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A Brief Guide to Charles Darwin, His Life and Times
Charles Darwin has become one of the most important men in history. The quiet, unsure polymath who avoided confrontation, ensconced in his family home at Downe House in Kent, was also a revolutionary who developed his idea of Natural Selection in isolation. Aydon's short biography is considered one of the best introductions to the life and times of Darwin.
352 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2007
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About the author
Cyril Aydon
15 books16 followersCyril Aydon is a full-time writer. His previous works include A Brief Guide to Charles Darwin and Scientific Curiosities. He lives in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 29, 2023
*NOTE: With the exception of a few minor edits, this is a 2008 edition of Cyril Aydon's 2002 Charles Darwin: The Naturalist Who Started a Scientific Revolution.
All forms and formats withstanding, this is an excellent biography. Aydon has thoroughly researched his subject matter and it shows. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Darwin's life and legacy, "be ye scholar or scamp.”
All forms and formats withstanding, this is an excellent biography. Aydon has thoroughly researched his subject matter and it shows. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Darwin's life and legacy, "be ye scholar or scamp.”
March 23, 2021
This is an excellent biography of the great man. And there is no doubt of his greatness when we have completed this 300-page work. This is not to say that this biography is hagiographic.
It presents a holistic view of Darwin’s life and his many influences. Darwin never had to worry about money; Dad had a fortune and provided for his children. Charles was to follow in his footsteps and become a country doctor – but he showed little interest - and actually his father then tried to persuade him to become a clergyman – but not much came of that.
Darwin showed much more of an inclination to natural history – particularly zoology and the growing science of geology. He was also an avid gamesman or hunter and was very adept at killing off game on the estates of both his father and uncle. As the author points out Darwin was no pauper, he was part of the middle aristocracy – and science was his obsession.
The paramount affect on Darwin’s life occurred at the age of twenty-two when he was offered the position of natural scientist on what was to be an extensive sea journey of over four years on the H.M.S. Beagle. The Beagle was to circumnavigate the globe with the goal of exploring extensively the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. Darwin embarked on this journey with great scientific enthusiasm. He saw it as a key opportunity to expand his knowledge of an unknown scientific world. Incidentally his skills at hunting were of considerable benefit to the crew as Darwin was able kill off game to supplement their rather bland sea diet. Darwin also spent a considerable amount of time off the Beagle on long expeditions on the coast of South America where he constantly gathered samples (birds, rocks, bugs, fossils… you name it!) which he would send back to England on other boats. Darwin was also a voracious note-taker.
Page 107 (my book) after four years and nine months on the H.M.S. Beagle
He had 1,700 pages of zoology and geology notes, a diary of 800 pages; 4,000 labelled skins, bones, and other dry specimens, and another 1,500 preserved in spirits. It had been the adventure of a lifetime.
With all these accumulated notes and observations Darwin started to formulate his theories. Species were thought to be immutable – and man separate from the natural world – a primary tenet of Christianity. Darwin was starting to think outside of this paradigm.
Prior to writing his famous “Origin of Species” he also wrote many papers on animal and plant life. It is amazing in our current age of specialization how Darwin (and his colleagues) could branch off in many different fields of natural history.
Even after the “Origin of Species” was written Darwin continued his researches into many disparate fields. He was very thorough and extremely focused drilling down into minute details. For example, if one is interested, in 1881 he published “The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits”. (page 267). It sold 8,000 copies.
The author examines the vast implications of Darwin’s work. The full impact of “Natural Selection” only came to be fully understood in the twentieth century with advances in genetics and the discovery of DNA. Darwin possibly put the nail in the coffin of Christian religious influence on science. It forced the separation of the study of religion and science into different spheres. Prior to Darwin many scientists believed whole-heartedly in Biblical scripture. After Darwin man was just another species (an invasive one I could add)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It presents Darwin’s life within the context of the 19th century and it was entertaining to read.
It presents a holistic view of Darwin’s life and his many influences. Darwin never had to worry about money; Dad had a fortune and provided for his children. Charles was to follow in his footsteps and become a country doctor – but he showed little interest - and actually his father then tried to persuade him to become a clergyman – but not much came of that.
Darwin showed much more of an inclination to natural history – particularly zoology and the growing science of geology. He was also an avid gamesman or hunter and was very adept at killing off game on the estates of both his father and uncle. As the author points out Darwin was no pauper, he was part of the middle aristocracy – and science was his obsession.
The paramount affect on Darwin’s life occurred at the age of twenty-two when he was offered the position of natural scientist on what was to be an extensive sea journey of over four years on the H.M.S. Beagle. The Beagle was to circumnavigate the globe with the goal of exploring extensively the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. Darwin embarked on this journey with great scientific enthusiasm. He saw it as a key opportunity to expand his knowledge of an unknown scientific world. Incidentally his skills at hunting were of considerable benefit to the crew as Darwin was able kill off game to supplement their rather bland sea diet. Darwin also spent a considerable amount of time off the Beagle on long expeditions on the coast of South America where he constantly gathered samples (birds, rocks, bugs, fossils… you name it!) which he would send back to England on other boats. Darwin was also a voracious note-taker.
Page 107 (my book) after four years and nine months on the H.M.S. Beagle
He had 1,700 pages of zoology and geology notes, a diary of 800 pages; 4,000 labelled skins, bones, and other dry specimens, and another 1,500 preserved in spirits. It had been the adventure of a lifetime.
With all these accumulated notes and observations Darwin started to formulate his theories. Species were thought to be immutable – and man separate from the natural world – a primary tenet of Christianity. Darwin was starting to think outside of this paradigm.
Prior to writing his famous “Origin of Species” he also wrote many papers on animal and plant life. It is amazing in our current age of specialization how Darwin (and his colleagues) could branch off in many different fields of natural history.
Even after the “Origin of Species” was written Darwin continued his researches into many disparate fields. He was very thorough and extremely focused drilling down into minute details. For example, if one is interested, in 1881 he published “The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits”. (page 267). It sold 8,000 copies.
The author examines the vast implications of Darwin’s work. The full impact of “Natural Selection” only came to be fully understood in the twentieth century with advances in genetics and the discovery of DNA. Darwin possibly put the nail in the coffin of Christian religious influence on science. It forced the separation of the study of religion and science into different spheres. Prior to Darwin many scientists believed whole-heartedly in Biblical scripture. After Darwin man was just another species (an invasive one I could add)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It presents Darwin’s life within the context of the 19th century and it was entertaining to read.
August 18, 2018
A great introduction to the life of Darwin and his work.
July 12, 2020
As someone that in zoological field, Darwin is like a grandfather to us, in every subjects we learn, his we always come back to his theories. This book provides a good understanding on the life of this great man, a superhuman intellect. The storyline is easy to understand even though sometimes i took time to understand the classic text (am not native english speaker) however this book inspire me in every way.
March 15, 2019
I bought this book purely because I wanted to know more about why I knew the name ‘Charles Darwin’, and this book has done that and more. I haven’t got a single ‘sciencey’ bone in my body and not once was a bored with the terminology as it’s very much written to be read by a majority of people.
Really a truly incredibly man he was.
Really a truly incredibly man he was.
May 30, 2018
I'm not sure I can praise this book enough.
At first glance (and the untrained eye, I suppose), it looks quite a big book and one would think that it would a large enough tome to capture the life and times of Darwin, but upon whizzing through it at tremendous speed, I feel that it is indeed, as the series it belongs to suggests, a brief guide. I want to learn more!
Ayden does a great job of putting together Darwins' life, as well as the world he was born into and how he shaped the circles he belonged to and the world at large, ultimately.
A great book to start into the life of Darwin and a stepping stone towards more in-depth reading.
What a shame it took me 10 years to get round to this book - I wish I had delved into it when I first picked it up.
At first glance (and the untrained eye, I suppose), it looks quite a big book and one would think that it would a large enough tome to capture the life and times of Darwin, but upon whizzing through it at tremendous speed, I feel that it is indeed, as the series it belongs to suggests, a brief guide. I want to learn more!
Ayden does a great job of putting together Darwins' life, as well as the world he was born into and how he shaped the circles he belonged to and the world at large, ultimately.
A great book to start into the life of Darwin and a stepping stone towards more in-depth reading.
What a shame it took me 10 years to get round to this book - I wish I had delved into it when I first picked it up.
April 11, 2019
This book delved into the relationship of Darwin with everyone, from his father to his lifelong friends till his death and went further a chapter to explain his achievements after. The up and down of natural selection and evolutionary theory in the decade follow. This by definition, is the most comprehensive biography ever written. In my opinion.
By delving into the relationship aspect of Darwin and his friends and family, the book gave dimension and realness to his plight in writing his books.
By delving into the relationship aspect of Darwin and his friends and family, the book gave dimension and realness to his plight in writing his books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
This is a great introduction to the life and thinking of Chartres Darwin. I liked especially the Postscript as it was concise and useful for future conversations about the importance of Charles Darwin in our culture and the misrepresentations flying about. It is a book I would recommend to any student showing a glimmer of interest in science or theology.
April 7, 2023
Charles Darwin made one of the most prominent contributions to history of mankind with his 'theory of origin of species'. His theory of origin and natural selection laid the groundwork for the researchers of today to base their theories upon.
Cyril Aydon takes through the life of Charles Darwin starting early from his college days when he started studying medicine on the request of his father to how he came to be on HMS beagle to set sail around the world for almost 5 years to a happy life with his wife emma at Downe house.
I think Cyril Aydon did justice to every segment of his life and to the people he owed his work to in just about 300 pages. I love how concise it is.
"The more one studies Darwin's life, the more one realizes how lucky he was. But the realization should not lessen our admiration ........ One can properly understand the achievements of people like Darwin if one understands the achievements of people like Darwin if one understands the background of their lives and times, ..... The alternative is to adopt a view of history thats sees a great man or a great as woman as some sort of force of nature that asserts itself in spite of circumstances, and achieves its results unaided, by virtue of something called genius. Such an approach is naïve...."
Cyril Aydon takes through the life of Charles Darwin starting early from his college days when he started studying medicine on the request of his father to how he came to be on HMS beagle to set sail around the world for almost 5 years to a happy life with his wife emma at Downe house.
I think Cyril Aydon did justice to every segment of his life and to the people he owed his work to in just about 300 pages. I love how concise it is.
"The more one studies Darwin's life, the more one realizes how lucky he was. But the realization should not lessen our admiration ........ One can properly understand the achievements of people like Darwin if one understands the achievements of people like Darwin if one understands the background of their lives and times, ..... The alternative is to adopt a view of history thats sees a great man or a great as woman as some sort of force of nature that asserts itself in spite of circumstances, and achieves its results unaided, by virtue of something called genius. Such an approach is naïve...."
September 2, 2020
A nice concise overview of Darwins life and his work.
March 20, 2021
The Darwinian evolutionary theory is easily the mother of all biological theory, yet also the most misunderstood and maligned
December 12, 2021
Brilliantly writing biography which only touches the surface of this amazing man. Aydon provides the reader with a 'Further Reading' appendix, of all the books that were used to write his book.
February 28, 2025
A well done biography. The book did not bore. I learned many things, not only about Charles Darwin, but also about life in England. Darwin was a remarkable person.
February 3, 2018
For a book that I got to get free delivery at The Works, this book is great.
By no means am I a scientist (my science knowledge comes from TBBT) but this is a wonderful book giving the details of Darwin’s life without all the ins and outs of the science and all the technical details most of us can’t follow.
If you want to understand Darwin and the scientific community he was a part of, this book is a must read.
It hasn’t changed my opinion that the best Darwin was his grandfather Erasmus who wrote all of his scientific reports in rhyming couplets, why did that movement die out?
By no means am I a scientist (my science knowledge comes from TBBT) but this is a wonderful book giving the details of Darwin’s life without all the ins and outs of the science and all the technical details most of us can’t follow.
If you want to understand Darwin and the scientific community he was a part of, this book is a must read.
It hasn’t changed my opinion that the best Darwin was his grandfather Erasmus who wrote all of his scientific reports in rhyming couplets, why did that movement die out?
May 21, 2015
It was quite fascinating, reading about one man whose theory has changed the field of life science as we know it today. Aydon wrote it well. demonstrating step by step that what was darwin's circumstances and experiences that ultimatly led to his concluding his thoughts and observations as Natural Selection. It also shed some light that how his theory has been misunderstood and exploited by certain groups. His theory was one heck of a revolutionary idea and he was aware of this thing from the time he started thinking about writing origin of specie.
June 16, 2013
easy summary
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2013
An excellent concise introduction to Darwin’s life and work.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews