The Origin Then and Now: An Interpretive Guide to the Origin of Species

David N. Reznick

ISBN 10: 0691152578 / ISBN 13: 9780691152578

Published by Princeton University Press, 2011

About this Item

Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" is one of the most widely cited books in modern science. This guide to Darwin's masterwork examines "Origin" within the historical context in which it was written, and modern examples are used to reveal how this work remains a relevant and living document for today. Num Pages: 448 pages, 15 halftones. 17 line illus. BIC Classification: PSAJ. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 235 x 157 x 28. Weight in Grams: 632. . 2011. Paperback. . . . .

Seller Inventory # V9780691152578

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Origin Then and Now: An Interpretive Guide to the Origin of Species
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691152578
• ISBN 13: 9780691152578
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

An accessible modern guide to Darwin's masterwork

Charles Darwin's Origin of Species is one of the most widely cited books in modern science. Yet tackling this classic can be daunting for students and general readers alike because of Darwin's Victorian prose and the complexity and scope of his ideas. The "Origin" Then and Now is a unique guide to Darwin's masterwork, making it accessible to a much wider audience by deconstructing and reorganizing the Origin in a way that allows for a clear explanation of its key concepts. The Origin is examined within the historical context in which it was written, and modern examples are used to reveal how this work remains a relevant and living document for today.

In this eye-opening and accessible guide, David Reznick shows how many peculiarities of the Origin can be explained by the state of science in 1859, helping readers to grasp the true scope of Darwin's departure from the mainstream thinking of his day. He reconciles Darwin's concept of species with our current concept, which has advanced in important ways since Darwin first wrote the Origin, and he demonstrates why Darwin's theory unifies the biological sciences under a single conceptual framework much as Newton did for physics. Drawing liberally from the facsimile of the first edition of the Origin, Reznick enables readers to follow along as Darwin develops his ideas.

The "Origin" Then and Now is an indispensable primer for anyone seeking to understand Darwin's Origin of Species and the ways it has shaped the modern study of evolution.

About the Author

David N. Reznick is professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside.