On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection

On the Origin of the Species ranks as one of the most important and influential books ever written, and one that remains as controversial today as upon its initial publication 150 years ago. Here, eminent biologist and staunch Darwinist Richard Dawkins narrates his own expertly abridged version of Darwin’s groundbreaking book. In cutting passages that are now proven to be wrong, mostly those dealing with genetics, Dawkins streamlines the book for modern tastes while preserving its sound scientific underpinnings. What’s truly remarkable, Dawkins notes, is how much Darwin got right. Remarkable, too, is the clarity of Darwin’s prose, which, while necessarily technical in nature, makes the scientific basis for his theory of natural selection accessible to laypeople. For those wavering between creationism and evolution, or for anyone who wants a better understanding of Darwinism, Dawkins’ brilliant reading is the perfect entry into a book that truly changed the world.