Customer Reviews (20)

The simplicity of genius
Listening to Charles Darwin talk about his life, from his earliest childhood experiences, proved to me, yet again, that really great people completely lack pomposity and artifice.

Darwin spends barely anytime talking about his great works, he really just sets the scene in which these works took place.And because that scene was so firmly Victorian with society tightly bound by religion and class, you also realise what a brave man he was in pursuing his scientific observations.

This is only a small book, the actual biography I read in a couple of days.This edition was edited by his grand-daughter and in the end notes some space is devoted to a row between Darwin and a Mr Butler - who you may well ask was Butler, its interesting to note how all these other characters fade into history's darkness, whilst the legacy of Darwin's work lives on.

A quick, informative, and inspiring read
This autobiography is a fun and easy-to-read journey through the events that made Darwin into a meticulous visionary.It serves as an excellent spark to make any person into a Darwin-enthusiast.Regardless of how you feel about his theory of evolution, Darwin's life experiences as described in this book can teach you to examine the world and everyday occurrences in a new and fascinating way.

Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of this account of Darwin's life was the value that Darwin himself placed, not on conventional means of gathering knowledge (he refers to many of his early university Professors and lectures as wastes of time), but on the people that he met and the questions raised by the world around him.Darwin's observant and inquisitive nature is expressed genuinely in this book and can inspire any reader to share in the sense of wonder that Darwin takes from the simple, everyday interactions with the natural world.

The Man Behind the Controversy
Given the amount of attention placed on Darwin's ideas for the last 150 years, it is an interesting new twist to examine the man himself.The aspects of Darwin's life on which he chooses to focus his self-description are, naturally, very revealing.He portrays himself as methodical and extremely devoted to his various passions, be they hunting, beetle-collecting, or writing.It seems that although Darwin was fairly social in his youth, his health precluded many visitors from calling on him later in life; perhaps this gave him time to complete his many works!This is an engaging and entertaining look at the man behind the books that impacted so much in the world of science.

Who would have guessed?
Very often, the name Charles Darwin conjures up images of a mythical figure responsible for the development of one of the most influential scientific theories.How often, however, do we think about the scientist's human side?The Autobiography of Charles Darwin is a fun read that lets you take a peak into his life and demystify the man behind the name.The human side emerges from anecdotes, whether from his childhood or young adulthood or after.Expectedly, Darwin confesses of a keen interest in beetles and collecting and describes the lengths to which he would go to study the insect (even putting a beetle in his mouth).However, who would have imagined that his friends would tease him for his careful bird record keeping and his lack of an ear for music?Who would have guessed that certain papers he published were a source of embarrassment?The autobiography reveals other, unexpected sides of Darwin.But as you read this book, do not expect to be exposed to Darwin's deepest thoughts and reflections.The tidbits of stories present in the autobiography definitely leave you wanting to know more.

Additionally, reading the autobiography serves as a source of inspiration.Darwin's lack of success in other aspects of life, such as with his attempts to be a doctor and a clergyman, contrasted with his great scientific success.With his matter of fact tone, Darwin admits that he did not do well in many academic subjects.However, he made up for the difference with long hours of work and perseverance.While we will never know if Darwin's intended for his autobiography to be inspirational, we can derive the personal take-home message of persevering and pursuing what truly interests you.

I highly recommend reading this autobiography as it gives you a glimpse into the human side of a great thinker.

A Revealing Work By One of the Most Influential Figures in Scientific History
I recommend this book for anyone wanting to acquire a better understanding of the mind and personality of the man who first came up with the famous theories of natural and sexual selection: Charles Darwin.As in any autobiography, this one offers unique insights into the thoughts and opinions of the writer that otherwise would likely not be known.For instance, Darwin's intimate and affectionate reflections on his family - his brother, his father, and his wife - are all very personal accounts, unlikely to be found in many other letters and notes written by Darwin.Darwin also writes at length on his candid opinions of several noted and famous colleagues, such as Charles Lyell and Thomas Huxley, each of which played a not so small part in the history of the theory of evolution.While he generally assumes a humble and congenial tone, he can at times be unsparing in his opinions on the faults of certain colleagues.

Where Charles Darwin's autobiography differs from many other autobiographies, however, is that Darwin did not originally intend to publish his autobiography for the mass public, but had meant it to be a sort of personal memoir by which his children and grandchildren could remember him.Thus, Darwin writing to a family audience, puts down his religious views at a time when writing them in public would have been far too controversial for Darwin's taste.This section in Darwin's autobiography, in my opinion, is the most valuable part of Darwin's work, as it gives a clear account of Darwin's view on a topic that even today is coming into conflict with his theories.

However, when Darwin's children decided to publish the autobiography, some parts, deemed too sensitive, such as his thoughts on religion, were taken out of the published version.The Nora Barlow edited edition is thus particularly good in that it is the only edition that offers the complete autobiography, including the passages with Darwin's religious views.Her footnotes and introduction also help the reader gain a better understanding into the historical and social context in which Darwin writes.

Overall, this book was a short read and captivating throughout. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
This article covers Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882): British naturalist whose theory of organic evolution through natural selection revolutionized science.

The article is excerpted fromGale Encyclopedia of Psychology. This single-volume, accessible resource covers the entire spectrum of psychology, including: notable people, theories and terms; landmark case studies and experiments; applications of psychology in advertising, medicine and sports; and career information. More than 650 articles -- 65% of those are entirely new or updated since the last edition. Each article ranges from 25 to 1,500 words, covering the topics researchers want to know about, including:
Abnormal psychology
Bipolar disorder
Dyslexia
Sigmund Freud
Insomnia
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Unconscious motivation
And hundreds more

In addition to more that 175 photographs, charts and graphs, students will also find a new glossary of over 350 terms, an updated organizations list and an updated and expanded index.

Published/Released: October 2000 ... Read more