Darwin – In a Nutshell

by Peter Whitfield

Charles Darwin, father of evolution, was one of the greatest pioneers in science. His five-year voyage on The Beagle, his visit to the Galapagos Islands, his careful work in noting small differences of fauna on different islands – all led to the concept of natural selection, which radically changed the way mankind and the animal world was viewed. But what kind of man was Darwin, and why did he keep his conclusions secret for so many years? In this clear but informative account, Peter Whitfield sets Darwin in the 19th-century society from which he sprang, and considers the effects of his ideas on the 21st century.

Genres: Science, History, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Evolution

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2009

Reviews

[Janhmmn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this short audiobook and enjoyed it for the broader context it set Darwin and his work in. Another book I read agonised for too long over how his discoveries affected his personal faith. I'm not really that interested. I can be a Christian and believe in science at the same time. They are non-overlapping magisteria, as Stephen Jay Gould puts it.
This book presents a short biography of Darwin, including a bit about the scientific context in which he lived, and also looking at his legacy in science over the past 150 years.

[Seif · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just for the flight. Nothing new.

[Halila Selamat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened this on an audiobook, the narratives and explanations paint the clear picture of who, why, when and how everything is happening. Good for beginners to understand the theory of evolution

[Alan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This more or less does what it says on the tin. I do think it's anachronistic to refer to religious "fundamentalism" in the 1860s, since what we now think of as fundamentalism arose in the early 20th century, largely in response to Darwin's findings. Small bone to pick though.

[Shital · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this audio book on my long drives to Leavenworth for rock climbing field trips. The books is just enough detailed on Darwin's life but very thin on his actual theories. It's not written specifically to make readers interested so bring your own passion. However it's also not written to bore you with mundane details, infect book is much shorter than it should be.

I enjoyed hearing about how Darwin inherited wealth which he eventually used to fund his 5 year voyage around exotic unexplored places on Earth for research. It was also interesting to know that theories of evolution weren't formed overnight in Darwin's mind and it actually took decade after he completed the grand trip. Author does a good job to describe the interesting times of late 1800s and how idea of evolution was already forming shape even before Darwin had his paper out. However at times I feel lot of interesting stories and details are left out.

[Sameer Alshenawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book. It is fun to read books through your ears. It is that kind of books that you get what you expected: a summary biography of Darwin and A simple introduction to evolution. Enjoy it

[Daniel Ziegelbauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that met expectations as a very brief summary of the life and work of Charles Darwin. If you expected more, you missed the title of this production. Although a fine summary I continue to be frustrated with the positions so many authors, academics, scientists and religious leaders and followers take that evolution and religion, and creationism more specifically cannot be compatible launching an endless and childlike argument over an issue to me seems quite clear. Perhaps humans are still evolving in that respect.

[Mboconnor31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summary of who the man was, where he came from, such as certain occupations of his relatives impacted his theories, and his theory of evolution, natural selection. The conclusion includes various ways the world received his theory, some with contempt, others with wonder and still others willing to create an alternative option based on [God's] design. Hence, another key pin of the struggle between the material world and the metaphysical one. This debate continues to this day, some one hundred and eighty five years later.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got what I expected. A brief, somewhat interesting summary of Darwin's life and work.
I understand it is hard to actually read non-fiction in an interesting way, but this put me to sleep so many times, it's actually embarrassing :/

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short audiobook gives a brief review of the life of Darwin and his struggles to come to terms with his own theories about evolution and natural selection, while also discussing his impact in his own time and upon history.