My Life: A record of events and opinions

by Alfred Russel Wallace

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1908 edition by Chapman & Hall, Ltd., London.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Science

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

Alfred Russel Wallace, OM, FRS was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist and biologist. He is best known for independently proposing a theory of natural selection which prompted Charles Darwin to publish his own theory.

Wallace did extensive fieldwork, first in the Amazon River basin and then in the Malay Archipelago, where he identified the Wallace Line that divides Indonesia into two distinct parts, one in which animals closely related to those of Australia are common, and one in which the species are largely of Asian origin. He was considered the 19th century's leading expert on the geographical distribution of animal species and is sometimes called the "father of biogeography". Wallace was one of the leading evolutionary thinkers of the 19th century and made a number of other contributions to the development of evolutionary theory besides being co-discoverer of natural selection. These included the concept of warning colouration in animals, and the Wallace effect, a hypothesis on how natural selection could contribute to speciation by encouraging the development of barriers against hybridization.

Wallace was strongly attracted to unconventional ideas. His advocacy of Spiritualism and his belief in a non-material origin for the higher mental faculties of humans strained his relationship with the scientific establishment, especially with other early proponents of evolution. In addition to his scientific work, he was a social activist who was critical of what he considered to be an unjust social and economic system in 19th-century Britain. His interest in biogeography resulted in his being one of the first prominent scientists to raise concerns over the environmental impact of human activity. Wallace was a prolific author who wrote on both scientific and social issues; his account of his adventures and observations during his explorations in Indonesia and Malaysia, The Malay Archipelago, was one of the most popular and influential journals of scientific exploration published during the 19th century.

Reviews

[John Gribbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wallace was the "other man" of evolution, who came up with the idea of natural selection independently of Darwin. His life was even more adventurous than that of Darwin, involving epic exploration in South America, hostile natives, fever and shipwreck all as a prelude to his greatest work. His autobiography is not exactly a page turner as far as style is concerned, but the story he tells keeps you gripped. It also provides insight into 19th century society in England, where unlike Darwin he had to work for a living and struggled to make ends meet.

[Patrissia Cuberos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, interesting.

A most interesting biography from one of the most eminent thinkers of the nineteenth
century, the other father of evolution, all but forgotten now. Full of fascinating ideas so modern and progressive that it's difficult to believe he wrote this more than a century ago! I wish we had a few like him nowadays! I thoroughly recommend the book.

[MerryMeerkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall: 5 Stars

Star Rating Art: 4 Stars
Star Rating Story: 5 Stars

Self purchase.

First Impression: Crocodiles!! YEAY!!!!

Plot/Storyline: I was going to hold off reading this because I���m almost caught up on the treasury releases. However, the Federal Shutdown has me depressed so I���m going to read it now to cheer me up.OMG OMG!!! He did multiple strips with Meerkats!!!! EEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!! SOO funny. I really needed to see that!!!!

On page 80 there is some great commentary on a series of strips he did with Abe Lincoln. I love the summo wrestling squirrels that appear in several strips later on. On pages 224 and 225 there are great strips with the crododiles and Zeebra getting together at Christmas. According to the treasury notes people complained that the strips were too dark. However, I love them. My favorite scene is the last strip on page 224 where one of the crocodiles is beating Zeebra over the head with the key. Hysterical facial expressions. Also hysterical is the crocodile singing made up words to a christmas song on page 225. On page 235 is a great compilation (for lack of a better word) of some joke and puzzle strips. Check it out, its amusing.

Cover:I sssooooo want the Sruffed animals (are on this cover of this treasury) of the regulars for Xmas. Told husband several times. I love how in all of the treasury covers, a picture of the cartoonist is photoshoped into the picture.

I really think this was the best treasury yet!! Man I love this strip!! I think I have one more waiting for me and then the next one comes out in March!! WOOT!!!