The "Origin" Made Far More Accesible For Ordinary Readers

books:

	• The Annotated Origin: A Facsimile of the First Edition of On the Origin of Species Charles Darwin Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2009 - 576 pages average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The "Origin" Made Far More Accesible For Ordinary Readers

It's both wonderful and too bad that there are now two such excellent versions of "On the Origin of Species" competing for non-specialist readers: this one and the lavishly-illustrated version edited by David Quammen (which see).

Professor James T. Costa, who edited this book and prepared the annotations, is a biologist himself and an insightful student of Darwin. This very useful book makes the "Origin" far easier to understand for the general reader. It presents a facsimile of the first edition of Darwin's classic volume (accepted as the most passionate and unalloyed version of Darwin's original views, compared to the five versions that he oversaw subsequently) in a broad format: on each page, the text is on one hand and lying next to it is commentary and interpretation by Professor Costa. Darwin's writing is precise and clear but the lay reader often has questions - or would, if we knew what to ask - that are answered in the annotations. The result is a handsome edition with thought-provoking insights that vastly enhance the reader's interest and understanding. Each comment is keyed to the pertinent place in the text to which it refers by the use of an arrow and the comments provide a gloss, as it were, on those passages. Costa summarizes, explains and points out what is coming up, indicates where the same themes or ideas reappear, offers valuable present-day perspectives on what Darwin is saying, and so forth.

To take just one signal example, Costa explains what may puzzle many readers, namely, why Darwin starts out with a discussion of plants and animals under domestication. His comments reduce the confusion people feel (I know I did, initially) when they start reading, thus making it likelier that general readers will not be confused and put off by the book from the outset. The reader is thus helpfully guided through Darwin's seminal work by a companionable expert.

Costa has prepared a worthwhile introduction in which he discloses his ambition that this edition will help to persuade modern students to read Darwin's original book, thereby enhancing understanding (and preventing misunderstanding) of evolution. He also laments and is perplexed by the fact that Americans seem so inclined to litigate over whether such widely accepted science can be taught in public schools. I gather he hopes by this edition to forestall some of the misunderstanding that can give rise to such litigation.

I hope Costa succeeds.

A set of biographical notes helps readers understand Darwin's references to other people and indicates where in the text one will find those references. I also inspected the bibliography and found it substantial and helpful as well, if a bit on the individualistic side.

This is an attractive volume, stylishly presented by Harvard University's Belknap Press. There are no illustrations or diagrams apart from those found in the original first edition, however. The price is reasonable. Although I already have several editions of "On the Origin of Species," I was quick to buy this one. As a non-specialist, I have found the annotations extremely helpful, informative, and even entertaining.

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Reading Darwin carefully

Reading Darwin is far from painful since he does write clearly and often engagingly. The annotations are quite good although as is always the case they can be distracting as one loses the argument by stopping to read the annotations. That said, for anyone with more than a passing interest in evolution, the annotations provide background information and often help to elucidation his complex arguments. I found them most helpful and interesting. They help the reader to see an interesting and creative mind at work which is really the only reason to read Darwin today given modern additions to evolutionary theory. Layout is also quite good. Readers should know that this is the 1st edition (of 6 as I recall). Later editions had non-trivial additions and subtractions, but unfortunately they also soft-peddled some of the more extreme (and often correct) arguments, presumably because he was responding to real and imagined criticism. The general reader shouldn't be bothered by edition issues. I hadn't read Origin of Species in several years, and have enjoyed the experience again, but it takes some real work. Not airplane reading. Although there are much less expensive editions available this is the one to have.

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the Origin of Species with Insights

I do not always read introductions. I test read, then decide. This time I read the introduction, and it is worth while, because it gets you into the right time, makes you understand what a big step his findings were for Darwin, who was by no means an atheist.
The Origin of Species itself is, of course,The Annotated Origin: A Facsimile of the First Edition of On the Origin of Species in a language that may be a little antiquated for us nowadays. On the other hand it was intended for a scientific audience, and it is still well readable (try reading legal texts). What makes it really great is the accompanying text by James T. Costa. WIth "footnotes" in the right places (right beside the relevant passage in the text, so no bothersome where is it, or even smaller print) he gives insights, explanations and background that provide some "yes, of course", or "I never realized that, thought about that, did not know that" moments. All too often we think about past things from our point of view, forgetting there was no internet, TV.... For instance I would have assumed that Darwin would have known about Gregor Mendel.
I do confess that in parts, like where Darwin explains about species and sub species, I read diagonally.
This book is like a well set table, with food well served, you just sit down and eat.
I just wish there were more books like this, I really enjoyed reading it and found it very interesting.

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good book

so it's easier for you to know what Darwin was thinking by reading the annotation.

Outstanding

Received an advance copy of this book.

Apart from the odd cover-art, this is a truly beautiful book, cloth bound in bold orange color with gold embossed title on spine, very well bound, well printed on heavy/creamy paper stock.

The preface is an excellent overview of CD's life & work, and the annotations are worth owning.

Charles Darwin?s On the Origin of Species is the most important and yet least read scientific work in the history of science. Now James T. Costa?experienced field biologist, theorist on the evolution of insect sociality, and passionate advocate for teaching Darwin with Darwin in a society where a significant proportion of adults believe that life on earth has been created in its present form within the last 10,000 years?has given a new voice to this epochal work. By leading readers line by line through the Origin, Costa brings evolution?s foundational text to life for a new generation.

The Annotated Origin is the edition of Darwin?s masterwork used in Costa?s course at Western Carolina University and in Harvard?s Darwin Summer Course at Oxford. A facsimile of the first edition of 1859 is accompanied by Costa?s extensive marginal annotations, drawing on his extensive experience with Darwin?s ideas in the field, lab, and classroom. This edition makes available an accessible, useful, and practical resource for anyone reading the Origin for the first time or for those who want to reread it with the insights and perspective that a working biologist can provide.

(20090528)

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