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Summary: Fabulous Journey...........
Review: .............each step of Darwin's five year, world-wide journey is chronicled here in his "Voyage of the Beagle" a work in which he shares his perceptions of the world as a renowned naturalist. If you respect Darwin and his revolutionary theories, you will love this book, which is filled with geological and biological (descriptions of the flora and fauna) data that he recorded throughout his journey. We even travel with him through the Galapagos Islands where Darwin thoroughly analyzed giant tortoises and bird life (the analyses of which lead to his evolutionary theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest). If you aren't particularly intrigued by Darwin himself and naturalism, this book may seem dry to you, in which case I think you would find it a tiresome read.
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Summary: A great classic of science.
Review: From 1831 to 1836 Charles Darwin, then a young man in his twenties, was the official naturalist on the Royal Navy ship HMS Beagle. The Beagle spent five years completing a survey of the coasts of South America and making a series of longitude measurements around the world. This proved to be one of the most important scientific voyages of the 19th century, for it was on this voyage that Darwin made the observations that lead, twenty years later, to his formulating the theory of evolution by means of natural selection. This book is Darwin's account of his observations on this voyage. Darwin was a master of detailed observation, and he describes the things he observed -- the plants, animals, geology, and people -- in loving detail. His accounts are always lively and full of interest. Darwin was also a master of inductive reasoning, and there are several superb examples of this in this book. Perhaps the finest is Darwin's induction of the cause of the formation of the coral atolls that dot the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean (his theory was proved correct in the 20th century). Indeed, much of the value of this book for the modern reader lies in the many examples it contains of scientific, inductive thought; a powerful method of reasoning that is as neglected today as it was in Darwin's time.
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Summary: Interested in the Origin of "The Origin of Species"?
Review: Mention Charles Darwin's name and most people probably think of his famous book, "The Origin of Species" and the theory of evolution. Before "The Origin of Species," however, was "The Voyage of the Beagle."In 1831 at the almost tender age of 22, Darwin embarked on a five year journey around the world that would define his career. Darwin's chronicle is, first and foremost, a richly detailed scientific field journal. The book displays Darwin's finely tuned power of observation and keen sense of inductive reasoning as he contemplates not just biology, but also geology, anthropology and meteorology. Darwin's notes hint at ideas he developed more fully later in "The Origin of Species." At the same time, the book is a lively travel memoir of adventures and exploration that most of us can only envy. Random notes about peoples indigenous to the places he visited provide interesting social commentary on the sensibilities of a Victorian age, British gentleman. Masterful display of a great scientific mind at work.
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Summary: Penguin Version is abridged, with no warning on the cover
Review: The 1 star is for Penguin, because the cover does not warn you that the content has been sharply abridged. Darwin's thinking and writing are wonderful -- but grossly and unfairly cut to ribbons.
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Summary: A must for science and history lovers!
Review: This is an under-rated read. It is the story of Charles Darwins 5 year journey on the Royal Navy ship, HMS Beagle. If ever there was a fateful voyage, this is it. But of course in this case, it is a 'fate' of hope, joy and true discovery. The writer, in case you don't know him, is an enthusiastic and slightly rebellious young British naturalist, Charles Darwin. Here he reveals a style of cool-headed prose, sombre reflection, humour, and scientific enthusiasm. Amongst other things he describes his traverses in the Andes mountains, his jaunting about the Galopagas Islands, and his reflections of the bristling new British colony of Sydney. He collects specimens at places as diverse as the open sea, the remote Australian coast, and various islands of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. One particularly interesting piece describes his experience of a major earthquake on the Chilian coast, with details of totally destroyed coastal townships, and a major tidal wave. Of course he doesn't miss the correlation of the earthquake and a rather significant mountain chain running down the length of the Chilian coastline. A good insight into the thoughts and style of the man, 19th century scientific prose, as well as the world itself in that interesting period of human history-the early to mid 19th century. This edition incidentally is also the unabridged one, which serves the reader better than some others.
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