On the Origin of Species

By Charles Darwin

Book Overview

The original "big idea" book that changed natural science and transformed humanity's understanding of their place in the world--and remains controversial to this day.

First published in 1859, On the Origin of Species introduced Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to the world and, by extension, the role of evolution in natural biology and species development. By inferring through observation that species evolved over an immense amount of time, Darwin was able to articulate the basis of ideas like common descent, the struggle for survival, and inherited variance. Manifold and deeply destabilizing to their 19th century audience, the implications of natural selection reverberated across religion, philosophy, the liberal arts, and if course the scientific community.

Drawn from years of observations and written for a non-scientific audience, On the Origin of Species is a classic that truly changed the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1435172981
• ISBN13: 9781435172982
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Union Square & Co.
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.6" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Need to know for cultural literacy.

Because these reviews are cross-posted, this is a review of ISBN-13: 9780517123201, with a cover that was definitely made to be provocative. It depicts an ape allying view of going from all fours to upright. If this is what you are looking for, then you need to read " 2001: A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clarke. Other versions of the book will have the guts of Darwin with someone else's prologue and conclusions. You will need to ask before buying. 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". I figured the book would be similar. However, I found "Origin" to be more complex and detailed. ISBN-13: 9780451529060 – Introduction by Sir Julian Huxley Strong proponent of secular humanism, author of Religion Without Revelation (1927). ISBN-13: 9781509827695 – Introduction and Afterword Oliver Francis His role is to frame Darwin’s text for modern readers. Considering 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 nailed how the environment and crossbreeding would affect natural selection. Speaking of natural selection, I thought he was going to give some great insight into 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 nearly 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 drawback 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 differently. In the end, it is worth reading, and you will never look at life the same way again.