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  • The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

  • or, The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life
  • Written by: Charles Darwin
  • Narrated by: Robin Field
  • Length: 23 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

Publisher's Summary

The Origin of Species sold out on the first day of its publication in 1859. It is the major book of the 19th century and one of the most readable and accessible of the great revolutionary works of the scientific imagination. Though, in fact, little read, most people know what it says—at least they think they do.

The Origin of Species was the first mature and persuasive work to explain how species change through the process of natural selection. Upon its publication, the book began to transform attitudes about society and religion and was soon used to justify the philosophies of communists, socialists, capitalists, and even Germany’s National Socialists. But the most quoted response came from Thomas Henry Huxley, Darwin’s friend and also a renowned naturalist, who exclaimed, “How extremely stupid not to have thought of that!"

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What the critics say

“One of the most important contributions ever made to philosophic science.” ( The New York Times)

What listeners say about The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent fuel for adaptation

The extensive natural research which Darwin conducted and compiled from colleagues and other sources is extremely fascinating. However, with the advantages of 160 years of additional research, hypotheseses, and discoveries, this work should not be considered a completely accurate portrayal of today’s theories, either of evolution or of creation.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Relevant today as ever

Few books are turning points in civilization. This is likely the most important and relevant book of the modern era. Readers will be amazed at Darwin’s depth of research and analysis. He left no stone unturned to refute challenges to his thesis.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Impressive

Information overload but loved it
I feel as if I would have been hard to read but audio makes it doable

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