A compelling portrait of a unique moment in American history when the ideas of Charles Darwin reshaped American notions about nature, religion, science and race “A lively and informative history.” – The New York Times Book Review Throughout its history America has been torn in two by debates over ideals and beliefs. Randall Fuller takes us back to one of those turning points, in 1860, with the story of the influence of Charles Darwin’s just-published On the Origin of Species on five American intellectuals, including Bronson Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, the child welfare reformer Charles Loring Brace, and the abolitionist Franklin Sanborn. Each of these figures seized on the book’s assertion of a common ancestry for all creatures as a powerful argument against slavery, one that helped provide scientific credibility to the cause of abolition. Darwin’s depiction of constant struggle and endless competition described America on the brink of civil war. But some had difficulty aligning the new theory to their religious convictions and their faith in a higher power. Thoreau, perhaps the most profoundly affected all, absorbed Darwin’s views into his mysterious final work on species migration and the interconnectedness of all living things. Creating a rich tableau of nineteenth-century American intellectual culture, as well as providing a fascinating biography of perhaps the single most important idea of that time, The Book That Changed America is also an account of issues and concerns still with us today, including racism and the enduring conflict between science and religion.

The Origin of Species (the full title being, 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'), is a scientific work by Charles Darwin, published on 24 November 1859. It is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology, introducing the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. The book includes evidence that Darwin had collected on the Beagle expedition in the 1830s and his subsequent findings.

Evolutionary theory ranks as one of the most powerful concepts of modern civilization. Its effects on our view of life have been wide and deep. One of the most world-shaking books ever published, Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, first appeared in print over 130 years ago, and it touched off a debate that rages to this day. Every modern evolutionist turns to Darwin’s work again and again. Current controversies in the life sciences very often have as their starting point some vagueness in Darwin’s writings or some question Darwin was unable to answer owing to the insufficient biological knowledge available during his time. Despite the intense study of Darwin’s life and work, however, many of us cannot explain his theories (he had several separate ones) and the evidence and reasoning behind them, nor do we appreciate the modifications of the Darwinian paradigm that have kept it viable throughout the twentieth century. Who could elucidate the subtleties of Darwin’s thought and that of his contemporaries and intellectual heirs—A. R. Wallace, T. H. Huxley, August Weismann, Asa Gray—better than Ernst Mayr, a man considered by many to be the greatest evolutionist of the century? In this gem of historical scholarship, Mayr has achieved a remarkable distillation of Charles Darwin’s scientific thought and his enormous legacy to twentieth-century biology. Here we have an accessible account of the revolutionary ideas that Darwin thrust upon the world. Describing his treatise as “one long argument,” Darwin definitively refuted the belief in the divine creation of each individual species, establishing in its place the concept that all of life descended from a common ancestor. He proposed the idea that humans were not the special products of creation but evolved according to principles that operate everywhere else in the living world; he upset current notions of a perfectly designed, benign natural world and substituted in their place the concept of a struggle for survival; and he introduced probability, chance, and uniqueness into scientific discourse. This is an important book for students, biologists, and general readers interested in the history of ideas—especially ideas that have radically altered our worldview. Here is a book by a grand master that spells out in simple terms the historical issues and presents the controversies in a manner that makes them understandable from a modern perspective.

🌿📘 Discover the Journey of a Visionary: "Charles Darwin: Crafting the Theory of Evolution" 🌍 Embark on an enlightening voyage through the life and mind of Charles Darwin, one of history’s most influential scientific figures. In "Charles Darwin: Crafting the Theory of Evolution," dive deep into the personal and professional journey of the man behind the revolutionary theory that changed our understanding of the natural world. 🔍 Inside this Captivating Read: 🌱 Early Years: Explore Darwin's formative influences, from his curious childhood to his educational endeavors. ⛵ Voyage of the Beagle: Journey alongside Darwin on his pivotal expedition, witnessing the observations that shaped his thoughts. 🧬 Birth of a New Theory: Uncover the genesis of natural selection and the meticulous research that backed it. 🤝 Influential Collaborators: Meet the minds like Alfred Russel Wallace, who played critical roles in Darwin’s intellectual landscape. 📚 "On the Origin of Species": Delve into the making of his magnum opus, its groundbreaking concepts, and the societal impact it created. 🌟 Lasting Legacy: Explore how Darwin's theory evolved over time, incorporating modern genetics and other scientific discoveries. This book, crafted by the ChatStick Team, is not just a biography but an intimate portrayal of a man whose ideas continue to shape our understanding of the world. It's a narrative that weaves through Darwin's personal struggles, his triumphs, and the eternal legacy he left behind. 📖 Whether you're a science enthusiast, a student of history, or just curious about the man who introduced us to the concept of natural selection, this book is a must-read. It’s more than a story; it's an inspiration, a testament to the enduring power of curiosity and perseverance. ⭐️ Perfect for Readers Who Enjoy: Historical Biographies Scientific Explorations Intellectual History Evolutionary Biology #CharlesDarwin #Evolution #NaturalSelection #ScienceHistory #Biography #InspirationalRead #BookLovers #KindleBook #DiscoverHistory

A new, deluxe hardcover edition of one of the most important scientific works ever written In December 1831, Charles Darwin boarded the HMS Beagle, accompanying her crew on a five-year journey that crossed the Atlantic Ocean to survey the coasts of South America. As the expedition’s geologist and naturalist, Darwin collected evidence from the Galapagos Islands and other locations which prompted him to speculate that species evolve over generations through a process of natural selection. In 1859, Darwin published On the Origin of Species, a work of scientific literature considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. His revolutionary work presented evidence from the Beagle expedition as well as from years of subsequent research and experimentation. Written for non-specialists, Darwin’s book gained widespread interest from the scientific community, religious leaders, politicians and the general public. The theory Darwin presented in his book quickly became the subject of heated debate and discussion. Now accepted by the scientific community, Darwin’s concepts of evolutionary adaptation via natural selection are central to modern evolutionary theory and form the foundation of modern life sciences. Perhaps the most transformative scientific volume ever published, this volume of the first edition of On the Origin of Species: Outlines Darwin’s ideas, scientific influences and the core of his theory Details natural selection and address possible objections to the theory Examines the fossil record and biogeography to support evolutionary adaptation Features a "Recapitulation and Conclusion" which reviews key concepts and considers the future relevance of Darwin’s theory On the Origin of Species: The Science Classic is an important addition to the bestselling Capstone Classics series edited by Tom Butler-Bowdon. It includes an insightful Introduction from leading Darwin scholar Dr John van Wyhe of the University of Singapore, which presents new research and an offers an original perspective on Darwin and his famous work. This high-quality, hardcover volume is a must-have for readers interested in science and scientific literature, particularly evolutionary theory and life sciences.

Bringing together conceptual obstacles and core concepts of evolutionary theory, this book presents evolution as straightforward and intuitive.