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A Modest Genius: The story of Darwin's Life and how his ideas changed everything
Part biography, part popular science, A Modest Genius provides a lively, engaging account of Darwin's life and the events that inspired his groundbreaking theory. Science writer and biologist Hanne Strager brings Darwin to life while offering the essential elements of evolution and how they affect us today.
Much has been written on Darwin's life, his groundbreaking work, and the influence he has had on modern scientific thought and advancements, but most books assume a certain level of scientific knowledge. A Modest Genius changes that, offering an accessible, easy-to-understand discussion of Darwin's work.
Readers follow Darwin from his early years through his travels. Hanne Strager explains how Darwin assembled the pieces of a fascinating puzzle while also describing the fundamental principles of evolution.
Darwin's theory, by necessity, was incomplete when he proposed it. He lacked modern knowledge of the fossil record, DNA, and genetics. Strager explains how advances in these and other scientific areas expanded on Darwin's original work. She also discusses the ongoing conflict between religion and evolution, including the famous Scopes Monkey Trial and the battle Darwin himself fought between faith and intellect.
Bold, exciting, and easily understood, A Modest Genius offers an opportunity to understand one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the modern age.
Much has been written on Darwin's life, his groundbreaking work, and the influence he has had on modern scientific thought and advancements, but most books assume a certain level of scientific knowledge. A Modest Genius changes that, offering an accessible, easy-to-understand discussion of Darwin's work.
Readers follow Darwin from his early years through his travels. Hanne Strager explains how Darwin assembled the pieces of a fascinating puzzle while also describing the fundamental principles of evolution.
Darwin's theory, by necessity, was incomplete when he proposed it. He lacked modern knowledge of the fossil record, DNA, and genetics. Strager explains how advances in these and other scientific areas expanded on Darwin's original work. She also discusses the ongoing conflict between religion and evolution, including the famous Scopes Monkey Trial and the battle Darwin himself fought between faith and intellect.
Bold, exciting, and easily understood, A Modest Genius offers an opportunity to understand one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the modern age.
232 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2016
340 people are currently reading
1712 people want to read
About the author
Hanne Strager
10 books55 followersI am a biologist and science writer - and a passionate reader. After graduating from the Aarhus University, Denmark, I studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz, as a Fulbright Scholar.
Many years ago I cofounded a whale center in northern Norway and I remain involved in cetacean research and conservation. I have served as the director of exhibitions at the Natural History Museum of Denmark and has twenty years’ experience making science and natural history accessible to the general public.
I have been awarded the Copenhagen University Natural Sciences Faculty’s prize for science communication.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 1, 2020
A well-turned, albeit condensed, biographical view of Charles Darwin and how his ideas have forever altered our perception of the world.
Strager is a biologist and a flat-out fantastic writer. She has a gift for getting to the meat of a matter without all the superfluous academic gobbledygook. This is not a deep, introspective analysis, but rather an entertaining and enlightening overview that should appeal to almost anyone with a curious (and open) mind.
That said, I do have a small issue with her characterization of Charles' father and their relationship. I quote Strager:
• "...scribbling down his memoirs, the words came back to him. "You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat-catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family", his father had once yelled at him when he was a boy." (pg 1)
• "...the family resided in a gloomy mansion known as "The Mount"." (pg 1)
• "...his authoritarian father..." (pg 22)
Strager is not the only Darwin biographer to frame his father as something of a tyrant. I see it more often than not in almost everything I read. It may indeed be true, but the evidence, as I see it, just doesn't seem to align with such a harsh conclusion. Robert Darwin was a doctor who was tirelessly attentive to the needs of his patients, there are countless letters that attest to this. He was known to give gifts of food and cash and free medical attention in times of need. He established an "infants' school" at rather great expense to himself, and he made sure that all of his children, especially Charles, were well provided for and would never want for anything.
Yes, Robert Darwin had occasion to yell, 'You'll never amount to anything if you don't change your ways!' Jesus, what parent doesn't say that at some point to every child on the planet? Yes, Robert had serious reservations about Charles sailing to South America on the Beagle, but after seeing the utter disappointment in his Son's eyes, he gave him an opportunity for redress, and ultimately consented. Nay, beyond consent, he paid all his expenses so that Charles was not beholding or obligated to the British Admiralty - his discoveries and collections were his and his alone.
If Robert Darwin's words don't paint a portrait of a loving, caring father, his actions surely speak otherwise.
Strager is a biologist and a flat-out fantastic writer. She has a gift for getting to the meat of a matter without all the superfluous academic gobbledygook. This is not a deep, introspective analysis, but rather an entertaining and enlightening overview that should appeal to almost anyone with a curious (and open) mind.
That said, I do have a small issue with her characterization of Charles' father and their relationship. I quote Strager:
• "...scribbling down his memoirs, the words came back to him. "You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat-catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family", his father had once yelled at him when he was a boy." (pg 1)
• "...the family resided in a gloomy mansion known as "The Mount"." (pg 1)
• "...his authoritarian father..." (pg 22)
Strager is not the only Darwin biographer to frame his father as something of a tyrant. I see it more often than not in almost everything I read. It may indeed be true, but the evidence, as I see it, just doesn't seem to align with such a harsh conclusion. Robert Darwin was a doctor who was tirelessly attentive to the needs of his patients, there are countless letters that attest to this. He was known to give gifts of food and cash and free medical attention in times of need. He established an "infants' school" at rather great expense to himself, and he made sure that all of his children, especially Charles, were well provided for and would never want for anything.
Yes, Robert Darwin had occasion to yell, 'You'll never amount to anything if you don't change your ways!' Jesus, what parent doesn't say that at some point to every child on the planet? Yes, Robert had serious reservations about Charles sailing to South America on the Beagle, but after seeing the utter disappointment in his Son's eyes, he gave him an opportunity for redress, and ultimately consented. Nay, beyond consent, he paid all his expenses so that Charles was not beholding or obligated to the British Admiralty - his discoveries and collections were his and his alone.
If Robert Darwin's words don't paint a portrait of a loving, caring father, his actions surely speak otherwise.
April 23, 2019
I find any book about Darwin fascinating and this book is no exception. If you've never read any, then this is a great book to start with!
February 23, 2017
This book tries to cover a lot of territory in a short space; biography of Darwin, discussion of his scientific ideas and how they fit into the history of evolutionary theory right up to the present, somewhat discordant look at the conflict between Christian fundamentalists' literalist take on Genesis vs. the scientific consensus of an ancient Earth and evolution of species, also right up to the present.
This inevitably means that the book is somewhat superficial and is probably weakest on the biographical front. The scientific angle is entry-level and probably good as such but will seem a little patronising to people already familiar with the basic ideas. It's also slightly out of date in that it pays no heed to modern epigenetics or the whole Gould vs. Dawkins controversy.
I wanted a much deeper insight into the character of the man, but that doesn't make it a bad book, just the wrong book. It might be just what you are looking for.
This inevitably means that the book is somewhat superficial and is probably weakest on the biographical front. The scientific angle is entry-level and probably good as such but will seem a little patronising to people already familiar with the basic ideas. It's also slightly out of date in that it pays no heed to modern epigenetics or the whole Gould vs. Dawkins controversy.
I wanted a much deeper insight into the character of the man, but that doesn't make it a bad book, just the wrong book. It might be just what you are looking for.
April 10, 2017
This book is a must-buy for any Darwin enthusiasts, and is also perfect for anyone simply looking to learn more about the man. Hanne's books presents us with a refreshing and entertaining take on the life of Darwin and his discoveries. A pleasure to read!
April 6, 2017
An absolute must-read if you're the least bit interested in Darwin!
June 7, 2017
3.5 stars
This wasn't quite the biography I was hoping it would be. Yes, it sheds some light on Darwin's life that it didn't previously know, but too often it veers off into how his ideas became a better understanding of science in general. I realize this is probably needed when talking about Darwin, and is even alluded to in the title of the book, but I was hoping for a more focused study on the man himself instead of the other avenues that it often went down. A decent book, but not a thorough look at Darwin's personal life
This wasn't quite the biography I was hoping it would be. Yes, it sheds some light on Darwin's life that it didn't previously know, but too often it veers off into how his ideas became a better understanding of science in general. I realize this is probably needed when talking about Darwin, and is even alluded to in the title of the book, but I was hoping for a more focused study on the man himself instead of the other avenues that it often went down. A decent book, but not a thorough look at Darwin's personal life
October 1, 2018
Enjoyed most of this book. Strager is a clear thinker and makes the science accessible to a layperson like me. There were longish sections that dealt with more recent scientific discoveries, such as Watson and Crick's discovery of DNA. My personal preference would have been more detail on Darwin's life, less about his legacy. It is a quick read, especially since the final dozen pages are filled with footnotes.
March 17, 2017
Nice read on how diligence, patience, intelligent thinking and luck pays off!
July 31, 2017
Awesome book. Fascinating account of Darwin"s Life . I received it as a Goodreads Giveway and thank the author so very much. Very exciting and a great inspiring book.
October 4, 2017
I liked this book, but it feels overly simplistic. Like something I would give to a middle schooler to get them interested in science. It was an interesting and fast read.
December 17, 2018
Well worth the read.
Very human portrayal intertwined with scientific intrigue. The addition of the current state of understanding is welcome. As for the religious ....
Very human portrayal intertwined with scientific intrigue. The addition of the current state of understanding is welcome. As for the religious ....
May 4, 2017
A fascinating exploration of the life, theories and scientific contemporaries of Charles Darwin.
An insightful, meticulously researched title.
Very easy for the ordinary reader to understand, without any specialist academic or scientific background knowledge.
Part biography and part scientific theory, with the historical cultural context of Darwin's era masterfully analysed and evaluated.
Unique among Darwin biographies, this book features a foreword written by a female descendant of Darwin. A most impressive non-fiction work from author Hanne Strager.
An insightful, meticulously researched title.
Very easy for the ordinary reader to understand, without any specialist academic or scientific background knowledge.
Part biography and part scientific theory, with the historical cultural context of Darwin's era masterfully analysed and evaluated.
Unique among Darwin biographies, this book features a foreword written by a female descendant of Darwin. A most impressive non-fiction work from author Hanne Strager.
September 25, 2018
Great Story on Darwin and Evolution
I enjoyed the book and recommend it. It walks through Darwin's journey to building his Theory of Evolution. It also fills in some of the blanks in his theory, but identified later.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it. It walks through Darwin's journey to building his Theory of Evolution. It also fills in some of the blanks in his theory, but identified later.
March 10, 2017
He knew much.... I learned much, from reading this book!
August 2, 2017
A light and quick to read overview regarding Darwin's life and personality. Recommended if you are interested to read an introductory description of those times and discoveries.
January 16, 2020
Required
Brilliant about the life of Charles Darwin’s legacy as well as modern ideas of evolutionary biology. Brilliantly written and fun. Must read!
Brilliant about the life of Charles Darwin’s legacy as well as modern ideas of evolutionary biology. Brilliantly written and fun. Must read!
September 9, 2020
Growing up with a keen interest in the natural world and science which led to me majoring in Zoology and Psychology, Darwin was, without a doubt, among the most referenced scientists. It is fair to say that, having studied and worked in the scientific arena, he has been an influence in my life. Add to this an inspiration, after reading this biography, which opens with a foreword by Sarah Darwin, one of his descendants.
To this day, what we learn in class has been shaped by or is often a reaction to his ground-breaking theories. The story that led to his theories is, in some ways, an unlikely one.
Perhaps most fascinating was when in 1831, as a young explorer from England, he set sail on his 5-year odyssey. A journey that would eventually lead to his ground-breaking work “On the Origin of Species” though that fateful trip, at least scientifically speaking, wasn’t anything but ordinary as the biography relates.
I can imagine the majestic vistas must have been breath-taking and to go with it flora and fauna never encountered but the day-to-day routines were largely about meticulous observation, copious note taking, and collecting hundreds of specimens (and fossils) that would be periodically crated and shipped to England. Nothing in this trip would foretell what would at the time be his radical new ideas on Evolution and Natural Selection.
Until I read this biography, I had always assumed that when he reached the Galapagos islands and encountered his now famous finches he must have connected the dots that led to his ground-breaking theories but apparently quite the contrary. Darwin almost didn’t make it to the Galapagos. As the HMS Beagle approached the islands towards the end of the 5-year journey, a weary Darwin suggested they continue to England but was persuaded to disembark by the ship captain Robert FitzRoy and some of his crew. Once on the islands, Darwin did the usual things: observed, took notes, and collected specimens. However, the “finches” he had collected, he identified as grosbeaks, blackbirds, warblers, and wrens. It was only after he had returned to England and with the help of the taxidermist John Gould that he learnt that he had several varieties of finches.
Furthermore, in a move that was even uncharacteristic for Darwin, he had neglected to notate which island and/or location each of these birds belonged to. Fortunately, FitzRoy and some of his crew, who were also explorers, filled this gap for him.
It took Darwin another 23 years, after his journey had ended, to publish his landmark publication “On the Origin of Species”. In the interim, he had to identify (with the help of other experts) the specimens he had shipped, perform follow-up analysis, observations, and experimentation, and of course, write the book. He was also plagued with self-doubts on what he was about to propose which in good part delayed the publication. Add to this drama, around this period several other scientists were also converging on similar theories, most notably Alfred Wallace who came very close to upstaging him.
Once it was finally published, his book became a huge success among scholars and lay people alike (surprising to me since it is not light reading!), despite fierce criticism from the Church and other scientists. It is widely considered by many among the top non-fiction books ever published and to this day, new discoveries of species and fossil records have helped confirm his theories and solidify his standing as one of the great scientists of all time.
I would highly recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about one of the most influential scientists of all time.
To this day, what we learn in class has been shaped by or is often a reaction to his ground-breaking theories. The story that led to his theories is, in some ways, an unlikely one.
Perhaps most fascinating was when in 1831, as a young explorer from England, he set sail on his 5-year odyssey. A journey that would eventually lead to his ground-breaking work “On the Origin of Species” though that fateful trip, at least scientifically speaking, wasn’t anything but ordinary as the biography relates.
I can imagine the majestic vistas must have been breath-taking and to go with it flora and fauna never encountered but the day-to-day routines were largely about meticulous observation, copious note taking, and collecting hundreds of specimens (and fossils) that would be periodically crated and shipped to England. Nothing in this trip would foretell what would at the time be his radical new ideas on Evolution and Natural Selection.
Until I read this biography, I had always assumed that when he reached the Galapagos islands and encountered his now famous finches he must have connected the dots that led to his ground-breaking theories but apparently quite the contrary. Darwin almost didn’t make it to the Galapagos. As the HMS Beagle approached the islands towards the end of the 5-year journey, a weary Darwin suggested they continue to England but was persuaded to disembark by the ship captain Robert FitzRoy and some of his crew. Once on the islands, Darwin did the usual things: observed, took notes, and collected specimens. However, the “finches” he had collected, he identified as grosbeaks, blackbirds, warblers, and wrens. It was only after he had returned to England and with the help of the taxidermist John Gould that he learnt that he had several varieties of finches.
Furthermore, in a move that was even uncharacteristic for Darwin, he had neglected to notate which island and/or location each of these birds belonged to. Fortunately, FitzRoy and some of his crew, who were also explorers, filled this gap for him.
It took Darwin another 23 years, after his journey had ended, to publish his landmark publication “On the Origin of Species”. In the interim, he had to identify (with the help of other experts) the specimens he had shipped, perform follow-up analysis, observations, and experimentation, and of course, write the book. He was also plagued with self-doubts on what he was about to propose which in good part delayed the publication. Add to this drama, around this period several other scientists were also converging on similar theories, most notably Alfred Wallace who came very close to upstaging him.
Once it was finally published, his book became a huge success among scholars and lay people alike (surprising to me since it is not light reading!), despite fierce criticism from the Church and other scientists. It is widely considered by many among the top non-fiction books ever published and to this day, new discoveries of species and fossil records have helped confirm his theories and solidify his standing as one of the great scientists of all time.
I would highly recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about one of the most influential scientists of all time.
March 13, 2023
In the start of A modest genius, Darwin is beginning his explorations across the many seas of the world. He goes on the voyage with high hopes he will return soon and start a family, but he is also willing to put everything on the line in order to have his name be recognized as a great scientific genius (a well over accomplished goal). Although Darwin didn’t get back home to start a family for almost twelve years the voyage was well worth his time and without it, nothing he did would have ever been accomplishable. Of all the things he did on the voyage, the things that most obviously impacted him were his fossil finds, and his discoveries about finches, which is most likely the exact reason why he started his theories on evolution.
Along Darwin's long voyage he uncovered countless fossils. So many in fact that somewhere around halfway through the voyage the ship had to stop and drop off all the fossils because of how full it was. While discovering new species was a good start for Darwin, the species wasn’t what helped his career it was the people making the piles of bones into full skeletons. When Darwin was trying to get somebody to form the fossils, it was already very clear that there were new species amongst the bones. Therefore, many famous scientists were more than willing to give a helping hand. Scientist who would one day look up to Darwin rather than him looking up to them. Now while great connections helped his career, he would be nothing without his theories.
One of the key parts of the voyage was in Galapagos where Darwin took one specimen of bird from each of the many islands. When Darwin returned home somebody pointed out to him that all the birds were in fact the same species, they were all finches. Darwin thought about why all the birds were slightly different. He finally realized that it was because they were all living in different places. Now while this might seem obvious to you, back then the concept of evolution and adaptation didn’t exist, so this was groundbreaking. Without taking home these finches Darwin wouldn’t have a theory at all.
Finally, years later, once Darwin had fully developed his theory of evolution, he began to write a book. This wasn’t going to be any book though, no, this was going to be one of the most controversial books in history. Before you think that’s a joke you must consider that this was a time when the theory that God created us was widely accepted given that there wasn’t much scientific evidence to say otherwise. And now some random, at the time, practically unknown scientist was going to deny all of that? Eventually Darwin consulted some of the scientists who he met through his fossils and slowly but surely, they started to come around, some of them even supported him and were eager to help with the book. Finally, he published the book The Ogrin of Species. The book is still controversial given that it can’t be taught in schools due to religious reasons.
In conclusion Darwin was one of the greatest scientific genius’s in history and will be remembered for his many discoveries. These discoveries include many new species and one of the most important theories of all thime
Along Darwin's long voyage he uncovered countless fossils. So many in fact that somewhere around halfway through the voyage the ship had to stop and drop off all the fossils because of how full it was. While discovering new species was a good start for Darwin, the species wasn’t what helped his career it was the people making the piles of bones into full skeletons. When Darwin was trying to get somebody to form the fossils, it was already very clear that there were new species amongst the bones. Therefore, many famous scientists were more than willing to give a helping hand. Scientist who would one day look up to Darwin rather than him looking up to them. Now while great connections helped his career, he would be nothing without his theories.
One of the key parts of the voyage was in Galapagos where Darwin took one specimen of bird from each of the many islands. When Darwin returned home somebody pointed out to him that all the birds were in fact the same species, they were all finches. Darwin thought about why all the birds were slightly different. He finally realized that it was because they were all living in different places. Now while this might seem obvious to you, back then the concept of evolution and adaptation didn’t exist, so this was groundbreaking. Without taking home these finches Darwin wouldn’t have a theory at all.
Finally, years later, once Darwin had fully developed his theory of evolution, he began to write a book. This wasn’t going to be any book though, no, this was going to be one of the most controversial books in history. Before you think that’s a joke you must consider that this was a time when the theory that God created us was widely accepted given that there wasn’t much scientific evidence to say otherwise. And now some random, at the time, practically unknown scientist was going to deny all of that? Eventually Darwin consulted some of the scientists who he met through his fossils and slowly but surely, they started to come around, some of them even supported him and were eager to help with the book. Finally, he published the book The Ogrin of Species. The book is still controversial given that it can’t be taught in schools due to religious reasons.
In conclusion Darwin was one of the greatest scientific genius’s in history and will be remembered for his many discoveries. These discoveries include many new species and one of the most important theories of all thime
November 8, 2025
A Modest Genius' is about a modest genius named Charles Darwin, perhaps the most important scientist of all time. As a fan of especially evolution-based texts, I am invariably curious about Darwin. You can't read an evolutionary text without the author of that text either paying lip service or fully referring to Darwin's work. As most reading my review may already know, Darwin was a man much ahead of his time but truly this is an understatement.
I knew about his greatness as well as his modesty but I had wanted to read this book to learn a little bit more about his life, upbringing, and deepest thoughts. I wouldn't call this biography extensive, but sufficient. If you are looking for a book that doesn't lionize Darwin, or speak about the modern day evidence and implications of his theory then this book isn't for you. If you don't mind that, then this text is fantastic. It's a short text, but we are taken through Darwin's upbringing, his voyage on the Beagle, and his later years. Side by side we are either given the historical significance of his findings, modern day evidence that corroborates any gaps in Darwin's knowledge (e.g. genetic proof of evolution), or the modern day significance of the theory (well fact!) of evolution and how some have pushed back in the modern days. It's always got to get a reminder of the significance of discovering fossils of the archaeopteryx or Tiktaalik, two phenomenally important evolutionary links. Darwin, was ridiculed for even suggesting half jokingly that whales were related to some land mammals. Of course Darwin ended up being vindicated. His vindication, like evolution, is an on going process.
The biggest critique is that the book is too short. But then again, that might be the biggest positive. There's nothing wrong with getting an "intellectual pump" aka, an interesting mind excursion on some topic or person.
I knew about his greatness as well as his modesty but I had wanted to read this book to learn a little bit more about his life, upbringing, and deepest thoughts. I wouldn't call this biography extensive, but sufficient. If you are looking for a book that doesn't lionize Darwin, or speak about the modern day evidence and implications of his theory then this book isn't for you. If you don't mind that, then this text is fantastic. It's a short text, but we are taken through Darwin's upbringing, his voyage on the Beagle, and his later years. Side by side we are either given the historical significance of his findings, modern day evidence that corroborates any gaps in Darwin's knowledge (e.g. genetic proof of evolution), or the modern day significance of the theory (well fact!) of evolution and how some have pushed back in the modern days. It's always got to get a reminder of the significance of discovering fossils of the archaeopteryx or Tiktaalik, two phenomenally important evolutionary links. Darwin, was ridiculed for even suggesting half jokingly that whales were related to some land mammals. Of course Darwin ended up being vindicated. His vindication, like evolution, is an on going process.
The biggest critique is that the book is too short. But then again, that might be the biggest positive. There's nothing wrong with getting an "intellectual pump" aka, an interesting mind excursion on some topic or person.
June 10, 2019
Fascinating book and not too long. Really readable and able to get the gist of his most important ideas without getting bogged down. More about how the theory of evolution developed and the context on all that rather than a detailed biography, tho it does have the important elements. It's mind - boggling how he developed such a time - tested and extremely revolutionary theory that still holds true today. A genius of insight. We even today still have those who rigidly deny and won't believe proven science no matter what, and cause such massive problems (such as the anti - vaccers and The Religionists, as Gore Vidal called them). Surely human evolution is only part-way there when we have slick, educated politicians promoting modernism and progress on the one hand and proudly proclaiming their adherence to a Sky God on the other. Shows the dichotomy of the human mind and the massive rifts that still need to be conjoined in the evolved human.
September 14, 2023
I’ve read other books about Darwin but none that are as engaging and highly readable as this. Sincerely, you don’t need to be a student of science to understand this book.
It seems to me that low associative barriers are the key to innovative, emerging ideas. There are a few things that encourage lowered barriers: interdisciplinary education, cultural arbitrage, understanding how languages encode ideas differently, to name a few. I wonder, what more though?
Darwin had this ability, this rare gift, and Strager’s book does an exceptional job of contrasting both his scientific achievements mixed with his personal feelings and conflicts.
The most enjoyable part of the book was how Darwin pieced together the fundamentals of evolutionary theory like a huge puzzle. It’s very curious to me how geniuses formulate their ideas and the author takes you into the maze of Darwin’s experiences/travels and offers a glimpse into his inner workings.
I was beyond impressed with the author’s ability to communicate scientific ideas in such an accessible manner. The author is Danish and her writing style is very Scandinavian. 10/10
It seems to me that low associative barriers are the key to innovative, emerging ideas. There are a few things that encourage lowered barriers: interdisciplinary education, cultural arbitrage, understanding how languages encode ideas differently, to name a few. I wonder, what more though?
Darwin had this ability, this rare gift, and Strager’s book does an exceptional job of contrasting both his scientific achievements mixed with his personal feelings and conflicts.
The most enjoyable part of the book was how Darwin pieced together the fundamentals of evolutionary theory like a huge puzzle. It’s very curious to me how geniuses formulate their ideas and the author takes you into the maze of Darwin’s experiences/travels and offers a glimpse into his inner workings.
I was beyond impressed with the author’s ability to communicate scientific ideas in such an accessible manner. The author is Danish and her writing style is very Scandinavian. 10/10
March 19, 2017
This book was focused on Darwin's theory of the origin of species and evolution though it did mention other aspects of his life where they helped provide insight into what he might have been thinking at the time. But unlike a biographical work, this book often extended the discussion to modern discoveries and events that supported his theory or extended the lively discussions around it in the years since his death.
There is a rather lengthy discussion of the arguments and controversy between scientists who support his theory and religious forces who strongly oppose it. Legal challenges that continue into the twenty-first century are even discussed. Multiple court cases in the United States have ruled that creationism and intelligent design are religious in nature and based of faith rather than science.
Numerous archaeological discoveries and advances in the scientific study of genetics have supported the work of Darwin, Wallace, and others. We continue to find fossils that help fill in the record.
The book is well researched and written so that non-academic readers with little scientific background can understand and think about Darwin's earth-shaking discoveries.
There is also a large collections of notes and references included in the last 15% of the book.
There is a rather lengthy discussion of the arguments and controversy between scientists who support his theory and religious forces who strongly oppose it. Legal challenges that continue into the twenty-first century are even discussed. Multiple court cases in the United States have ruled that creationism and intelligent design are religious in nature and based of faith rather than science.
Numerous archaeological discoveries and advances in the scientific study of genetics have supported the work of Darwin, Wallace, and others. We continue to find fossils that help fill in the record.
The book is well researched and written so that non-academic readers with little scientific background can understand and think about Darwin's earth-shaking discoveries.
There is also a large collections of notes and references included in the last 15% of the book.
March 12, 2019
A great and informative read. Not too much technical jargon, just enough to explain fundamentals. The book is more about the effect of Darwin's work than about his life; some chapters cover his life briefly, though. It's great reading about how his theories were developed from a broader perspective; the author keeps you apprised of contemporary affairs as well. This would've been great with some illustrations of the extinct animals but that's okay since it is not a textbook. I looked up some of the animals referred to in this work and found it very interesting. Definitely a suggested read for those interested in evolution theory.
January 8, 2024
Not Really a Story of Darwin’s Life
I was hoping for a biography, but this book was far more about Darwin’s ideas than about Darwin as a person. He had an illness, but it wasn’t named. He had a bunch of kids, few were named. Many chapters in the book take place after Darwin died, and they weren’t about his family. I was familiar with his ideas, but I wanted to know more about he man. I was disappointed because of my expectations, not because of the writing style or the content.
I was hoping for a biography, but this book was far more about Darwin’s ideas than about Darwin as a person. He had an illness, but it wasn’t named. He had a bunch of kids, few were named. Many chapters in the book take place after Darwin died, and they weren’t about his family. I was familiar with his ideas, but I wanted to know more about he man. I was disappointed because of my expectations, not because of the writing style or the content.
December 28, 2025
A short and sweet account of one of the most important (in my view, the most important) scientists of all time, and how he came up with answers to the biggest questions in life: who are we? and how did we get here?
Perfect for anyone who wants to understand Darwinian evolution and get a glimpse into how the mind of Darwin worked in an easy-to-follow book.
Perfect for anyone who wants to understand Darwinian evolution and get a glimpse into how the mind of Darwin worked in an easy-to-follow book.
May 14, 2018
A successful discussion about the life and work of Charles Darwin. Much of the information provided otherwise, regarding the history and science of evolution, provides a basic overview which one probably has already received in high school biology class. Easy and quick read for the layman.
August 6, 2021
The idea of evolution was not Darwin's. It was the problem of *how* that he worked to solve. Several others had their own ideas, but it was Darwin who suggested natural selection, and that is the most widely accepted explanation even today.
March 17, 2019
An overview that serves as a great introduction to the topic.
January 23, 2020
A very easy read for a serious subject. Well done.
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April 16, 2020Very interesting - something the auther got a little side tracked but overall it was well written and very interesting.
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