Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution (editie 2012)

Interesting, but goes a bit too far into "you-are-there" history for my taste (describing what Darwin's study looked like or probably looked like--sure, okay, fine; describing Darwin raising his head as the butler brings in a letter--definitely not okay). ( )

An accessible and engaging look at free thinkers and scientists who preceded Darwin with pioneering insights and discoveries into evolution and natural selection beginning with Aristotle. ( )

What an interesting book this was. I was familiar with Darwin's work, of course, but really didn't know much about his precursors -- or that there were so many of them! As a non-scientist, I found the information fascinating; and I loved that Stott was able to fit so much data into such (relatively) short and succinct sketches. I was a bit bothered at first by her habit of portraying Darwin (and her other subjects as well) actually "thinking" or "imagining" or "feeling" one thing or another. I suppose it was an attempt to add some immediacy to the work by getting inside their heads -- if so, it wasn't really necessary. But even with that one problem, I still enjoyed the book even more than I expected I would. Definitely recommended to anyone interested in the history of science, although probably more appealing to the non-specialist. ( )

I was looking forward to reading this book as it hinted at the possibility that Charles Darwin had not been the first to put forth his famous theory. As it turned out, it merely recounted the stories of other scientists through the ages who recognized that living things evolve, an idea that was hardly new in Darwin's time. While I enjoyed reading the stories, I'm a bit disappointed that the author played up the widely-held misconception that Charles Darwin (and Wallace if people care to mention him) discovered "the theory of evolution." He and Wallace actually formulated the theory of Natural Selection which explained the phenomenon of evolution and essentially proved its existence. ( )

My favorite kind of read is a nonfiction book that is both informative and engaging. Science and history are my two favorite subjects, so when offered the chance to read Rebecca Stott's Darwin's Ghost, the Secret History of Evolution, I took it. Thank you to Librarything's Early Reader program and to the publisher.

Many of us tend to believe great ideas are formed in bubbles; that great thinkers suddenly come up with great ideas. We forget that many ideas build on older ideas. Stott reminds us that Darwin, though brilliant, did not come up with evolution on his own.

Stott's writing style is amazing, and I found myself green with envy within the first chapter. My secret desire is to write an engaging nonfiction book, if only I could write like Stott. She easily draws her readers into the lives of those who came before Darwin. We walk along the Greek shores with Aristotle as he studies ocean life. We learn Leonardo spent a lot time wondering how fossilized sea shells got imbedded into mountain regions. We learn of men who are self taught natural philosophers with varying success. We enter the gardens of the French Natural History Museum the Jardin des Plantes and finish off with Alfred Wallace. Each chapter builds upon the last, giving the us a clear map of how Darwin found his way to the Origins of Species.

If you are like me, always on the lookout for a well written, well researched nonfiction book, look no further than Stott's book. ( )