Darwin by Adrian Desmond (PDF)

Description

This biography of Charles Darwin attempts to capture the private unknown life of the real man – the gambling and gluttony at Cambridge, his gruelling trip round the globe, his intimate family life, worries about persecution and thoughts about God. Central to all of this, his pioneering efforts on the theory of evolution now that recent studies have overturned the commonplace views of Darwin that have held for more than a century.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐A few years ago, probably after watching Master and Commander, I read about Charles Darwin but only his trip on the Beagle. After 676 pages here, the trip on the boat is the most telling event of his life. If not, the close competition is the death of his daughter Anne. Both had the profound impacts on his views of science. Start before the trip to find authors Adrian Desmond and James Moore declaring, “The Established Churches of Scotland and England rule all aspects of life, monopolizing political offices, regulating hospital, university, and legal posts, prescribing the rites surrounding birth, marriage and death, restricting civil liberties, and suppressing other religious groups.” This was in 1826. What torments Darwin, among other things as his life progresses, is the power held by the church. It is why the book ends not with Darwin’s death but a chapter on the argument for his burial at Westminster Abbey, something unthinkable, considering the challenges he would present, early in his life. Also his father, Robert, would not have thought it possible, as he was not impressed with his son’s inattention to medicine and rote learning. But then there was Robert Edmond Grant, a sponge expert and the man who on page 35 is said to have walked the Alps seven times, and what school did not inspire in Edinburgh Grant, also a doctor but one who gave up his practice, did. Darwin’s craft began with barnacles. But it was the Beagle that posed a connection between them and man: “What was he to make of these wretched people? Had they lived here in their present state ‘since the creation’? … Why did they remain naked?” Although the Galapagos receives so much credit for showing Darwin classification, the Fuegians he saw with Captain Fitzroy at the bottom of South America made the lasting impression. Although it was a world of difference between the savages and Isaac Newton, “they must possess ‘a sufficient share of happiness … to render life worth having’.” All of it famously led Darwin to counter Fitzroy with views about Christianity and slavery. Beetles were next. Forgotten as a factor in Darwin’s secrecy after his return to England was the class warfare which is hard to imagine now. “The clergy was under siege; the barbarians were at the gate.” There was a constant rebellion against established political power, not so much against religious ties, that came to life through Charles Dickens and Karl Marx in London. Not committed to either, Darwin is tied to both. And so the 1858 date on Origin of the Species does not indicate his digestion of thought but a calm and patient nature, indeed a scientific mind. He was married. Emma was his cousin, a Wedgewood. And the first cousin pairing haunted him for the rest of his life, partly because of Anne and her death and because the siblings all had health problems, though not so much to hold them from productive adult lives. The last struggle alluded to in the title is the horrid sickness that cannot be expected even for 19th century standards. Darwin spent weeks, months, seasons retching, undergoing water treatment, and laid up for stomach problems. He did manage his home of Down, mentor Thomas Huxley, and go on to write almost non-stop, especially the Descent of Man, but his life became as dry as his work. Almost nowhere in the book is the scientist ever engaged in a wayward, even slightly humorous conversation.

⭐As succinctly stated by the authors “More than any modern thinker – even Freud or Marx – this affable old-world naturalist from the minor Shropshire gentry has transformed the way we see ourselves on the planet” (Kindle location 371-373).This book helps to observe and partly understand how this happened by providing an outstanding profile of Darwin, as a human and an outstanding empirical researcher leading to one of the most momentous scientific revolutions, in the context of the ongoing transformation of England moving into the Victorian period. The text presents the emergence of main ideas and problems of the science of evolution which are not only of historic interest, but in large part continue to modern research. preoccupy essential for understanding its present standing. In particular, in my reading it also makes clear that the emerging ability of humankind to deliberately shape its future evolution thanks to leaping biological, nano-technological and artificial intelligence knowledge and tools – what is called the “Singularity” – require an additional paradigmatic quantum-leap, otherwise our species is quite likely to eradicate itself.But there is a serious problem: timely elaboration of a novel paradigm fitting the evolutionary challenges of the Singularity may well require a genius of the caliber of Darwin, in addition to building stones provided by high-quality but “normal” scientists and philosophers. All the more do I regret that the book does not provide any clear insights into what makes a genius, leaving this a perplexing riddle..This is not a complaint: Despite all the advances in cognitive psychology and neurosciences, the nature of “geniuses” remains an enigma which the authors should not be expected to solve. Still, as they know more about Darwin than anyone else, I would have welcomed their impressions, or at least some guesstimates, on the “genius” features of Darwin and their genesis. Was his breakthrough triggered by empiric impressions starting with his long sea trip, or/and by some ideas beginning to emerge in his period, or/and some kind of dreamlike inspiration, or what?As it is, the book is required reading for all who want to understand modernity and the challenes facing it, as largely shaped by the science of evolution founded by Darwin.Professor Yehezkel DrorThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem

⭐This biography helped me to see Darwin as a fellow human who lived in his own context. He did not come up with his ideas in a vacuum, but was influenced by family, politics, friends, etc just as we all are. Enlightening, humanizing, and even made me tear up a few times! A good read.

⭐This is a really first class biography, bringing the full weight of Charles Darwin’s “torment” to light. As a devoutly religious man during the oppressively Christian Victorian era, it took uncommon fortitude and intellectual honesty for him to follow the paths down which his researches led him, all the way to the ultimate conclusions which today bear his name.Much like H.W. Brands’s biography of Benjamin Franklin, the authors here do an excellent job of bringing Darwin back to life, both the highs and the lows (including lots of personal tragedy) that shaped his monumental career. Heartbreak played as great a role in his life as discovery.Compulsively readable without sacrificing detail, all of the major milestones of his life are covered in a personal perspective which gives exactly as much emphasis as events must have had at the time — even ones which have since reached mythic proportions. This is, as Steven Jay Gould touts on the cover, “Unquestionably, the finest [biography] ever written about Darwin…”

⭐This book not only provides an in depth biography of Charles Darwin. It also paints a vivid picture of life for the elite in Victorian society. This telling exploded many myths for me and I must admit that I was unaware that Darwin sat on his ideas for so many years after the adventures on the HMS Beagle. The book shows why it was so difficult particularly for a man in Darwin’s position to challenge the creationist view of nature. I was slightly disappointed by the authors treatment of the role of Arthur Wallace which to me seemed to be underplayed. Great piece of work though.

⭐This book really is a masterly account of the great man. With huge detail and accuracy it charts his privileged and wealthy background and upbringing, through to his voyage on the Beagle and the development of his evolutionary theories and numerous other research works, as well as detail of his family life. The authors’ hugely knowledgeable backgrounds have been ably assisted by the fact that Darwin kept prodigious notes and sent and received vast amounts of letters (14,500 of which still exist).Darwin’s story goes hand in hand with the politics and religious change happening at that time, and there is much detail here too. In fact it is a major thread of the story how he delayed going public with his theories, and when he did, the effect they had on the world as well as his own personal life and health. Darwin was fully aware of the impact his ideas would have – in Victorian times religion, science, politics and economics were all closely interwoven, and he knew he would have a devastating effect on the status quo – in many ways potentially to the detriment to those close to him. He was never comfortable with this burden, but always had a steely confidence in his theories and an awareness of the importance his work would have in the advancement of the scientific understanding of the world.The book makes liberal use of quotes, and these inspire confidence in the accuracy and thoroughness of the coverage. A highly recommended read and a superb historical account.

⭐I’m not a scientist, so was rather wary of a 700 page biography of Darwin. However I found it very readable and informative. The authors painted a broad picture which appeals to the specialist and non specialist alike. The only thing I would have liked was an inquiry, or speculation, about what illness Darwin suffered over many years. Having done a bit of research I have discovered that the current accepted theory is that he suffered from Crohn’s Disease – which incidentally is now considered the cause of Prince Albert’s death.A good read!

⭐I can’ think of a biography that I have enjoyed more or been more impressed by. (1) It is extremely well-written, which makes it a very easy read. It is a wonderful story as much as anything else. (2) The book sets Darwin’s life very nicely context – religious, scientific, political – and does so without labouring the point, providing just a nice amount of detail. (3) The theory of evolution is, of course, intrinsically interesting and important. I got it on kindle and am considering getting the hard copy as well, just because it’s one of those books that I would like to have on my shelves, and would like to hold onto. I will definitely be reading it again.

⭐I have read several biographies of Darwin, and this is the most comprehensive, with a lot of background detail about life in Victorian England. From my perspective, there are still some notable omissions (downplaying the roles of Edward Blyth and Patrick Matthew) and the authors do tend to idolise their subject.

Keywords

Free Download Darwin in PDF format
Darwin PDF Free Download
Download Darwin 1992 PDF Free
Darwin 1992 PDF Free Download
Download Darwin PDF
Free Download Ebook Darwin