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Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution
“[An] extraordinarily wide-ranging and engaging book [about] the men who shaped the work of Charles Darwin . . . a book that enriches our understanding of how the struggle to think new thoughts is shared across time and space and people.”—The Sunday Telegraph (London)
Christmas, 1859. Just one month after the publication of On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin received an unsettling letter. He had expected criticism; in fact, letters were arriving daily, most expressing outrage and accusations of heresy. But this letter was different. It accused him of failing to acknowledge his predecessors, of taking credit for a theory that had already been discovered by others. Darwin realized that he had made an error in omitting from Origin of Species any mention of his intellectual forebears. Yet when he tried to trace all of the natural philosophers who had laid the groundwork for his theory, he found that history had already forgotten many of them.
Darwin’s Ghosts tells the story of the collective discovery of evolution, from Aristotle, walking the shores of Lesbos with his pupils, to Al-Jahiz, an Arab writer in the first century, from Leonardo da Vinci, searching for fossils in the mine shafts of the Tuscan hills, to Denis Diderot in Paris, exploring the origins of species while under the surveillance of the secret police, and the brilliant naturalists of the Jardin de Plantes, finding evidence for evolutionary change in the natural history collections stolen during the Napoleonic wars. Evolution was not discovered single-handedly, Rebecca Stott argues, contrary to what has become standard lore, but is an idea that emerged over many centuries, advanced by daring individuals across the globe who had the imagination to speculate on nature’s extraordinary ways, and who had the courage to articulate such speculations at a time when to do so was often considered heresy.
With each chapter focusing on an early evolutionary thinker, Darwin’s Ghosts is a fascinating account of a diverse group of individuals who, despite the very real dangers of challenging a system in which everything was presumed to have been created perfectly by God, felt compelled to understand where we came from. Ultimately, Stott demonstrates, ideas—including evolution itself—evolve just as animals and plants do, by intermingling, toppling weaker notions, and developing over stretches of time. Darwin’s Ghosts presents a groundbreaking new theory of an idea that has changed our very understanding of who we are.
Christmas, 1859. Just one month after the publication of On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin received an unsettling letter. He had expected criticism; in fact, letters were arriving daily, most expressing outrage and accusations of heresy. But this letter was different. It accused him of failing to acknowledge his predecessors, of taking credit for a theory that had already been discovered by others. Darwin realized that he had made an error in omitting from Origin of Species any mention of his intellectual forebears. Yet when he tried to trace all of the natural philosophers who had laid the groundwork for his theory, he found that history had already forgotten many of them.
Darwin’s Ghosts tells the story of the collective discovery of evolution, from Aristotle, walking the shores of Lesbos with his pupils, to Al-Jahiz, an Arab writer in the first century, from Leonardo da Vinci, searching for fossils in the mine shafts of the Tuscan hills, to Denis Diderot in Paris, exploring the origins of species while under the surveillance of the secret police, and the brilliant naturalists of the Jardin de Plantes, finding evidence for evolutionary change in the natural history collections stolen during the Napoleonic wars. Evolution was not discovered single-handedly, Rebecca Stott argues, contrary to what has become standard lore, but is an idea that emerged over many centuries, advanced by daring individuals across the globe who had the imagination to speculate on nature’s extraordinary ways, and who had the courage to articulate such speculations at a time when to do so was often considered heresy.
With each chapter focusing on an early evolutionary thinker, Darwin’s Ghosts is a fascinating account of a diverse group of individuals who, despite the very real dangers of challenging a system in which everything was presumed to have been created perfectly by God, felt compelled to understand where we came from. Ultimately, Stott demonstrates, ideas—including evolution itself—evolve just as animals and plants do, by intermingling, toppling weaker notions, and developing over stretches of time. Darwin’s Ghosts presents a groundbreaking new theory of an idea that has changed our very understanding of who we are.
396 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
230 people are currently reading
4364 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Stott
24 books253 followersRebecca Stott was born in Cambridge in 1964 and raised in Brighton in a large Plymouth Brethren community. She studied English and Art History at York University and then completed an MA and PhD whilst raising her son, Jacob, born in 1984.
She is the author of several academic books on Victorian literature and culture, two books of non-fiction, including a partial biography of Charles Darwin, and a cultural history of the oyster. She is now a Professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. She has three children, Jacob, Hannah and Kezia and has lived in Cambridge since 1993. She has made several radio programmes for Radio Four.
Her first novel, Ghostwalk, is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in the UK, is the launch novel of the new fiction list of Spiegel and Grau in the US (a new division of Random House) and is being translated into 12 different languages including Russian and Chinese.
She is writing her next novel, The Coral Thief.
She is the author of several academic books on Victorian literature and culture, two books of non-fiction, including a partial biography of Charles Darwin, and a cultural history of the oyster. She is now a Professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. She has three children, Jacob, Hannah and Kezia and has lived in Cambridge since 1993. She has made several radio programmes for Radio Four.
Her first novel, Ghostwalk, is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in the UK, is the launch novel of the new fiction list of Spiegel and Grau in the US (a new division of Random House) and is being translated into 12 different languages including Russian and Chinese.
She is writing her next novel, The Coral Thief.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
August 22, 2012
Do you love Darwin? You should, really should. I know everyone loves Einstein because he looks so cute in his iconic pictures; his hair makes him seem a bit like a troll doll. Plus his theories seem so brainy and math heavy as to be almost imponderable. But Darwin? He looks so serious in his pictures, like one of the Smith Brothers of cough lozenge fame. And evolution? It isn't mathematical at all. At face value, it's a theory that anyone with observant eyes could have figured out.
But let me tell you, evolution is one beautiful theory that only a true genius could have created. Darwin was every bit the genius that Einstein was. Reading his diaries will put you in awe of just how incredibly intellectually gifted Darwin was in his twenties. I love Darwin, obviously. So does Rebecca Stott, who has done a very elegant and interesting thing. She charts the lives and intellectual history of the giants of natural history whose shoulders Darwin stood on.
Darwin's Ghosts is really about the history of natural history from Aristotle all the way up to Darwin. That's 2000 years worth of scientific observations. Each chapter is devoted to a different naturalist. Darwin's Ghosts is popular science writing done quietly and carefully. The quality of the prose is a major step above most popular science writing. Attention is paid not only to scientific details, but also to word choice and sentence rhythms. Some of the sentences are so good that they made me pause and smile.
I knew most of this history before I picked up Darwin's Ghosts. I'm probably not a good reviewer to assess the mass appeal of this book. As a scientist and natural historian, I'd rate it as an excellent piece of writing. My only criticism is that Ms. Stott should have gone even deeper into the lives she chronicles. The subject matter is so important that it demands something with a little more meat even in a popular science treatment.
But let me tell you, evolution is one beautiful theory that only a true genius could have created. Darwin was every bit the genius that Einstein was. Reading his diaries will put you in awe of just how incredibly intellectually gifted Darwin was in his twenties. I love Darwin, obviously. So does Rebecca Stott, who has done a very elegant and interesting thing. She charts the lives and intellectual history of the giants of natural history whose shoulders Darwin stood on.
Darwin's Ghosts is really about the history of natural history from Aristotle all the way up to Darwin. That's 2000 years worth of scientific observations. Each chapter is devoted to a different naturalist. Darwin's Ghosts is popular science writing done quietly and carefully. The quality of the prose is a major step above most popular science writing. Attention is paid not only to scientific details, but also to word choice and sentence rhythms. Some of the sentences are so good that they made me pause and smile.
I knew most of this history before I picked up Darwin's Ghosts. I'm probably not a good reviewer to assess the mass appeal of this book. As a scientist and natural historian, I'd rate it as an excellent piece of writing. My only criticism is that Ms. Stott should have gone even deeper into the lives she chronicles. The subject matter is so important that it demands something with a little more meat even in a popular science treatment.
January 24, 2013
This book describes the lives and discoveries of a number of people who Darwin thought may have had some impact on the theory of evolution. Some of the earliest, such as Aristotle, actually had no concept of evolution. During the 1700's and early 1800's, several people developed ideas about evolution. However, only a couple--most notably Alfred Wallace--developed any concept of the mechanism of natural selection.
It surprised me that Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was also a proponent of evolution. But what really surprised me, is how virtually every one of Darwin's predecessors were afraid of persecution by religious zealots. Even during the so-called "Enlightenment", French scientists were relentlessly persecuted and arrested for their beliefs in evolution. At the time, the word "evolution" had not yet been coined--it was called "transmutation". Religious zealots equated transmutation with alchemy, and bitterly opposed any rational science that replaced faith with observation and experimentation.
Of course, Charles Darwin himself was very much afraid of the reaction he expected to receive with the publication of The Origin of Species. He postponed publishing his book for two decades. It wasn't until Darwin received letters from Alfred Wallace, detailing a similar theory, that he decided to publish.
It was also very interesting to read how each of Darwin's predecessors arrived, independently, at their ideas about evolution. They saw evolution as the only rational idea that could explain a diverse range of observations. This book is an excellent history of how the theory of evolution, evolved over time.
It surprised me that Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was also a proponent of evolution. But what really surprised me, is how virtually every one of Darwin's predecessors were afraid of persecution by religious zealots. Even during the so-called "Enlightenment", French scientists were relentlessly persecuted and arrested for their beliefs in evolution. At the time, the word "evolution" had not yet been coined--it was called "transmutation". Religious zealots equated transmutation with alchemy, and bitterly opposed any rational science that replaced faith with observation and experimentation.
Of course, Charles Darwin himself was very much afraid of the reaction he expected to receive with the publication of The Origin of Species. He postponed publishing his book for two decades. It wasn't until Darwin received letters from Alfred Wallace, detailing a similar theory, that he decided to publish.
It was also very interesting to read how each of Darwin's predecessors arrived, independently, at their ideas about evolution. They saw evolution as the only rational idea that could explain a diverse range of observations. This book is an excellent history of how the theory of evolution, evolved over time.
July 20, 2016
If we’re not careful, we end up thinking of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution as something completely revolutionary, standing alone, unprecedented and bitterly opposed by a world totally unprepared for it. In some ways, it is true, but Darwin himself knew there had been other theorists before him — even if he didn’t agree with their conclusions — who had seen descent with modification at work and tried to come up with explanations, mechanisms, reasons. Rebecca Stott’s book redresses the record somewhat, engaging with various different theories which glimpsed a part of the truth which Darwin, in the end, really managed to explain and prove.
This is not so much a book which proves evolution or explains Darwin’s theory, although it does cast light on it. Jerry A. Coyne’s Why Evolution is True might be more what you’re looking for, explaining the nuts and bolts of the theory. Stott’s book is more about historical context and the scientific framework Darwin had to work with when he wrote On the Origin of Species.
Stott did well at explaining some of the diversity of opinion and thought before Darwin, and without sounding patronising about the theorists who were, after all, wrong. In some cases, it’s even apparent there were aspects which they got right (Lamarck, for example, may have been wrong in scale, but the existence of epigenetic modifications to DNA shows he was not all wrong). I did find the book dry at times, and it felt more like history than science — very accessible on a scientific level, and somewhat biographical about the people mentioned. A lot of it was not new to me, which might have been part of why I found it dry.
Originally posted here.
This is not so much a book which proves evolution or explains Darwin’s theory, although it does cast light on it. Jerry A. Coyne’s Why Evolution is True might be more what you’re looking for, explaining the nuts and bolts of the theory. Stott’s book is more about historical context and the scientific framework Darwin had to work with when he wrote On the Origin of Species.
Stott did well at explaining some of the diversity of opinion and thought before Darwin, and without sounding patronising about the theorists who were, after all, wrong. In some cases, it’s even apparent there were aspects which they got right (Lamarck, for example, may have been wrong in scale, but the existence of epigenetic modifications to DNA shows he was not all wrong). I did find the book dry at times, and it felt more like history than science — very accessible on a scientific level, and somewhat biographical about the people mentioned. A lot of it was not new to me, which might have been part of why I found it dry.
Originally posted here.
May 18, 2022
Güzel yazılmış ve iyi çevrilmiş bir popüler bilim kitabı, bir biyografi derlemesi gibi. Darwin'den önce dünyadaki hayat, türlerin çeşitliliği ve dönüşümü nasıl tartışmalara konu olmuş, konu üzerine kimler hangi koşullar altında düşünmüş öğrenmek için çok iyiydi.
Asıl ilgi çekici bulduğum ise Darwin ile Wallace arasındaki gerilimin sınıfsal boyutu oldu. Darwin'in tercihi beni düşündürdü: Darwin Britanya egemen sınıflarına mensup, araştırma yapmak için bol kaynağa sahip bir insandı. Fakat evrim teorisini 1844 yılında geliştirdikten sonra tepki çekeceği korkusuyla yaklaşık 15 yıl boyunca çekmecesinde tutmuştu. Kaygısının yalnızca kişisel olduğu söylenebilir mi? Varlığını din ile meşrulaştıran bir kapitalist toplumda, teorisinin yaratacağı etkinin sınıfsal boyutu bir an olsun aklından geçmemiş miydi?
Alfred Russel Wallace ise Britanya işçi sınıfını ve sosyalist değerleri tanıyan, emekçi bir araştırmacıydı. Büyük fedakarlıklarla Britanya sömürgelerinde araştırma yaparken 1857 yılında hasta ve yorgun düşmüş halde Darwin'e bir mektup yazarak türlerin evrimine ilişkin geliştirdiği teoriyi gönderdi. Darwin mektubu okuduğunda Wallace ile kendi teorisi arasındaki benzerlikten telaşa kapılarak hemen Türlerin Kökeni kitabını hazırladı ve matbaaya verdi. Yani burjuva düşünürü geliştirdiği devrimci fikirleri dünyaya açsın diye ikna etmek için bile bir sosyalist düşünürün iteklemesi gerekti.
Türlerin Kökeni Marx ve Engels'in düşünceleri üzerinde de büyük bir etki yaptı. Eğer Wallace olmasaydı, Darwin'in düşünceleri ancak 1882 yılındaki ölümünden sonra yayımlanacak, Marx evrim teorisini belki ömrünün son yılında okuyabilecek ve Darwin'in fikirlerinin aşısı olmadan Marksizm kim bilir nasıl şekillenecekti.
Asıl ilgi çekici bulduğum ise Darwin ile Wallace arasındaki gerilimin sınıfsal boyutu oldu. Darwin'in tercihi beni düşündürdü: Darwin Britanya egemen sınıflarına mensup, araştırma yapmak için bol kaynağa sahip bir insandı. Fakat evrim teorisini 1844 yılında geliştirdikten sonra tepki çekeceği korkusuyla yaklaşık 15 yıl boyunca çekmecesinde tutmuştu. Kaygısının yalnızca kişisel olduğu söylenebilir mi? Varlığını din ile meşrulaştıran bir kapitalist toplumda, teorisinin yaratacağı etkinin sınıfsal boyutu bir an olsun aklından geçmemiş miydi?
Alfred Russel Wallace ise Britanya işçi sınıfını ve sosyalist değerleri tanıyan, emekçi bir araştırmacıydı. Büyük fedakarlıklarla Britanya sömürgelerinde araştırma yaparken 1857 yılında hasta ve yorgun düşmüş halde Darwin'e bir mektup yazarak türlerin evrimine ilişkin geliştirdiği teoriyi gönderdi. Darwin mektubu okuduğunda Wallace ile kendi teorisi arasındaki benzerlikten telaşa kapılarak hemen Türlerin Kökeni kitabını hazırladı ve matbaaya verdi. Yani burjuva düşünürü geliştirdiği devrimci fikirleri dünyaya açsın diye ikna etmek için bile bir sosyalist düşünürün iteklemesi gerekti.
Türlerin Kökeni Marx ve Engels'in düşünceleri üzerinde de büyük bir etki yaptı. Eğer Wallace olmasaydı, Darwin'in düşünceleri ancak 1882 yılındaki ölümünden sonra yayımlanacak, Marx evrim teorisini belki ömrünün son yılında okuyabilecek ve Darwin'in fikirlerinin aşısı olmadan Marksizm kim bilir nasıl şekillenecekti.
June 14, 2012
A Superb Examination into the Origins of Darwinian Thought
Rebecca Stott’s “Darwin’s Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution” is a masterful overview of the history of science leading up to Darwin’s discovery of Natural Selection as a primary mechanism for biological evolution. Hers is an especially important account, since she places the work of Darwin and his intellectual forebears within the context of the societies and cultures they inhabited, stretching across a vast gulf of time that begins with the ancient Classical Greeks. It is also an extremely lucid account replete with Stott’s vivid, quite descriptive, prose; an account that should captivate and intrigue readers, including those who are unfamiliar with Darwin’s life and work or that others, most notably, Lamarck, had proposed evolutionary theories decades before Darwin and Wallace had stumbled upon Natural Selection independently of each other.
Stott begins in earnest describing how Aristotle became an extraordinary field naturalist on the Aegean island of Lesbos, carefully studying the behavior of fishes and marine invertebrates, devoting two years toward trying to understand reproductive behavior of the marine animals he observed, using the insights he gleaned for the rest of his life in shaping his philosophy, while also working on three books, “Parts of Animals”, “The History of Animals” and “On the Generation of Animals”; the very first works in zoology and biology ever written. Over a thousand years later, Jahiz, one of the most prolific and versatile writers of the Sunni Islamic Abbasid Empire, would stumble upon an understanding of life on Earth unequalled by anyone until Darwin and Wallace’s scientific careers flourished, recognizing that all life was interdependent with other living things, gaining an early understanding of predation and of ecological communities, without conceiving of a suitable mechanism for “descent with modification” – as Darwin described evolution – like Natural Selection. During the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci would recognize the great antiquity of the Earth, understanding that mountains containing the fossils of seashells were once underwater eons ago. Nearly the entire latter half of Stott’s impressive tome is devoted to French Enlightenment scientists like Buffon and Cuvier, who were among those pioneering the systematic study of all life on Planet Earth, while remaining dismissive of “transformist” ideas like Lamarck’s theory of evolution and in-depth discussions of Scottish zoologist Robert Grant – who would teach a young Charles Darwin how to collect and to preserve marine biological specimens and thus have a lasting impact on Darwin’s subsequent field and experimental research in biology and geology – and of the young Alfred Russel Wallace, a dedicated, largely self-taught animal collector, who would begin making important insights into the biogeography of the East Indies, and then, while stricken with an acute case of malaria, would recall his reading and understanding of Thomas Malthus’ “Essay on Population”, and then stumble, independently of Darwin, on the mechanism of biological evolution which would become known as Natural Selection.
Rebecca Stott’s “Darwin’s Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution” is a masterful overview of the history of science leading up to Darwin’s discovery of Natural Selection as a primary mechanism for biological evolution. Hers is an especially important account, since she places the work of Darwin and his intellectual forebears within the context of the societies and cultures they inhabited, stretching across a vast gulf of time that begins with the ancient Classical Greeks. It is also an extremely lucid account replete with Stott’s vivid, quite descriptive, prose; an account that should captivate and intrigue readers, including those who are unfamiliar with Darwin’s life and work or that others, most notably, Lamarck, had proposed evolutionary theories decades before Darwin and Wallace had stumbled upon Natural Selection independently of each other.
Stott begins in earnest describing how Aristotle became an extraordinary field naturalist on the Aegean island of Lesbos, carefully studying the behavior of fishes and marine invertebrates, devoting two years toward trying to understand reproductive behavior of the marine animals he observed, using the insights he gleaned for the rest of his life in shaping his philosophy, while also working on three books, “Parts of Animals”, “The History of Animals” and “On the Generation of Animals”; the very first works in zoology and biology ever written. Over a thousand years later, Jahiz, one of the most prolific and versatile writers of the Sunni Islamic Abbasid Empire, would stumble upon an understanding of life on Earth unequalled by anyone until Darwin and Wallace’s scientific careers flourished, recognizing that all life was interdependent with other living things, gaining an early understanding of predation and of ecological communities, without conceiving of a suitable mechanism for “descent with modification” – as Darwin described evolution – like Natural Selection. During the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci would recognize the great antiquity of the Earth, understanding that mountains containing the fossils of seashells were once underwater eons ago. Nearly the entire latter half of Stott’s impressive tome is devoted to French Enlightenment scientists like Buffon and Cuvier, who were among those pioneering the systematic study of all life on Planet Earth, while remaining dismissive of “transformist” ideas like Lamarck’s theory of evolution and in-depth discussions of Scottish zoologist Robert Grant – who would teach a young Charles Darwin how to collect and to preserve marine biological specimens and thus have a lasting impact on Darwin’s subsequent field and experimental research in biology and geology – and of the young Alfred Russel Wallace, a dedicated, largely self-taught animal collector, who would begin making important insights into the biogeography of the East Indies, and then, while stricken with an acute case of malaria, would recall his reading and understanding of Thomas Malthus’ “Essay on Population”, and then stumble, independently of Darwin, on the mechanism of biological evolution which would become known as Natural Selection.
November 3, 2013
I think everyone should be a natural philosopher. Not professionally, of course. No one would be left to build rocket ships and brew seasonal ales for me. I am suggesting an explosion in the number of amateur or hobbyist natural philosophers. I think the world would be a much improved place if more people got lost in the woods, picked through a spade-full of dirt to count all the bugs, or simply looked up at the sky at night and wondered at what they saw.
It's that last bit that is precious to me; the whole 'wonder' thing. There ought to be a lot more wondering. Now, I'm not going to scold-preach about my fellow humans and their addiction to shiny box entertainments and/or simplistic interpretations of the world. I am going to confess that I am in constant need of being reminded to explore and be the best natural philosopher I can be.
How does that relate to the book? Glad you asked. Rebecca Stott recounts the stories and discoveries of two-handfuls of Charles Darwin's predecessors. Stott brings Darwin's philosophical ancestor's to life by giving each character a vivid moment of wonderment.
For example, Stott shows Erasmus Darwin exploring recently discovered natural caverns in Derbyshire. As the the miners lead Erasmus through the tunnels, they recount the folksy origin stories of the fossils found in deep sedimentary layers; the Flood laid these animals out, they were wizard's familiars, and, of course, the Devil stuck these bones in the ground. For Erasmus, similar encounters with puzzles in nature were the catalyst for crazy ideas that wouldn't see vindication during his lifetime.
Darwin's Ghosts is full of history, character, and a little bit of science. This book is an excellent reminder that wonderment can lead to unexpected results and bold conclusions.
Ok, I do want to rant about one thing. Yes, I agree that religion often stifles curiosity and discourages thinking outside of predetermined boundaries. I am personally acquainted with this aspect of religion. However, I now know plenty of atheists and "free-thinkers" who lack any sense of awe and wonder because the world feels so very knowable. These are the kinds of people who hear about the Perseid meteorite shower, look up the entry on the Wikipedia app on their iPhone, are satisfied with reading the introductory paragraph, and don't bother to go outside and look up.
This book reminded me that there is great delight in thinking and exploring. In fact, I'm going to do some of that right now.
It's that last bit that is precious to me; the whole 'wonder' thing. There ought to be a lot more wondering. Now, I'm not going to scold-preach about my fellow humans and their addiction to shiny box entertainments and/or simplistic interpretations of the world. I am going to confess that I am in constant need of being reminded to explore and be the best natural philosopher I can be.
How does that relate to the book? Glad you asked. Rebecca Stott recounts the stories and discoveries of two-handfuls of Charles Darwin's predecessors. Stott brings Darwin's philosophical ancestor's to life by giving each character a vivid moment of wonderment.
For example, Stott shows Erasmus Darwin exploring recently discovered natural caverns in Derbyshire. As the the miners lead Erasmus through the tunnels, they recount the folksy origin stories of the fossils found in deep sedimentary layers; the Flood laid these animals out, they were wizard's familiars, and, of course, the Devil stuck these bones in the ground. For Erasmus, similar encounters with puzzles in nature were the catalyst for crazy ideas that wouldn't see vindication during his lifetime.
Darwin's Ghosts is full of history, character, and a little bit of science. This book is an excellent reminder that wonderment can lead to unexpected results and bold conclusions.
Ok, I do want to rant about one thing. Yes, I agree that religion often stifles curiosity and discourages thinking outside of predetermined boundaries. I am personally acquainted with this aspect of religion. However, I now know plenty of atheists and "free-thinkers" who lack any sense of awe and wonder because the world feels so very knowable. These are the kinds of people who hear about the Perseid meteorite shower, look up the entry on the Wikipedia app on their iPhone, are satisfied with reading the introductory paragraph, and don't bother to go outside and look up.
This book reminded me that there is great delight in thinking and exploring. In fact, I'm going to do some of that right now.
December 9, 2014
Maybe I'm being unfair with three stars; it is quite a fascinating book. However, I had trouble paying attention sometimes. I think it's because the format became tedious for me. The book is essentially a series of chronological mini-biographies of men who paved the way for Darwin to be able to publish his famous book and subsequently become the most famous of them all, but he probably could not have done it without them. I enjoyed learning about all these rather radical groundbreakers, who all pushed against traditional ways of understanding the origins of life (which for the most part are grounded in religion). Each of these men were engaging in very dangerous and threatening thoughts. Most suffered a lot for it. And Darwin being aware of the dangerousness of his ideas, sat on his theory for twenty years before having his hand forced by a younger man. Anyway, I always took the whole concept of natural selection/evolution for granted. It is fun to finally read into the history behind the theory, especially since the tension between creationism and evolution continues to be fraught to this day.
June 8, 2017
A history of ideas surrounding the explanation for the difference of species, before Darwin's grand theory of the origin of species
When Darwin had published his first version of The Origin of Species, he received a lot of letters from people who claimed to have developed the concept of natural selection before Darwin. In his fourth version, he added a list of people who - in his view - had contributed their ideas towards Darwin.
This book is therefore not about Darwin itself, but the people who came before him. It starts with Aristotles and ends with William Wallace, who came near to the discovery of natural selection before Darwin, forcing Darwin to publish his work rather hastily.
The title (Darwin's Ghosts) is a good one - these people haunted Darwin after publication of his work, because some of them even Darwin had never heard of before.
This book may serve those who have read or encountered the work of Darwin, and who want to know what kind of ideas were circulating before Darwin's breakthrough.
When Darwin had published his first version of The Origin of Species, he received a lot of letters from people who claimed to have developed the concept of natural selection before Darwin. In his fourth version, he added a list of people who - in his view - had contributed their ideas towards Darwin.
This book is therefore not about Darwin itself, but the people who came before him. It starts with Aristotles and ends with William Wallace, who came near to the discovery of natural selection before Darwin, forcing Darwin to publish his work rather hastily.
The title (Darwin's Ghosts) is a good one - these people haunted Darwin after publication of his work, because some of them even Darwin had never heard of before.
This book may serve those who have read or encountered the work of Darwin, and who want to know what kind of ideas were circulating before Darwin's breakthrough.
May 2, 2018
This book had a lot of interesting history. In the 4th edition of The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin included over 30 names of men who had contributed to the field of natural philosophy and science. The author looks at some of these men and compares/contrasts their work with that of Charles Darwin, starting with Aristotle and ending with contemporaries of Darwin. Of particular interest to me was the theories of Erasmus Darwin the grandfather of the Darwin we know so well. I also found it interesting that many of the natural philosophers put their ideas into poetry or story format in order to introduce them to the public. I perked up especially when reading about Alfed Wallace. Where had I heard this story before? Then it hit me, Tom Wolfe told the story of Darwin and Wallace in his fantastic book The Kingdom of Speech.
Charles Darwin himself once said that men looking at the same facts can arrive at different interpretations. That is certainly the case with many of the men in this book. They were all trying to figure out how life got here, or how species were formed. They saw the same things, but came to different conclusions, many times having vigorous debates. The one thing they all had in common was that they looked for answers regarding nature apart from a proper understaning of the One who created nature or an understanding of His revelation.
The dominant idea of the time - that God created species fully formed at various intervals and for various locations across long periods of time - was argued against by these naturalist. One trouble for all of them, Charles Darwin included, is that they interpreted the data presupposing either that God didn't exist, or presupposing an understanding of His act of original creation which Scripture doesn't teach and no creation scientist today holds.
The prose in the book was acceptable but not fantastic. Overall a good read if you are a person who likes science and origin debates.
Charles Darwin himself once said that men looking at the same facts can arrive at different interpretations. That is certainly the case with many of the men in this book. They were all trying to figure out how life got here, or how species were formed. They saw the same things, but came to different conclusions, many times having vigorous debates. The one thing they all had in common was that they looked for answers regarding nature apart from a proper understaning of the One who created nature or an understanding of His revelation.
The dominant idea of the time - that God created species fully formed at various intervals and for various locations across long periods of time - was argued against by these naturalist. One trouble for all of them, Charles Darwin included, is that they interpreted the data presupposing either that God didn't exist, or presupposing an understanding of His act of original creation which Scripture doesn't teach and no creation scientist today holds.
The prose in the book was acceptable but not fantastic. Overall a good read if you are a person who likes science and origin debates.
March 3, 2014
Darwin's Ghosts is a series of colourful and engaging portraits of several naturalists mentioned in Darwin's "Historical Sketch," a prefatory list of acknowledgements that Darwin added to the fourth edition of the Origin, in 1866. The sketch lists all the naturalists whom he credited with having considered, in one way or another, the mutability of species prior to the publication of the Origin. Some were relatively unknown scholars who wrote to Darwin indignantly demanding credit for ideas that were only tenuously related to natural selection; others were towering figures whom Darwin, keenly feeling the burden of gentlemanly duty, was embarrassed at not having formally acknowledged sooner.
Stott chooses a few of the most interesting men on the list and devotes a chapter to each. She also throws in some extras to round out her story, like the 9th century Arabic scholar al-Jahiz (mostly to set the record straight and show that he was in no way a transmutationist), Leonardo da Vinci, the encyclopedist Denis Diderot, and the Swiss tutor and naturalist Abraham Trembley.
Favourite chapters included the one on Trembley (such fun to imagine him collecting swamp water with his young pupils), the one about Erasmus Darwin, whose brash personality stands in contrast to his grandson's scrupulousness, and the one about Vestiges author Robert Chambers, which paints him as a self-made man who emerged from an unsettled childhood whose only constant was his voracious reading. Stott is great at telling a vivid story, but tends to be loose and vague when it comes to her protagonists' intellectual contributions, as though she was worried that these details would bog down the narrative. Although these loose ends often felt pretty unsatisfying and, in my view, made the chapters seem kind of disconnected, I enjoyed the book for its imaginative, unfussy biography.
Stott chooses a few of the most interesting men on the list and devotes a chapter to each. She also throws in some extras to round out her story, like the 9th century Arabic scholar al-Jahiz (mostly to set the record straight and show that he was in no way a transmutationist), Leonardo da Vinci, the encyclopedist Denis Diderot, and the Swiss tutor and naturalist Abraham Trembley.
Favourite chapters included the one on Trembley (such fun to imagine him collecting swamp water with his young pupils), the one about Erasmus Darwin, whose brash personality stands in contrast to his grandson's scrupulousness, and the one about Vestiges author Robert Chambers, which paints him as a self-made man who emerged from an unsettled childhood whose only constant was his voracious reading. Stott is great at telling a vivid story, but tends to be loose and vague when it comes to her protagonists' intellectual contributions, as though she was worried that these details would bog down the narrative. Although these loose ends often felt pretty unsatisfying and, in my view, made the chapters seem kind of disconnected, I enjoyed the book for its imaginative, unfussy biography.
February 3, 2015
Here are the intellects that preceded Darwin and his Origin of Species. Stung by a criticism that his Origin of Species was not, in effect, original, he would put a "Historical Sketch" in his third edition to show who proceeded him. What this author has done was to investigate all the theories and scholarship that addressed natural diversity, evolution ("transmutation" it was often called), and natural selection. The author found a wider college of thought than the "Historical Sketch" did, from Aristotle on, both those that influenced Darwin, to Erasmus Darwin, his grandfather, and his contemporary Alfred Wallace, with whom Darwin competed to be first to publish. We find that the past scholars had surmised evolution and natural selection -- not all their speculation were on the nose, or the complete picture, but they're still fascinating to rediscover, here.
As a history of the intellectual thought preceding Darwin, this book is a worthwhile gathering. Its prose is concise and an easy read, as other reviewers have noted. Its value is that it shows that evolution and natural selection did not spring, full-grown, from Darwin's intellect but was a phenomenon waiting for observers to see it for what it was, however dimly -- and had, over human history. Certainly we learn from Alfred Wallace's studies of wildlife in the East Indies, independent of Darwin's voyage on the Beagle, its universality. Darwin's work was the capstone on a very large and converging structure of thought, and here we see it.
As a history of the intellectual thought preceding Darwin, this book is a worthwhile gathering. Its prose is concise and an easy read, as other reviewers have noted. Its value is that it shows that evolution and natural selection did not spring, full-grown, from Darwin's intellect but was a phenomenon waiting for observers to see it for what it was, however dimly -- and had, over human history. Certainly we learn from Alfred Wallace's studies of wildlife in the East Indies, independent of Darwin's voyage on the Beagle, its universality. Darwin's work was the capstone on a very large and converging structure of thought, and here we see it.
February 8, 2015
დარვინის თეორიამ დიდი ცვლილებები გამოიწვია ადამიანის აზროვნებაში. მისი " სახეობათა წარმოშობა" მიიჩნევა ერთ-ერთ ყველაზე მნიშველოვან და გავლენიან წიგნად რომელმაც შეცვალა წარმოდგენები სიცოცხლეზე, სამყაროზე, შეცვალა სოციალური დამოკიდებულებები, იმოქმედა სახელმწიფო წყობილებების ფორმირებებზე და ა.შ.
მაგრამ დარვინის ბუნებრივი გადარჩევა არ აღმოცენებულა აბსოლიტურ სიცარიელეში. დარვინამდე და მისი მოღვაწეობის პარალელურად იყვნენ ადამიანები ვისაც ანალოგიური ან მსგავსი იდეები ქონდათ. იყვნენ ე.წ ტრანსფორმისტები, რომლებსაც მიაჩნდათ რომ სახეობები და თვით ადამიანიც კი ადრეული სახეობების მუტაციით ჩამოყალიბდა.
ეს არის წიგნი დარვინის აჩრდილებზე, რომლებიც ანალოგიურად ეძებდნენ პასუხებს, რომლებიც ხშირად იდევნებოდნენ ორთოდოქსული შეხედულებების მქონე მეცნიერებისგან და რელიგიისგან.
ბიოლოგიური ევოლუციური იდეების ჩასახვასა და განვითარებასთან ერთად საინტერესოა რომ წიგნი ასევე დამსახურებულად არის სეკულარიზმის, დეიზმისა და ათეიზმის განვითარების ისტორიაც, რადგან ევოლუციურ შეხედულებებს ხშირად თან ახლდა თავისუფალი აზროვნება, რელიგიური ჩარჩოებიდან გასვლა და საყოველთაოდ აღიარებული შეხედულებების უარყოფა.
რეკომენდაციას ვუწევ ყველა მკითხველს ვისაც ევოლუციის და ზოგადად მეცნიერების ისტორია აინტერესებს.
მაგრამ დარვინის ბუნებრივი გადარჩევა არ აღმოცენებულა აბსოლიტურ სიცარიელეში. დარვინამდე და მისი მოღვაწეობის პარალელურად იყვნენ ადამიანები ვისაც ანალოგიური ან მსგავსი იდეები ქონდათ. იყვნენ ე.წ ტრანსფორმისტები, რომლებსაც მიაჩნდათ რომ სახეობები და თვით ადამიანიც კი ადრეული სახეობების მუტაციით ჩამოყალიბდა.
ეს არის წიგნი დარვინის აჩრდილებზე, რომლებიც ანალოგიურად ეძებდნენ პასუხებს, რომლებიც ხშირად იდევნებოდნენ ორთოდოქსული შეხედულებების მქონე მეცნიერებისგან და რელიგიისგან.
ბიოლოგიური ევოლუციური იდეების ჩასახვასა და განვითარებასთან ერთად საინტერესოა რომ წიგნი ასევე დამსახურებულად არის სეკულარიზმის, დეიზმისა და ათეიზმის განვითარების ისტორიაც, რადგან ევოლუციურ შეხედულებებს ხშირად თან ახლდა თავისუფალი აზროვნება, რელიგიური ჩარჩოებიდან გასვლა და საყოველთაოდ აღიარებული შეხედულებების უარყოფა.
რეკომენდაციას ვუწევ ყველა მკითხველს ვისაც ევოლუციის და ზოგადად მეცნიერების ისტორია აინტერესებს.
January 1, 2018
Great book, basically a short biography about Darwins predecessors. Some I had already heard of but knew little about their biological research, like Aristotle, but most I had not heard of, And I liked learning about them and the research they did.
My only complaint about the book, is really the title and part of the preface where the author implies that Darwin was a radical. I don't really think someone who did in depth research and then waited decades to publish it out of fear of shaking things up, and retaliation, could be called a radical.
My favorite, was probably Alfred Wallace, who also developed the concept of survival of the fittest before Darwin published his findings from decades before. He could've caused a row and demanded credit for being the first to come up with the concept, but he stepped aside and humbly allowed Darwin to publish his findings first. I like to his humble character, and great fascination with the natural world.
My only complaint about the book, is really the title and part of the preface where the author implies that Darwin was a radical. I don't really think someone who did in depth research and then waited decades to publish it out of fear of shaking things up, and retaliation, could be called a radical.
My favorite, was probably Alfred Wallace, who also developed the concept of survival of the fittest before Darwin published his findings from decades before. He could've caused a row and demanded credit for being the first to come up with the concept, but he stepped aside and humbly allowed Darwin to publish his findings first. I like to his humble character, and great fascination with the natural world.
January 27, 2019
I thought this book was very imaginative in its telling of Darwin’s predecessors of evolutionary theory. Specifically in taking the reader back in time to places far off and exotic. From the isle of Lesbos in 344 BC, to the port city of Basra in 850 CE, and eventually Paris in 1749. I like one book that can teach and inform the reader of so many separate places and eras.
If you want a book to get lost in and you’re a nonfiction junkie let me encourage you to go pick this book up from your local library.
If you want a book to get lost in and you’re a nonfiction junkie let me encourage you to go pick this book up from your local library.
April 30, 2018
With a solid introduction and an ‘outro’ using Darwin’s own acknowledgments from the second edition of his Origin of Species, Stott has managed to pull together a series of ‘miniature biographies’ of those who formed the basis of the what is considered, by many, to be the first and certainly the most famous, theories on evolution and natural selection.
Following moments from Aristotle through William Wallace, from transmutation theory and those who philosophized about it – often running afoul of the church, the book doesn’t wholly focus on the science here, for many of the inclusions are truly about their lives and challenges faced rather than the actual science, the presentation of thought-leaders, their challenges to the ‘known’ and the ‘accepted’ does add to the intrigue, and gives a sense of how ‘far’ the acceptance of new theories had to go.
With multiple stories of persecution by church and state, a few ‘close but not quite’ discoveries that didn’t extrapolate far enough forward, the struggle to find the beginning and then think outward from there, and even a set of theories that now are so outrageous and unthinkable as to be laughable, this book does help to lay out the foundational thought of a theory- from wide to near misses, reframing in terms of new information and discoveries and finally, finding a scientifically sound series of conclusions.
Not a read in one siting book by any measure, I was hoping for a bit more of the science and less of the ‘personal’ in many of the biographies, but with a bit of time the proof that the search for ‘why, who, where and how’ are endless and timeless questions, sure to perplex, immerse and engage humans for years to come.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Following moments from Aristotle through William Wallace, from transmutation theory and those who philosophized about it – often running afoul of the church, the book doesn’t wholly focus on the science here, for many of the inclusions are truly about their lives and challenges faced rather than the actual science, the presentation of thought-leaders, their challenges to the ‘known’ and the ‘accepted’ does add to the intrigue, and gives a sense of how ‘far’ the acceptance of new theories had to go.
With multiple stories of persecution by church and state, a few ‘close but not quite’ discoveries that didn’t extrapolate far enough forward, the struggle to find the beginning and then think outward from there, and even a set of theories that now are so outrageous and unthinkable as to be laughable, this book does help to lay out the foundational thought of a theory- from wide to near misses, reframing in terms of new information and discoveries and finally, finding a scientifically sound series of conclusions.
Not a read in one siting book by any measure, I was hoping for a bit more of the science and less of the ‘personal’ in many of the biographies, but with a bit of time the proof that the search for ‘why, who, where and how’ are endless and timeless questions, sure to perplex, immerse and engage humans for years to come.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
March 17, 2020
5 stars, it was amazing, not because it was my ideal book (it was slightly hard work at times), but because of the impressiveness of Rebecca Scott, in her research (assuming it is mostly accurate). She makes it feel she was there, with Aristotle, de Maillet and the rest. The book really brings home the conservative entrenched attitudes of the Church and their influence and power, forcing these scientists to hold back publication, water down and/or publish anonymously.
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March 29, 2021This book made me appreciate how unlikely scientific advancements are — not that naturalists and scientists weren’t making them, but that they often faced excommunication, imprisonment, death, and the confiscation of their writings. Especially when it came to human evolution, people seemed personally insulted by these discoveries. Brilliant minds kept making and sharing them, knowing how important each small step was toward a more complete picture of the truth. So yes, this is a great story of brilliant people, but it’s at least as much a story of brave ones.
April 14, 2022
A very interesting listen! Although a bit difficult to listen to at time, I thought it was very interesting and encouraging to learn that so many people believed in evolution for a long, long time, as far back as Aristotle. I love that these people all questioned WHY we are here instead of just assuming the truth of the bible. As a big supporter of all things scientific, I loved that people fought for what was truth. What was sad about the book, was that so many were scared to speak of their scientific findings for fear of being persecuted. A great read/listen - highly recommend!!
September 3, 2025
This is much less "secret" history for anyone mildly familiar with Darwin and the history of the theory of evolution. The book was written well but wasn't spectacular. Perhaps I've read too many similar books already. 3.5 stars.
August 15, 2018
3 and 1/2 stars. Well researched, scholarly, but (to me) plodding book on thinkers who preceded (and in one case, matched) Darwin in approaching the idea of evolution. I did not read every word.
March 22, 2020
Once again I’m amazed at what I wasn’t taught in school. The history of the theory of evolution goes way, way back before Darwin. Even Aristotle made note of it. I recommend this book to all of my biology-reading friends!
May 25, 2023
Slogged my way through, really disappointed.
June 15, 2013
This account of the achievements (and errors) of evolutionary biologists before Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace highlights the struggle of early scientific observers to understand what they saw. As one commentator put it, "the theory of evolution explains the fact of evolution." Many of the people described in this book understood that both living species and fossils showed evidence that species had changed in a way that made them better adapted to their environment, but they did not understand the mechanism of natural selection as Darwin did. There is tragedy in the efforts of Lamarck, flawed but brave, to understand how animal species could have changed.
The great charm of this book is that it takes us back to the great age of "natural philosophy", when amazing discoveries were made both in the rainforest of the Amazon and in a Dutch garden pool, and the latest scientific discoveries created a buzz in the salons of the intellectual and social elites. The author perhaps goes a little too far, for a book of non-fiction, in attributing feelings and experiences to the people who feature in this story. But the descriptions of the exciting process of discovery and debate convince. And we are reminded forcefully that Darwin had a reason to keep his insights hidden from almost everyone for many years, as we read how his precursors suffered persecution at the hands of a wide range of authorities, from the French censor to the Evangelical church.
The selection of Darwin's precursors that is discussed here may be a little bit odd at times, including as it does philosophers, artists, teachers, publishers, doctors, poets, and scientists, often enough with several roles combined in one person. But for a reader interested in the history of science, and especially in some of the derelicts that modern science has left behind, this is a very interesting book.
The great charm of this book is that it takes us back to the great age of "natural philosophy", when amazing discoveries were made both in the rainforest of the Amazon and in a Dutch garden pool, and the latest scientific discoveries created a buzz in the salons of the intellectual and social elites. The author perhaps goes a little too far, for a book of non-fiction, in attributing feelings and experiences to the people who feature in this story. But the descriptions of the exciting process of discovery and debate convince. And we are reminded forcefully that Darwin had a reason to keep his insights hidden from almost everyone for many years, as we read how his precursors suffered persecution at the hands of a wide range of authorities, from the French censor to the Evangelical church.
The selection of Darwin's precursors that is discussed here may be a little bit odd at times, including as it does philosophers, artists, teachers, publishers, doctors, poets, and scientists, often enough with several roles combined in one person. But for a reader interested in the history of science, and especially in some of the derelicts that modern science has left behind, this is a very interesting book.
January 4, 2017
With a title like this, it seems blatantly obvious this book would attract readers interested in science and history; but, actually you don't need a scientific background to appreciate and enjoy reading this book. I do not have a scientific background, but the book reviews and reader comments published on Goodreads piqued my interest. Most of the comments were positive; the negative comments referred to the book's length and excessive details. After reading the book, I disagree that the length and excessive details detracted; rather, I think, they give the book much value.
Through fastidious research this author uncovered the names of those great minds who influenced Darwin's thinking; and from this research, the author crafted an exceptional story detailing the hypotheses, ideas, theories, and mathematical formulas that inspired and informed Darwin.
Anyone wanting to understand the historical settings that both hampered and kindled the contributions of scientific men before Darwin, or who wants to better understand why these early men of science risked their life and property in order to pass on their knowledge, will find answers in this book.
Through fastidious research this author uncovered the names of those great minds who influenced Darwin's thinking; and from this research, the author crafted an exceptional story detailing the hypotheses, ideas, theories, and mathematical formulas that inspired and informed Darwin.
Anyone wanting to understand the historical settings that both hampered and kindled the contributions of scientific men before Darwin, or who wants to better understand why these early men of science risked their life and property in order to pass on their knowledge, will find answers in this book.
March 4, 2013
I can’t say I thought this was a worthwhile read. I was1/3 through before I learned something I didn’t already know. I didn’t really get the point of the book. Was it that people were involved in empirical thought before Darwin? Knew that already. Was it to tell us people thought of the evolution concept before Darwin? Knew that already. That Darwin expanded the ideas of others? We knew that. Was it an attempt to put together Darwins intellectual forebears? If so, it was not well realized. In fact, she was struggling to make her point throughout the book. It was forced and did not flow easily. I did get the importance of learned discussions on controversial topics. I did get that we are obliged to remember that there are still people in this world who do not have the freedom to read whatever they want and that there are places where women are not even allowed to learn to read. I was reminded of how oppressive governments and religions can be to free thought. And finally, I realized I should have paid more attention to Diderot in Humanities 101.
September 11, 2016
Charles Darwin and evolution are my most favorite subject. This book started well for some 10 pages, noting the when Darwin was rushed into print with the first edition, he received complaints that he had not acknowledged earlier writers who had pointed out that species had changed over time.
The subject of this book then is who are those earlier writers, The Ghosts.
She then goes into several hundred pages, starting with Aristotle, discussing earlier writers. They did write about animals but not a word about mutability of species. Worse she focuses on the writers and not what they wrote. So I had to skim all this stuff.
Bottom line here, there was a little bit of material on Darwin's grandfather's book Zoomania that I found interesting, and a little on Alfred Russell Wallace that I didn't know about.
Strangely she spends very little time on Lamarck who was the only theorist to present real evidence that species were evolving, although he had the wrong mechanism of course.
The subject of this book then is who are those earlier writers, The Ghosts.
She then goes into several hundred pages, starting with Aristotle, discussing earlier writers. They did write about animals but not a word about mutability of species. Worse she focuses on the writers and not what they wrote. So I had to skim all this stuff.
Bottom line here, there was a little bit of material on Darwin's grandfather's book Zoomania that I found interesting, and a little on Alfred Russell Wallace that I didn't know about.
Strangely she spends very little time on Lamarck who was the only theorist to present real evidence that species were evolving, although he had the wrong mechanism of course.
May 7, 2012
It's not clear how haunted Darwin was by these other men -- by Stott's account, he seems to have mostly been ignorant of their work.
Slightly off-the-mark title aside, this is a terrific story, written in highly readable narrative prose. It's about Darwin's predecessors (and, in the case of Alfred Wallace at least, the man who almost beat him to the punch). Starting with Aristotle (not an evolutionist, but a close observer of fact in the natural world) and working through Leonardo da Vinci and one scholar in the 9th century caliphate, we quickly get into early modern and modern pioneers of the idea that species change over time. Most of them feared persecution and public rejection. Some of them were nuts (de Maillet's mermen, anyone?). And all of them were really, really interesting.
Slightly off-the-mark title aside, this is a terrific story, written in highly readable narrative prose. It's about Darwin's predecessors (and, in the case of Alfred Wallace at least, the man who almost beat him to the punch). Starting with Aristotle (not an evolutionist, but a close observer of fact in the natural world) and working through Leonardo da Vinci and one scholar in the 9th century caliphate, we quickly get into early modern and modern pioneers of the idea that species change over time. Most of them feared persecution and public rejection. Some of them were nuts (de Maillet's mermen, anyone?). And all of them were really, really interesting.
November 2, 2014
This was a great little walk-thru of the major influences through people and establishments that led to not only the belief of evolution and acceptance of the theory in science starting with Aristotle, but the keystone as to /how/ evolution occurred. While Darwin may not have known about the ancient influences, Stott provided a clear chain of more local influences between decades and cultures that cultivated the path towards the eruption of evolution in the mid-nineteenth century. This book weaves beautifully from "Darwin's Armada" as Stott references those individuals. Having read in much more detail about the major 1800s pioneers in "Darwin's Armada", this book puts into context a much bigger picture of scientific development concerning natural history. Beautifully summed by Virginia Woolf is that masterpieces are the outcome of many that are presented by one ... such as Darwin.
September 30, 2012
Less to do about Darwin, more of a tracing of the ideas of evolution and origin of species from the time of Aristotle - the many shoulders that Darwin stood upon to complete his 'Origins'. Amazing how far we have progressed but are still fighting the same prejudices that were fought from the 13th century onward. All of the giants of natural history were in constant fear for their lives and reputations as the church steadfastly defended Genesis - to the point of branding these geniuses heretics. I loved this book. Any history buff would like/ love it too. My hero Lucretius (See 'The Swerve') is mentioned many times in the book as a source of inspiration (further enhancing the veracity of Greenblatt's claims!). Recommended.
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