe the supernatural, laws of physics-violating tales in their holy books at the drop of a hate but reject modern scientific facts.

I would recommend this to anyone not that familiar with Darwin's ideas and his journey in writing On the Origin of Species as well as it's repercussions. It's a quick read and is a good high level introduction to the greatest book ever written.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense yet brief, not a biography of Darwin but a story of the conception, creation and reception of the book that changed everything. Other men were cast out of society for promoting very similar theories: Darwin's mild-mannered character and lovely writing helped make "On the Origin of the Species" a hit.

[Wessel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een uitvoerig boek waarin niet "het ontstaan van soorten" centraal staat maar vooral de context eromheen en het nalatenschap van het boek. Helaas is er dus weinig tekst over het boek zelf, wat je er dus naast zal moeten kopen

[Zaynab]

Maybe its the nature of writing a biography but… the phrase “chill, Darwin’s not gonna suck your dick” repeatedly came to mind whilst reading.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent insights here by Janet Browne. Browne lights the path of history for the reader, showing how Darwin's magnificent thesis affected science, culture, human rights, education, and even literature. If you want to know the impact of Darwin's thesis, I'd first recommend reading the original (1st edition) of On the Origin of Species (it's Victorian, yes, but you probably read Dickens in high school, so you can handle it. Deep breaths and a dark beer will get you through it.), then read Browne.

This is about to get pedantic, because I am a professor that teaches evolution at the college level. A few missteps: No mention whatsoever of Patrick Matthew, the Scottish naturalist that set forth a description of natural selection 26 years before Darwin. The most damning evidence that Darwin did, indeed, read Matthew's work is the extremely similar "Imagine a tangled bank" passage. A recent work by Dr. Mike Sutton, Nullius in Verba - Darwin's Greatest Secret (Thinker Books, 2014), goes into this controversy with more detail. Also, in a discussion of Kettlewell's impeccable natural experiments on page 142, Browne states that the lighter moths were more easily seen by birds on trees that had been "blackened by soot". That's only half the reason. Yes, soot landed on the trees, but not really in enough quantity to blacken them, like what you might see on buildings near smokestacks (think Pittsburgh). The soot in the air choked the lichens that cover the tree trunks, and without the lichens (a colorful array of grays, whites, and greens) the lighter moths stood out starkly. It's the lack of lichens that lead to the lighter lepidopterans' lessoning.

[Wendelle]

''These five years on the Beagle voyage were the making of him. Some of them were spent galloping on hired horses, striking camp in new places every night, hunting game for supper with companions from the ship, discussing the news from back home and enjoying himself; they were an extension of the carefree days as a Cambridge undergraduate... In Montevideo they marched into town armed tot he teeth to quell a political uprising. In Tasmania they attended a very fine concert. In the far south they were nearly capsized by a calving glacier. Out in the forest near Conception Darwin felth the earth buckle under his feet in a major earthquake. He swam in coral lagoons, was entranced by birdsong in a tropical forest, and contemplated the stars from the top of a pass on the Cordillera de los Andes."(Browne)

This Darwin dude seriously lived a nice Victorian adventurer's life. This slim book is a great passport to Darwin's world and formative experiences. It chronicles the events in his life, up to and during the book's publication. It is interesting to know that in the intervening years Darwin spent 8 years studying barnacles. You also get to meet his 4 'apostles'- his 4 scientific defenders, Asa Gray, TH Huxley, Hooker and Lyell, who organized his cohesive defense and directed the discussions in centers of learning to make sure Darwinism became accepted. However this is very much an introductory text in the history of evolutionary sciences. Altogether very straightforward.

[Suzanne Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This selective biography highlights Darwin's early career and then focuses on his famous theory with a brief background of his work and how it was received upon release. As a young man, Darwin attempted to study in the medical profession and ended up training to be an Anglican priest. He later signed up for a voyage on the HMS Beagle as a naturalist and while surveying and charting the coasts of South America, Europe, and Asia, he kept journals on geology, plant and animal life leading to years of research. I was touched by his devotion to his wife and children with whom he spent a great deal of time sharing his discoveries. Browne mentioned the depression Darwin suffered when his daughter died young after an illness. He had suffered many years with heart problems and stomach troubles himself. I learned a lot about Charles Darwin in this short book, but would have enjoyed a more narrative biography. It would be a good introduction to Darwin's The Origin of Species.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more difficult for me to rate, as it almost felt more like a text book. I wanted to learn more about Darwin's theories after recently going to the Galapagos Islands, and this book served that purpose well. It was just a touch dry. Can you really spice up evolutionary theory though? The last chapter that discussed resistance to the theory and lawsuits around it was quite interesting however. The book is part of a series called 'Books that changed the world'. Realizing that 'The Origin of Species' is one of those is not any stretch of the imagination - it was absolutely revolutionary.

[Emma Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

For assignment... Interesting to know the story behind natural selection

[L. A.]

le liberalism face

[Kimbolimbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this right after reading On The Origin of Species. Very good supplemental text.

[Peter Boot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel interessant. Je kunt er over twisten wat een biografie van een boek zou moeten behelzen. Brownes boek moet een biografie zijn van The Origin of Species maar is ook een biografie van Darwin, met een focus op de ontwikkeling van zijn denken over de evolutie. Ook behandelt ze heel uitgebreid het voortleven van het Darwinisme en Darwins ideeën over natuurlijke selectie. Ik vind dat ze wel veel ruimte inruimt voor degenen het ideeëngoed hebben misbruikt in sociale context. Wat ik niet wist is dat het Darwinisme binnen de biologie lange tijd op sterven na dood is geweest en pas relatief recent een comeback heeft gemaakt.
Ik was zelf vooral geïnteresseerd in hoe Darwin het boek na de eerste druk herhaaldelijk heeft herzien. Dat is wat ik zou verstaan onder een biografie van een boek. Dat komt ook wel even aan de orde, maar naar mijn smaak veel te beknopt.

[Timothy Neesam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet Browne’s book, Darwin’s Origin of Species: A Biography, covers a lot of ground in a short space, but never seems to give short shrift to anything she covers.

We’re given an overview of Darwin’s upbringing and the circumstances that led to his voyages on the Beagle, which gave rise to his theories of evolution; his family, social and scientific life in England, and his writing The Origin of Species; publication and subsequent reception of the book are all covered.

In addition, Browne takes us through how the book has been received since publication and how right-wing politicians have misused Darwin’s theories. It’s a good read that left me wanting to learn more about Darwin and his time on the Beagle. I didn’t know about Alfred Russel Wallace proposing and publishing a similar theory simultaneously, or Darwin’s race to publish his book. Brown’s book is about an exceptional individual who wrote a book that changed how humanity views itself and the world around us in many ways—highly recommended.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard, dry biography by a solid liberal historian. Good as far as it goes. White, male, propertied, heterosexual says that we evolved along with the rest of the animal kingdom. Supports industrialism, imperialism and gets buried in Westminster despite the fact that he was a major player in dethroning God as the alpha and omega of creation. Browne lists the ways in which the science of evolution has been abused by numerous parties thru the 20th century. It would be also interesting to hear what evolution has made possible in terms of scientific progress. Evolutionary psychology has just begun to think about how different parts of the brain have evolved - I look forward to reading more about why the idea of 'evolution' even matters.

[Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read another book, The Reluctant Mr. Darwin, which like this book, is biographical, but focused upon the publication of his Origin of Species. While there is some overlap or commonality between the two books, Browne's short book contains new and different information. I recommend both. The only weakness I see is the final chapter,entitled Legacy, which attempts and only partly succeeds in summarizing all that has happened since to Darwin's legacy. The chapter seems rushed and incomplete. It might even have been left off, given the overwhelming challenge of summarizing his legacy in a short chapter of a short, but nonetheless very interesting and readable book.

[Sybil Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. Not an easy biography to breeze through; but it was not the easy life for Darwin and his struggle to write the Origin of Species. I found it to be really thought provoking. (I had to stop in middle of some paragraphs and contemplate about what was going on.) This is not a book that I would read just to idly past time. I would recommend it for people who are science nerds; not because of a difficult wording, but because of scientist like Darwin who theories go against the trends of the society they live in.

[Jonathan Haesaerts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet Browne levert met dit werk een bijzonder nuttig overzicht over de geschiedenis van één der belangrijkste en invloedrijkste werken aller tijden. In amper 130 pagina's geeft ze een bondige uitleg over het ontstaan van het werk, de evolutietheorie zelf, de publicatie, de controverses en de nalatenschap ervan. De evolutie van hoe er in verschillende kringen werd omgegaan met het werk, tijdens én na het leven van Charles Darwin, krijgt uitvoerig aandacht. Voor iedereen die geboeid is door de impact van het werk in de toenmalige negentiende-eeuwse context een ware aanrader.

[Allison Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read a book that summarized the historical, scientific, and religious context, presentation, and reception of the Origin of Species and this book did exactly that. It provides a high level view beginning with Darwin's predecessors and ending with the state of the debate today, and was an easy read. Browne worked very hard to be unbiased, and while that is impossible, she did a good enough job presenting the people and questions tied up in the publication and reception of evolutionary theory that I have a better idea of what to read next.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Style is clear and engaging, and the story told thought-provoking. From time to time, subjective historical interpretations or a certain bias can be seen in the pages, but for the most part, the book is a very interesting insight in the history, the precedents and the outcomes of Darwin's theories. A must-read for anyone interested in the History of Biology, or aiming to understand present-day confrontations between evolution and creationism.

[Kurtzprzezce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Książka w sposób interesujący prezentuje tło historyczne oraz wydarzenia, które ostatecznie doprowadziły do powstania najsłynniejszego dzieła Darwina. Ciekawy jest też rozdział traktujący o jego recepcji wśród ludzi współczesnych Darwinowi. Nieco mniej podobał mi się rozdział ostatni, mimo interesujących faktów. Miałem wrażenie, że jest zbyt skondensowany i prezentowanym zagadnieniom powinno się było poświęcić nieco więcej czasu i uwagi.

[Celia Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary look at Charles Darwin, his book 'Origin of Species', the voyage of the HMS Beagle and how Origin has affected research since it's publishing to the present day.
great introduction to Darwin's Origin of species ... A considerable part of the book is spent on the controversy that this book caused in 19th century England and on the impact - both intended and unintended - of Darwin's theory on many scientists and politicians.

[Berker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Çevirmen Orhan Düz'ün Melbourne'ün Avusturya'da olduğunu ve Yeni Zelanda'nın Avusturya'nın komşusu olduğunu iddia etmesi nedeniyle kitabın geri kalanını okurken oluşan "acaba yazar burada gerçekten böyle mi dedi" hissinden kurtulabilirseniz, dönemin Avrupası'ndaki dine ve bilime olan bakışın adım adım nasıl değişime uğradığının örnekleriyle anlatılması ilginizi çekebilir.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read on this controversial publication ~ 150 years ago, discussing on the beginnings, 'a theory by which to work', publication, controversy and finally legacy. It is neutral to present both sides of the coin to let readers to have a calm read and understanding.

Hopefully to read others in the series, esp. the Bible, The Qur'an, and Marx's Das Kapital...

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to read about Darwin's life, development of theories, and interaction with other scientists. Janet Browne discusses how Darwin's theories influenced social theories of survival of the fittest, which was illuminating.

[Astrid Dzul Hori · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a general approach to one of the most important books in the history of science. Janet Browne specially emphasizes in Darwin's context to understand how such scientific contributions could be done and how this theory was thought and adapted to develop other scientific and social problems.

[neil jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stimulating Book for the General Reader

A very interesting review of Darwin's life, influences and impact on scientific thinking. The book is well written and straightforward to follow. Recommended.

[Margaret Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't get why people are complaining that it doesn't offer enough insight. Just use your own brain for that. This is very well written and it covers an impressive amount of territory in a satisfyingly miniature format