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Introducing Darwin and Evolution
Progress in genetics today would not have been possible without Darwin's revolution, but the mysterious man who determined belief in God's creation was remarkably timid. He spent most of his life in seclusion, a semi-invalid, riddled with doubts, faring the controversy his theories might unleash. In this book, the author unravels Darwin's life and contribution to biology in a brilliant and lucid manner, and traces the path from his scientific predecessors to the later modifications that his own evolutionary theories required. In this way, he provides an unusually clear historical perspective on the progress from pre-Darwinian biology to modern genetics and the crucial discovery of chromosomes.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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839 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Miller
190books38followersSir Jonathan Wolfe Miller CBE was a British theatre and opera director, author, television presenter, humorist and sculptor. Trained as a physician in the late 1950s, he first came to prominence in the 1960s with his role in the comedy review Beyond the Fringe with fellow writers and performers Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett. Despite having seen few operas and not knowing how to read music, he began stage-directing them in the 1970s and became one of the world's leading opera directors with several classic productions to his credit. His best-known production is probably his 1982 "Mafia"-styled Rigoletto set in 1950s Little Italy, Manhattan. He was also a well-known television personality and familiar public intellectual in the UK and US.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 19, 2024
Charles Darwin is one of the few people who genuinely changed how we view our species. His work, On the Origin of Species, in 1859, helped us learn more about evolution and how humans evolved to their current form. This book will help you to learn more about Darwin, his works, and how the world perceived his works.
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August 6, 2022
A clear and concise overview of Darwin's scientific endeavors and the incontrovertible relevance of those endeavors to our understanding of life and its processes.
This is no children's book. For example: In the description of the isolating mechanisms that inhibit inter-species copulation, the authors drop an F-bomb in what, I assume, is an attempt at humor(?). Whatever the reasoning, it seemed ill-advised and in questionable taste.
All missteps aside, the enthusiasm the authors show for Darwin and his accomplishments is infectious. I would highly recommend this book to any ADULT who has even the slightest scientific proclivity or interest. Beginners or otherwise.
"...in recent years there have been last ditch attempts to reinstate some, indeed any, alternative to the Darwinian theory of evolution. But the death of Darwin has been greatly exaggerated." (pg. 173)
This is no children's book. For example: In the description of the isolating mechanisms that inhibit inter-species copulation, the authors drop an F-bomb in what, I assume, is an attempt at humor(?). Whatever the reasoning, it seemed ill-advised and in questionable taste.
All missteps aside, the enthusiasm the authors show for Darwin and his accomplishments is infectious. I would highly recommend this book to any ADULT who has even the slightest scientific proclivity or interest. Beginners or otherwise.
"...in recent years there have been last ditch attempts to reinstate some, indeed any, alternative to the Darwinian theory of evolution. But the death of Darwin has been greatly exaggerated." (pg. 173)
September 11, 2019
وی با آگاهی از اینکه دو سه ساعت دیگر باید برخیزد، با چشم و چاری در آمده در ساعت سه صبح، به لطف جوشیدن سیر و سرکه در دل ناشی از استرس شدید دوباره ناشی از شروع یه دوره� جدید در زندگی، موفق شد این کتاب را که تنها یک‌رو� به اتمام امانتش باقی مانده بود، بدو بدو تمام کند نقطه
موضوع از اسمش کاملا مشخصه. البته فقط هم در مورد داروین نیست بلکه یه توضیح از ابتدای تفکر فلاسفه و مذهبیون و فلان درباره آفرینش به شکل خیلی خلاصه ارائه میده. در واقع با توضیحات اولیه داشت سعی میکرد یه سیر مختصر نشون بده از اینکه از کجاها رسیدیم به شکل‌گیر� تفکرات چارلز عزیزمون. فقط اینکه از بیگینر هم بیگینرتر بود. تقریبا بین بیگینر و استارتر بود ولی یه جاهایی که میرفت سراغ چندتایی از ایسم‌ه� یه کم توضیح بیشتر شاید برای بعضی‌ه� نیاز داشت -که البته اونم با دو تا گوگل‌کرد� حل میشه. از حضور مداوم شرلوک هلمز هم اون وسطا لذت بردم که مسائل رو آنالیز میکرد -با اون کلاهش :)) و سرشار از نقاشیای بامزه که برای کسایی مثل من که فوتوگرافیک مموری دارن خیلی خوب بود.
با وجود علاقه� شدیدم به هرچه مربوط به داروین، بعید میدونم دوباره سراغ این بیام. فکر میکنم کتابای جدیدتر و بهتری هم باشن. کتاب به شدت قدیمی بود، البته که� من عاشق این� نکته‌م� اما خب نه فیزیکی و نه برای دانلود هم وجود نداشت. فقط یه اسکن از یه نسخه خیلی قدیمی رو میشد از سایت آرکایو امانت گرفت.
در کل واسه گرم� کردن اولیه ذهن خوب بود تا که به زودی بریم سرا� عزیز دل‌مو�: دی اوریجن اِو اسپیشیز 😍
موضوع از اسمش کاملا مشخصه. البته فقط هم در مورد داروین نیست بلکه یه توضیح از ابتدای تفکر فلاسفه و مذهبیون و فلان درباره آفرینش به شکل خیلی خلاصه ارائه میده. در واقع با توضیحات اولیه داشت سعی میکرد یه سیر مختصر نشون بده از اینکه از کجاها رسیدیم به شکل‌گیر� تفکرات چارلز عزیزمون. فقط اینکه از بیگینر هم بیگینرتر بود. تقریبا بین بیگینر و استارتر بود ولی یه جاهایی که میرفت سراغ چندتایی از ایسم‌ه� یه کم توضیح بیشتر شاید برای بعضی‌ه� نیاز داشت -که البته اونم با دو تا گوگل‌کرد� حل میشه. از حضور مداوم شرلوک هلمز هم اون وسطا لذت بردم که مسائل رو آنالیز میکرد -با اون کلاهش :)) و سرشار از نقاشیای بامزه که برای کسایی مثل من که فوتوگرافیک مموری دارن خیلی خوب بود.
با وجود علاقه� شدیدم به هرچه مربوط به داروین، بعید میدونم دوباره سراغ این بیام. فکر میکنم کتابای جدیدتر و بهتری هم باشن. کتاب به شدت قدیمی بود، البته که� من عاشق این� نکته‌م� اما خب نه فیزیکی و نه برای دانلود هم وجود نداشت. فقط یه اسکن از یه نسخه خیلی قدیمی رو میشد از سایت آرکایو امانت گرفت.
در کل واسه گرم� کردن اولیه ذهن خوب بود تا که به زودی بریم سرا� عزیز دل‌مو�: دی اوریجن اِو اسپیشیز 😍
February 19, 2022
الصور لم تكن شارحة بل مشوشة بعض الشيء :))
July 15, 2016
عندما قرأ ت. هـ. هكسلي صديق داروين وزميله كتاب أصل الأنواع لأول مرة في عام 1859 قال لنفسه: "يا لغبائي! كيف لم أفكر في ذلك من قبل؟"
•Ģ�
مع أنه مازال هناك عدد كبير من التفاصيل التقنية التي ظلت محيرة حتى الآن؛ فإن نظرية داروين تظل هي التفسير الوحيد المعقول للحياة على الأرض.
•Ģ�
إن الأصل البيولوجي للطبيعة البشرية لا ينفي بشكل مسبق احتمال وجود إرادة حرة وسمو أخلاقي. ومع ظهور اللغة والكتابة توصل البشر إلى قوانين لا يمكن اختزالها إلى تبادل مباشر للإشارات بين روبوتات بيولوجية، وإذا قدّر للنوع البشري أن يحتفظ بإيمانه وسموه، فإنه لن يصل إلى ذلك بإنكار أصله، ولكن بتأكيد وتعزيز تلك السمات التي تميزه عن بقية الكائنات في الطبيعة.
•Ģ�
•Ģ�
مع أنه مازال هناك عدد كبير من التفاصيل التقنية التي ظلت محيرة حتى الآن؛ فإن نظرية داروين تظل هي التفسير الوحيد المعقول للحياة على الأرض.
•Ģ�
إن الأصل البيولوجي للطبيعة البشرية لا ينفي بشكل مسبق احتمال وجود إرادة حرة وسمو أخلاقي. ومع ظهور اللغة والكتابة توصل البشر إلى قوانين لا يمكن اختزالها إلى تبادل مباشر للإشارات بين روبوتات بيولوجية، وإذا قدّر للنوع البشري أن يحتفظ بإيمانه وسموه، فإنه لن يصل إلى ذلك بإنكار أصله، ولكن بتأكيد وتعزيز تلك السمات التي تميزه عن بقية الكائنات في الطبيعة.
•Ģ�
March 5, 2012
Just like the rest of the "introductory series" this book does a good job of simplifying a difficult subject making it more accessible.
Not my favorite of the series, I would have enjoyed reading a bit more about Darwin's life and struggles. But none the less it has sparked my curiosity and I am quite eager to read more about Darwin and his theories.
Not my favorite of the series, I would have enjoyed reading a bit more about Darwin's life and struggles. But none the less it has sparked my curiosity and I am quite eager to read more about Darwin and his theories.
June 16, 2022
This book was accessible and I liked the illustrations. I don't think it was for me as I found it boring at times but I can appreciate and understand why someone may say it is good.
January 25, 2016
This is an interesting look at Darwin. The comic book is a biography, talking about Darwin. What is amazing about this book is that goes through various other scientists, who were active before or during Darwin's life that had their own theories about the life of animals. The book also talks about Darwin not as genius but as an person of average intelligence. Since the theory of evolution isn't very complicated, the book talks a lot about history, which isn't common with the "for Beginners" comic series.
January 2, 2022
الكتاب يستعرض تاريخ داروين ومراحل عمله على نظرية التطور والصعوبات التي واجهها بأسلوب بسيط وخفيف الظل. مناسب كمقدمة للتطور وأصل الأنواع.
January 25, 2017
Like the other books in the Introducing series, this presents the key topics and ideas in a readable form. However, I liked this one less than some of the others I have read, primarily because of the polemical tone (like 'Making a British ass of himself' or 'stupid critics' types of expression) and because the discussion does become jargon filled at places, like the descriptions of Mendelian biology etc.
December 25, 2008
This comprehensive book explains everything you've ever wanted to know about Darwin and the facts surrounding his "Origins of the Species." I'm not a science person AT ALL and I was miraculously able to comprehend the book's information, presented in cartoon format. It's witty and entertaining. Highly recommended, especially for people who don't mesh well with science but are curious anyways.
February 16, 2020
طريقة عرض النظرية بالكاريكاتير لطيفة وجميلة جدا.
June 28, 2023
Being reasonably well-written and researched, this book suffers from a relatively uncommon issue: the misallocation of attention. While the 'A Graphic Guide' series consistently punches above its weight, I can't help but trace this problem back to limits inherent in its format. No entry surpasses 200 pages; this one would have profited greatly from being an exception. Despite its title, this book would probably be more accurately titled Introducing The Darwinian Revolution. Relatively little attention is paid to the content of Darwin's work, and far more space is dedicated to discussing the environment in which that work germinated.
We learn about Lyell's geological theories, the influence of Thomas Malthus, and the blinders placed on science by Natural Theology. These are genuinely interesting subjects, but there's a trade-off in exploring them within a book so short. While we learn about natural selection, we don't trace how Darwin presented the arguments, nor do we spend much time exploring what Darwin thought the consequences of his ideas were. We don't learn about sexual selection or Darwin's thoughts on the evolution of humankind. As interesting as it might be to read about that, those aren't the crucial parts of Darwin's legacy, and that's really what this book is about.
And, when you get down to it, Darwin didn't have that much of a legacy! Darwin's significant contribution to scientific history is not the theory of natural selection but rather the collection of evidence he amassed to support it. Natural selection quickly fell out of favor within Darwin's lifetime, supplanted by Lamarckian ideas until the Neo-Darwianin Synthesis emerged in the 1930s. But, and this is crucial, Darwin's work killed non-evolutionary biology. The evidence he compiled made evolution indisputable, even if his explanation of its mechanism needed work. This represents a major paradigm shift in the sense of Thomas Kuhn, and this book is more interested in that process than it is in Darwin. Oh well.
We learn about Lyell's geological theories, the influence of Thomas Malthus, and the blinders placed on science by Natural Theology. These are genuinely interesting subjects, but there's a trade-off in exploring them within a book so short. While we learn about natural selection, we don't trace how Darwin presented the arguments, nor do we spend much time exploring what Darwin thought the consequences of his ideas were. We don't learn about sexual selection or Darwin's thoughts on the evolution of humankind. As interesting as it might be to read about that, those aren't the crucial parts of Darwin's legacy, and that's really what this book is about.
And, when you get down to it, Darwin didn't have that much of a legacy! Darwin's significant contribution to scientific history is not the theory of natural selection but rather the collection of evidence he amassed to support it. Natural selection quickly fell out of favor within Darwin's lifetime, supplanted by Lamarckian ideas until the Neo-Darwianin Synthesis emerged in the 1930s. But, and this is crucial, Darwin's work killed non-evolutionary biology. The evidence he compiled made evolution indisputable, even if his explanation of its mechanism needed work. This represents a major paradigm shift in the sense of Thomas Kuhn, and this book is more interested in that process than it is in Darwin. Oh well.
April 22, 2018
Questo libro costituisce un ottimo riassunto della storia ed evoluzione della teoria evolutiva, è una ottima lettura per chi è curioso di conoscere cos’�, com’� nata e quali controversie ha suscitato una delle teorie pi�� controverse del secolo scorso, ma che ha strascichi polemici tuttora.
Dovrebbe essere, secondo me, un ottimo libro da consigliare a studenti dei primi anni di liceo e a chi ancora non crede alla base scientifica della teoria darwiniana.
Il libro scorre velocemente e le immagini accompagnano il racconto in modo piacevole. Mi auguro che per chi si affaccia a questo libro con pregiudizio le immagini non traggano in inganno sulla credibilità del libro.
Dovrebbe essere, secondo me, un ottimo libro da consigliare a studenti dei primi anni di liceo e a chi ancora non crede alla base scientifica della teoria darwiniana.
Il libro scorre velocemente e le immagini accompagnano il racconto in modo piacevole. Mi auguro che per chi si affaccia a questo libro con pregiudizio le immagini non traggano in inganno sulla credibilità del libro.
June 24, 2016
Irreverent, smart, and surprisingly dense for a cute little book. The comics were helpful, as the language was a bit tricky for my students. Still, it was worth it!
I needed a short book to teach about evolution--but I wanted a bit more than the basics. I wanted my students to gain some historical context and broader appreciation for evolution, something beyond salt-and-pepper moths and long-necked giraffes. This book helped them contemplate the structure of scientific revolutions: how far-reaching the repercussions can be of one person's ideas, and also how silly it is to attribute an entire social, cultural, and intellectual movement to a single person.
I highly recommend this book. I don't think it's the best introduction to evolution, or even to Darwin. But it is an excellent work for exploring the particular upheaval in science that Darwin was in the middle of, from many angles. I have read a bit about Darwin's predecessors, contemporaries, and successors, but this book helped me put them all together in a new and satisfying way. Very useful for developing in students a more sophisticated appreciation for the history of science!
I needed a short book to teach about evolution--but I wanted a bit more than the basics. I wanted my students to gain some historical context and broader appreciation for evolution, something beyond salt-and-pepper moths and long-necked giraffes. This book helped them contemplate the structure of scientific revolutions: how far-reaching the repercussions can be of one person's ideas, and also how silly it is to attribute an entire social, cultural, and intellectual movement to a single person.
I highly recommend this book. I don't think it's the best introduction to evolution, or even to Darwin. But it is an excellent work for exploring the particular upheaval in science that Darwin was in the middle of, from many angles. I have read a bit about Darwin's predecessors, contemporaries, and successors, but this book helped me put them all together in a new and satisfying way. Very useful for developing in students a more sophisticated appreciation for the history of science!
April 25, 2018
This is a cute little companion to The Origin of Species. It’s not Cliff Notes � it doesn’t begin to summarize TO0S � but it gives it a little context in briefly describing Darwin’s personal and professional environment - his heroes, teachers and detractors. It also elaborates on how much his theories were is dialogue with the scientific community around him. Like TOoS, this book is far from being the best source for the most contemporary, cutting-edge , evidence-based theories of evolution, but nevertheless, it’s got some great cartoons and a good mix of history and some basic scientific principles regarding evolution and related geology.
November 1, 2011
Overall, this book does a good job of showing what Darwin discovered, went through, and how it changed the world. It's pretty simple to understand.
But wow. Really? It's really inappropriate. There are terribly disgusting pictures and occasional swearing, which I'm unaccustomed to when it comes to reading text books (what this was for me).
So, it's a good read, but don't read it around small children.
But wow. Really? It's really inappropriate. There are terribly disgusting pictures and occasional swearing, which I'm unaccustomed to when it comes to reading text books (what this was for me).
So, it's a good read, but don't read it around small children.
January 24, 2008
My husband and I read this small book to each other. I don't think I would have finished it if I read it alone. I am sure very accurate but Darwin wasn't that exciting or interesting of a person from an observational view. what he produced as human is a whole different story, that is not this story.
June 13, 2015
a concise yet very comprehensive 'introduction to Darwin' book.
It slightly covers Darwin's life, family, scientific world before and after him and of course his theory.
This book deserves 5 stars as it has sparked my curiosity and encouraged me to do some further reading.
BTW, excellent illustrations by Borin Van Loon!
It slightly covers Darwin's life, family, scientific world before and after him and of course his theory.
This book deserves 5 stars as it has sparked my curiosity and encouraged me to do some further reading.
BTW, excellent illustrations by Borin Van Loon!
February 21, 2011
Just a fun little overview of Darwin's life and work. Nothing spectacular, but there are lots of cartoons, which keeps it enjoyable. I do wish I could suspend my inner copyeditor; this one needed a firmer eye looking it over before it went to print.
February 23, 2017
This was a fantastic intro to the life and times of Darwin, and clearing up a lot of simple misconceptions about the man himself. He had an interesting and fruitful life, and this book is short and easy to follow. Highly recommended!
August 2, 2008
Darwin biography meets Mad Magazine through a natural history lens, this does a great job of comic bookizing the story of how the most important book ever written for empiricists came to be.
June 7, 2010
Fun and edifying.
January 31, 2012
Okay, although Darwinism is today self-evident theory. Last 40 pages were somewhat complicated for me. Illustrations doesn't make sense at all.
July 12, 2015
good intro to the topic.
June 7, 2014
I could have done without some of the illustrations but overall a great book that clearly explained the basics.
March 15, 2017
Read in college (mid 90's). Good easy intro into the man and his thoughts.
June 27, 2018
cute af
June 29, 2012
I needed to read this for my Anthropology class. It was a very simple way to learn about Darwin.
May 10, 2025
3.5
My guess is that very few 'beginners' would finish this book. It's more useful as an overview of scientific thinking during the 1800s. Lots of names, lots of explanations. As a 'beginner' there would have been far too much info, all of which would end up being a blur. There's even a page devoted to the structure of DNA.
I did appreciate the overview, especially because it guided me through the development of a scientific understanding based on the work of many named scientists. And, I learned a few things. For instance,
p 54: Darwin made friends with a black taxidermist who taught him how to skin and stuff birds, a skill which would stand him in good stead during his voyage round the world. Darwin's affable readiness to form a professional relationship with someone then regarded as a member of an 'inferior race', distinguished him from some of his more orthodox colleagues. ...
On page 149, Miller used an analogy that always makes me cringe; he describes chromosomes as being a "set of small solid threads" and then explains that the "hereditary factors were strung along the length of these threads, like beads on a necklace." Not at all helpful. This just confuses the facts.
As for the art, I enjoyed some of it, but mostly it just took up space. I started by studying the cartoons but when I got to the 'family tree' I decided that the art wasn't meant to be helpful.
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