Review: The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After reading this book, one can understand why this is one of the most classic science books and has stood the test of time. Darwin spent countless years researching, investigating and writing The Origin of Species and established the concept of Natural Selection which is at the foundation of evolution.
The book is extensive and provides hundreds of examples of survival, conditions of existence, domestication, variation, hybridism. For me, I struggled with these countless examples and their relevancy in today’s age. I understand the concept and theory wanting to move onto the next topic/theory in the book.
The Origin of Species is worth reading at a high level to grasp Darwin’s fundamental concepts. Whether or not you go into a low level of detail is up to you. For me it made sense to grasp those specific areas and skim over the redundant aspects I had already understood.
Three key takeaways from the book:
1. The best way to think of Natural Selection is by Darwin’s reference to “Survival of the Fittest”
2. Natural selection grants long periods of time for the work to occur, however, nature does not grant an indefinite period of time as species are in competition and risk extermination
3. Unity of Type, and the Conditions of Existence are two of the more significant laws on which organic beings were formed
