On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection

This is an abridged edition. Many passages are left-out. It's best to buy a different complete edition. In Chapter IV, a huge passage is missing. So, find a complete edition. "On the Origin of Species" is amazing, but you don't want to be shortchanged. Good-luck.

Wait until the last chapter - it's worth the slog. The major part of the book repeatedly shows us evidence of evolution, with minor comments on how this or that theory is incompatible with the 'creation' of species. It is almost painfully repetitive, until the last chapter. But then he makes a change of direction and elaborates (in his impeccable politeness) how the old ideas of creation are about the die down, and that even eminent scientists of his era won't accept his theory. But he states that a new, fresh set of 'young and rising naturalists' will 'do good service by conscientiously expressing his conviction; for only thus can the load of prejudice by which this subject is overwhelmed be removed.'

Science has a lot of thankful advice and knowledge from such legendary scientists such as naturalist Charles Darwin. Great book!

Can anyone read this entire book - every word - and not believe that evolution continues? The folks who believe the religious alternative, with their complete lack of evidence, are confounding in their naiveté. More significantly, this classic sketches a magnificent answer to a heretofore vexing question.

There are 2 versions of this 511 page tome available in Kindle and to Amazon’s shame no mention is given that this version omits the linked table of contents in the sidebar. If you want to go chapter 6 you have to scroll all the way there. The other version is linked as usual.

Do yourself a favor and read (or at least skim) this classic! His writing is beautiful in a 19th century way and, though some say that Darwin is an anti-Christian figure, I think his reverence for animals is far more Christian than the approach of those who think of their species as God's special creatures who get to do whatever they want (extinguish, mass slaughter, strip for skin or fur) with members of other species.Of course this book is a must-read for students of biology, ethology, evolution (or anti-evolution theory) and social history.

This is a strange book to review for me. I rate it based on its importance in affecting the world, and its strength of writing and cause. I also believe -- as I am a Bible-believing Christian who takes God at his word and believes in Creation -- that any serious Christian should read Darwin. I find far too many are willing to accuse him, deride him, and laugh at him, all the time largely ignorant of what he has actually written.Understanding Darwin well requires you understand two key principles from which he works:1. God is not the Creator of man, woman, and all life, as detailed literally in Genesis 1 and 2 (regardless of whether the days mentioned are 24-hour days or ages/epochs).2. There must be a singular explanation -- complex, but singular -- for all life as currently seen.(It should be noted here that the Biblical view demands that (1) be true and (2) not be. Other than God's glory, the Biblical view does /not/ provide explanation for why a bat's wing and a man's hand have the same structure, nor does it attempt to.)Given (1) and (2), though, Darwin has to be considered simply brilliant. He has taken the impossibly variation of life and constructed a theory that -- albeit with some serious holes that he himself acknowledges -- provides a reasonable explanation for what the world exhibits. Of course, Darwin himself spends much of his time saying he "supposes," "suspects," and "imagines." In other words, he is hypothesizing. A lynch pin of his theory about the geological record, for example, compels him to say, "...nor do we know how ignorant we are." He is, then, supposing that he has overcome this ignorance himself. This is a logical problem, to say the least.Ultimately, there are hundreds of important things to be stated about Darwin, but they can be summed up in this: the spirit of God active in the Christian will compel him to ultimately regard Darwin as incorrect, for his premise is one absent of God; and the natural man apart from God will be appealed to as he must justify his unbelief, the world around him, and seek an excuse to disbelieve God. This is Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 2.The conclusion of the matter? Whether you believe in Jesus Christ or disbelieve, you should read Darwin. He is better speaking for himself then your friends who have also not read him. I say this to the atheist and agnostic as well; so many suppose that Darwin said what he did not, and reveal their ignorance as much as the Christian who ignorantly decries Darwin on the same grounds: ignorance.

Dry read but great book if you’re into it. Wonderful quality from seller.

I wanted to read this for a long time, i really dont know what the fuss is about, it is a very long winded explanation of what micro evolution actually is; small changes in a species but the species stays the same. There is absolutely no evidence of macro evolution where the species actually changes into another species. He even provides evidence that even when a species is deliberately bred with a certain characteristic strengthened and then left to its own devices it reverts to the original. All credit to the creator again.

Darwin delayed publishing this book for years because, arguably, religious fanaticism was even more prevalent then than it is now. Eventually, with other scientists moving towards the same conclusions as his own, he released it (and predictably it met with great criticism from the establishment).Still in this more secular age many parents would prefer that Creationism was taught in schools rather than Evolution (and presumably Alchemy instead of Chemistry and Astrology instead of Astronomy).

A bible for the 21st century. Like being with him as his thinking gradually sorted out life, the universe and everythingwhilst unable to share his great work with his wife and family

After 20 years of God, I finally read the origin of species and I must say that this is an eye opener. This book is truly a reflection of Darwin and about life.

Absolutely rubbish print quality. I have returned it. So much ink missing from the print that I couldn't read it properly. It needs to be re-printed.