Darwin And Evolution (The Big Idea)

Description

Charles Darwin's formulation of the theory of evolution with its now commonplace central idea of "the survival of the fittest" is, if not fully proven, generally accepted as logical and self-evident. Yet at the time, his revolutionary work "On the Origin of Species", and the notion that mankind was just another step in an evolving process of survival and selection, were shocking. This new concept challenged humanity's ingrained historical view that people were both at the centre of and superior to everything else in the natural world. Charles Darwin was to force a leap in human understanding, causing our horizons to shift and expand. So why was his "big idea" so unacceptable to those around him? And why was Darwin reluctant to publish his thoughts? This book presents slices of Darwin's life and work, and gives a clear and accessible explanation of the meanings and importance of the theory of evolution, and its implications for society.

Promotion info

THE BIG IDEA is a hugely popular series of science books that, at only 96 pages each, are an accessible read for the amateur

Reviews

In the latest of Arrow's The Big Idea series, Darwin and Evolution, Paul Strathern demonstrates the scale of Darwin's outstanding insight in this witty and intensely readable biography. With an unashamedly 20th-century perspective, Strathern shows that Darwin, though flawed, was genius enough to overturn the preconceptions of Victorian society. Get out there and buy the rest. The New Scientist

Author description

Paul Strathern was born in London and studied philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin. He was a lecturer at Kingston University where he taught philosophy and mathematics. He is a Somerset Maugham prize-winning novelist of A Season in Abyssinia, as well as four other novels. He is also the author of the Philosophers in 90 Minutes series.He wrote Mendeleyev's Dream which was shortlisted for the Aventis Science Book Prize, Dr. Strangelove's Game: A History of Economic Genius, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, Napoleon in Egypt and most recently, The Artist, The Philosopher and The Warrior, which details the convergence of three of Renaissance Italy's most brilliant minds: Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia. He lives in London and has three grandchildren.