Has anyone here ever read "The Orign of Species"?

Question

To be honest, i must say i never managed to get past page 223 (the number still haunts me to this day), also, it is the most boring thing i ever tried to read and i mean it when i say i dont blame anyone for not reading it (it is very very boring). Still, i'm willing to give it another shot, does anyone have a trick not to fall imediatly asleep while reading it? Any friendly advice? things to pay attention while reading it?

And also, what are your thoughts on the book? Did you like it? Were you amused by all the things Darwing got wrong? (some of them seem pretty funny when we see it nowadays) and about all the things he got right?

People are always asking Christians here on R&S if they have ever read the Bible front to back (i'm also still working on that, but it isn't nearly as boring, even the genealogies), still don't feel like this question is to even things out. Far from it i'd also like to have coments from people who don't like or accept evolution.

Laptop Jesus: I already said, the Bible is much easier.

Talking Donkey: I know, science changes its point of views, it adds new data, discards false hipothesis. I wasn't attaking evolution or anything, i'm an evolutionist (i was was to ashamed to say, but i just graduated in biology).

Some of you on the other hand never miss a chance to "poke" theists, expecially us christians!! i can't stay mad at you... hope someday you'll open your range of ideas towards God and spirituality

Paz de Cristo

Answer 1

I've read it. The language is archaic in our post-modern vernacular, but after reading Capital Vol. 1, it was a finger-burning page-turner. To be honest, I didn't find Origin of Species all that boring. Reading Capital taught me that I should spend a few minutes at a time reading it and to do so in when it's quiet and there are few distractions. It also taught me that yes, there really is a cure for intractable insomnia. Origin of Species taught me to slow down and enjoy the language.

Of course, I have a lot of interest in the subject and it was written in English, not someone's translation thereof. I've gotten used to 18th, 19th, and early 20th century social science and philosophy essays, so the language isn't very difficult for me to read. I start with Kant, Lamarck, Spenser's Biology books. Hegel, Feuerbach, Marx & Engels, Weber, Parsons, Durkheim. Those came first, too. I got to Darwin later. Blank Verse is great practice at reading the syntactical complexity found in pre-modern writing. Milton would be a lovely start for Christians.

It helps to be an active reader and to think critically about the opinion offered and the evidence used to support it. I connected it to theory that I work with and study, so it was interesting.

Anyway, pay particular attention to the concept of natural selection (Chapter 4). It's the basis of evolutionary theory in species and in everything where evolution is involved. Variation is important and how he approaches variation in current species and in the fossil record.

"In such case, every slight modification, which in the course of ages chanced to arise, and which in any way favoured the individuals of any of the species, by better adapting them to their altered conditions, would tend to be preserved; and natural selection would thus have free scope for the work of improvement."

Unsubstantiated (and mostly likely a load of hooey) rumor has it that Spenser wept at this.

Answer 2

At this point in time, it's really only worth reading that if you're interested in the history of it all (the history of the history?) From your question, it doesn't sound like you're too excited about that :) If you're just interested in the science, try reading something more contemporary and entertaining. The Stephan J Gould books would be a good prospect.

Answer 3

I'm actually reading it right now. I think the best way is to treat it like you would your college text books. Assign yourself a section a night, and then read that part. That's actually the same way I got through the Bible as well.

Answer 4

I have never read the whole thing, but remember... the whole evolution theory started with him, but scientists have progressed sooo much further than his "origin of species". So saying that evolution is false because darwin's book says some out-dated material doesn't mean it's false. There's a difference between darwinism and the evolution theory of today.

Answer 5

Darwin was no doubt a scientific genius, but he sucked as a writer. That book was BORING!!! I had to read it in freshman philosophy in college. It was a real struggle.

Answer 6

I've read it, but unlike nutball Christians, scientists don't hold the book to be the "end-all" of evolution. Darwin didn't even know about DNA.

See, the difference is that science pursues new knowledge instead of clinging to bronze-age mythology.

Answer 7

I had to read it in a college bio class. VERY boring, I agree with you... but then again, I'm not really a "science" person.

Answer 8

Parts of it. There are plenty of other places to get scientific info that are easier to read and way more up to date.

Answer 9

I have the book,

Too lazy to read it.

Read it like a song to make it less boring.

Answer 10

Read it like you'd force march yourself thru the bible. Do like a chapter a week.

It does have some gems in it, but then, I've never gotten all the way thru either...