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Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory
James T. Costa takes readers on a journey from Darwin’s childhood through his voyage on the HMS Beagle where his ideas on evolution began. We then follow Darwin to Down House, his bustling home of forty years, where he kept porcupine quills at his desk to dissect barnacles, maintained a flock of sixteen pigeon breeds in the dovecote, and cultivated climbing plants in the study, and to Bournemouth, where on one memorable family vacation he fed carnivorous plants in the soup dishes.
Using his garden and greenhouse, the surrounding meadows and woodlands, and even taking over the cellar, study, and hallways of his home-turned-field-station, Darwin tested ideas of his landmark theory of evolution with an astonishing array of hands-on experiments that could be done on the fly, without specialized equipment.
He engaged naturalists, friends, neighbors, family servants, and even his children, nieces, nephews, and cousins as assistants in these experiments, which involved everything from chasing bees and tempting fish to eat seeds to serenading earthworms. From the experiments’ results, he plumbed the laws of nature and evidence for the revolutionary arguments of On the Origin of Species and his other watershed works.
Beyond Darwin at work, we accompany him against the backdrop of his enduring marriage, chronic illness, grief at the loss of three children, and joy in scientific revelation. This unique glimpse of Darwin’s life introduces us to an enthusiastic correspondent, crowd-sourcer, family man, and, most of all, an incorrigible observer and experimenter.
Includes directions for eighteen hands-on experiments, for home, school, yard, or garden.
Using his garden and greenhouse, the surrounding meadows and woodlands, and even taking over the cellar, study, and hallways of his home-turned-field-station, Darwin tested ideas of his landmark theory of evolution with an astonishing array of hands-on experiments that could be done on the fly, without specialized equipment.
He engaged naturalists, friends, neighbors, family servants, and even his children, nieces, nephews, and cousins as assistants in these experiments, which involved everything from chasing bees and tempting fish to eat seeds to serenading earthworms. From the experiments’ results, he plumbed the laws of nature and evidence for the revolutionary arguments of On the Origin of Species and his other watershed works.
Beyond Darwin at work, we accompany him against the backdrop of his enduring marriage, chronic illness, grief at the loss of three children, and joy in scientific revelation. This unique glimpse of Darwin’s life introduces us to an enthusiastic correspondent, crowd-sourcer, family man, and, most of all, an incorrigible observer and experimenter.
Includes directions for eighteen hands-on experiments, for home, school, yard, or garden.
464 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2017
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1101 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 26, 2023
A nice biographical accounting of Charles Darwin, centered specifically around the scientific experiments that eventually cumulated in his theory of natural selection. Each chapter is augmented with do-it-yourself instructions on how to conduct your own at-home experiments—complete with mailing addresses and websites where you can order specimens and supplies.*
*I just need to figure out how to explain the charges for barnacles, orchids, earthworms, and carnivorous plants on my credit card statement…
*I just need to figure out how to explain the charges for barnacles, orchids, earthworms, and carnivorous plants on my credit card statement…
May 17, 2023
This book, focused on Charles Darwin's scientific work, is filled with suggested experiments for the reader to try, based on those conducted by the famous scientist himself. I didn't try any, but I appreciated this DYI approach to convey how Darwin worked toward his signature theory. This book also serves as an approachable introduction to Darwin's theory without getting lost in the weeds.
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November 11, 2020DNF. Am unable to perform many of the experiments at this time of the year. I will probably try again next spring.
October 30, 2018
I would give this book 3.5 stars if it were an option. The information in the book is extremely worthwhile (at least if one is a biology teacher like myself). I loved learning more about the breadth of Darwin’s research interests and loved that the book includes suggestions for investigations along similar lines. Some of these investigations will be great for class research projects, others I hope to do with my own children.
The flaw in the book is the quality of the writing. It has an uneven voice. Parts of the book are very conversational and make modern pop culture references, which often struck me as jarring—out of place compared to the long descriptions of Darwin’s activities with his contemporaries. Additionally, the book has a fair amount of redundancy. Some redundancy is inevitable because Darwin frequently worked on multiple projects simultaneously and this book attempted to describe Darwin’s research in its historical context. However, there were far more redundant phrases than necessary.
The flaw in the book is the quality of the writing. It has an uneven voice. Parts of the book are very conversational and make modern pop culture references, which often struck me as jarring—out of place compared to the long descriptions of Darwin’s activities with his contemporaries. Additionally, the book has a fair amount of redundancy. Some redundancy is inevitable because Darwin frequently worked on multiple projects simultaneously and this book attempted to describe Darwin’s research in its historical context. However, there were far more redundant phrases than necessary.
June 19, 2017
Thank you W. W Norton for sending me an ARC of this book.
I have to say, this was far more interesting than I expected it to be. I learned quite a lot about Charles Darwin, not to mention the included illustrations and cover of this book are beautiful! I liked that the author didn't include too much about the Beagle expedition, as that is what I already knew the most about.
My only dissatisfaction with this book (and perhaps it will be included in the final version) is the lack of a wrap-up or ending. It seemed to simply end with no kind of finale. But, that is a small gripe for an otherwise lovely book.
It's a lengthy read, but well worth it if you are looking for an atypical biography, or want to play with some cool Darwin-esque experiments.
I have to say, this was far more interesting than I expected it to be. I learned quite a lot about Charles Darwin, not to mention the included illustrations and cover of this book are beautiful! I liked that the author didn't include too much about the Beagle expedition, as that is what I already knew the most about.
My only dissatisfaction with this book (and perhaps it will be included in the final version) is the lack of a wrap-up or ending. It seemed to simply end with no kind of finale. But, that is a small gripe for an otherwise lovely book.
It's a lengthy read, but well worth it if you are looking for an atypical biography, or want to play with some cool Darwin-esque experiments.
June 28, 2018
What a thoroughly smart, and thoroughly fun book!
I loved the intimate portrait of Darwin, mixed with real science. I appreciated that the science writing was lucid, but in no way dumbed-down for a wide audience.
I especially loved the chapters with details on orchids--the way Darwin went about substantiating his grandest theories by using both local/regional British orchids and tropical ones.
One small critique: the book could use a good copyeditor, both for line-editing and clarity of voice. It's not difficult to read, nor distracting, but Norton really could have done a better job here.
I loved the intimate portrait of Darwin, mixed with real science. I appreciated that the science writing was lucid, but in no way dumbed-down for a wide audience.
I especially loved the chapters with details on orchids--the way Darwin went about substantiating his grandest theories by using both local/regional British orchids and tropical ones.
One small critique: the book could use a good copyeditor, both for line-editing and clarity of voice. It's not difficult to read, nor distracting, but Norton really could have done a better job here.
February 12, 2018
A wonderfully written look into Darwin the experimenter and observer and his ideas and experiments that lay behind his theory of evolution by natural selection. Included are instructions to replicate a few of Darwin's experiments allowing one to learn and observe alongside Darwin himself and possible enlighten a new scientific mind. This book will allow you to see Darwin as a scientist and observer and how each of his publications built upon and illustrated natural selection.
April 15, 2024
James Costa has written an excellent book that gives us an intimate portrait for Charles Darwin as a scientist. Well-known is his voyage on the Beagle, but lesser known is the decades of experiments and investigations he undertook to further his theory of natural selection. In this book, the author, brings to the forefront these experiments, emphasizing the simplicity and home-grown nature of them.
In ten chapters, Costa walks us through the different efforts Darwin undertook with bees, barnacles, plants, and worms. In each chapter he clearly describes Darwin’s experiments and also follows up with what more modern researchers have uncovered. Admittedly, the experiments do not meet modern-day rigor nor statistical power; but given the time period they were conducted in it is fascinating the conclusions Darwin was able to draw.
The author also gives us insight into Darwin’s everyday life. He gives us clarity as to other events taking place, illnesses, births, deaths, and other publications. We see Darwin as a family man, recruiting his children from a young age to assist in his field research. One might say that Downe House was a biological station. Beyond his immediate family, Darwin recruited the help of friends and family in obtaining information for his questions.
As an added bonus, the author also details similar experiments anyone can try that mimic Darwin’s own work. These detailed experiments can be valuable to educators, from elementary to college-level, and homeschoolers alike. Overall, the book is a fascinating biographical journey, exploring a side of Charles Darwin that is rarely discussed.
In ten chapters, Costa walks us through the different efforts Darwin undertook with bees, barnacles, plants, and worms. In each chapter he clearly describes Darwin’s experiments and also follows up with what more modern researchers have uncovered. Admittedly, the experiments do not meet modern-day rigor nor statistical power; but given the time period they were conducted in it is fascinating the conclusions Darwin was able to draw.
The author also gives us insight into Darwin’s everyday life. He gives us clarity as to other events taking place, illnesses, births, deaths, and other publications. We see Darwin as a family man, recruiting his children from a young age to assist in his field research. One might say that Downe House was a biological station. Beyond his immediate family, Darwin recruited the help of friends and family in obtaining information for his questions.
As an added bonus, the author also details similar experiments anyone can try that mimic Darwin’s own work. These detailed experiments can be valuable to educators, from elementary to college-level, and homeschoolers alike. Overall, the book is a fascinating biographical journey, exploring a side of Charles Darwin that is rarely discussed.
January 1, 2020
This is a scientific biography of Darwin that emphasizes his multitude of experiments mostly conducted in his home and on his property. There are 10 chapters, each one discussing a particular interest of Darwin’s and using excerpts of his journals and correspondence. Areas discussed include Darwin’s work with barnacles, the nature of competition and diversity, how bees construct perfectly hexagonal cells, how island are populated, mechanisms that flowers have evolved to ensure pollination, the behavior and physiology of carnivorous plants, and examining whether earthworms are responsible for the production of topsoil. Each chapter ends with experiments like Darwin’s that you can perform, since Darwin was not using the Large Hadron Collider, but mostly just household items.
I especially enjoyed mention of all of Darwin’s family and friends and how they assisted his work, and how each investigated topic bore on both Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the counter proposals of theists. One can also learn a lot of natural history here, for example, all the varieties of climbing plants and the variety of behaviors that earthworms exhibit.
I especially enjoyed mention of all of Darwin’s family and friends and how they assisted his work, and how each investigated topic bore on both Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the counter proposals of theists. One can also learn a lot of natural history here, for example, all the varieties of climbing plants and the variety of behaviors that earthworms exhibit.
December 10, 2022
It is almost magical.
I watched a BOOK TV presentation by James T. Costa, the author of “Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory.” This leads me to purchase the book.
After Darwin’s HMS Beagle excursion which is also worth reading about, Darwin pretty much settled down and was a homebody. There he did a series of backyard experiments with local children. There is a record of these experiments that we are now reading about. We are even invited to do many of the weariest ourselves. Several generations of feral cats, I keep for the city, and I can see some of the results of my own unnatural selections at feeding time.
You get to see a different Darwin than is portrayed in most literature.
I would tell more but that is why you want to obtain the book and explore it for yourself. It comes with many monochrome sachets, further reading, and a good size bibliography.
I watched a BOOK TV presentation by James T. Costa, the author of “Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory.” This leads me to purchase the book.
After Darwin’s HMS Beagle excursion which is also worth reading about, Darwin pretty much settled down and was a homebody. There he did a series of backyard experiments with local children. There is a record of these experiments that we are now reading about. We are even invited to do many of the weariest ourselves. Several generations of feral cats, I keep for the city, and I can see some of the results of my own unnatural selections at feeding time.
You get to see a different Darwin than is portrayed in most literature.
I would tell more but that is why you want to obtain the book and explore it for yourself. It comes with many monochrome sachets, further reading, and a good size bibliography.
February 5, 2018
James T. Costa's work "Darwin's Backyard" is a well written book on the life of the "experimentiser". Each chapter is about a particular interest of Charles Darwin and how he went about utilizing that interest whether it be earthworms or orchids or bees in the service of supporting his overarching theme of natural selection. The writing is crisp and direct about Darwin and shows his interests not in a sequential manner but that those interests about selected topics overlapped.
What is refreshing about the work is that at the end of each chapter there is a hands on science experiment that one can do to recreate the excitement of discovery as you begin to understand how Darwin's methodology leads to uncovering underlying principals
This book "Darwin's Backyard" is highly recommended.
What is refreshing about the work is that at the end of each chapter there is a hands on science experiment that one can do to recreate the excitement of discovery as you begin to understand how Darwin's methodology leads to uncovering underlying principals
This book "Darwin's Backyard" is highly recommended.
July 14, 2019
I love Darwin and love this thing.
Its very intieresting to get a look at the theories and observations that he had before and after his voyage on the beagle. its also interesting to look at his arguments with contemporaries about the movement of plants in relation to gravity and light.
new information:
ways to measure soil displacement by earthworms
that plants move by extending the cells on the outer surface, and that it can only do it for a limited number of times.
plant tendrils react to touch and will start to curve in reaction to touch.
bean root tendrils have hair mechanisms to detect gravity.
earth worms detect vibration as its main sense, bees use scent.
interesting insight into how bees achieved the hexagonal cells by first digging round holes and its
simply the most efficient use of resource to creat hexagons for minimum contact surface.
Its very intieresting to get a look at the theories and observations that he had before and after his voyage on the beagle. its also interesting to look at his arguments with contemporaries about the movement of plants in relation to gravity and light.
new information:
ways to measure soil displacement by earthworms
that plants move by extending the cells on the outer surface, and that it can only do it for a limited number of times.
plant tendrils react to touch and will start to curve in reaction to touch.
bean root tendrils have hair mechanisms to detect gravity.
earth worms detect vibration as its main sense, bees use scent.
interesting insight into how bees achieved the hexagonal cells by first digging round holes and its
simply the most efficient use of resource to creat hexagons for minimum contact surface.
March 26, 2018
Cool book. I read the chapters on Darwin's seed dispersal experiments (by way of settling the single or multiple origin of species debate), his fascination with the sex life of plants and orchids in particular (chapter 7: highly recommended). Each chapter ends with a really practical and detailed guide to reproducing Darwin's backyard experiments. Chapter 1 is a great read for those interested in his life on the HMS Beagle, in particular his early forays into geological research (NB: the "Parallel Roads" thesis, the mistakes for which he was highly embarrassed). The author himself is a biologist and writes in an engaging manner, focusing on interesting insights into Darwin's "crowd-sourcing" (see for example his letters to Gardeners' Chronicler) and personal life.
October 27, 2024
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January 11, 2018
This was neat. It's not exactly a biography of Darwin, more a history of his experiments. I like the structure, although it did end up a bit repetitive in places. The experiments at the end of each chapter are neat. Some of them are going to be pretty easy to do with my kid (I can't wait to set up a wormery in the spring!) and some (barnacles) are going to be more difficult. Overall though, an interesting read for anyone interested in the history of science, or anyone interested in trying scientific experiments in their own backyard.
February 3, 2018
Much more exciting than a biography and more intimately detailed of the time during the interim years after coming home from his famous voyage and the printing of his famous book and the years he continued to publish other works afterwards. I never knew the man was so busy. Includes activities/experiments that Darwin also did himself that led to him supporting his theory in other areas such as botany and zoology.
Though I have not read all of the Darwin biographies, this book supports his genius more than the others I have read.
February 6, 2018
Another one of those science related books that I enjoyed - but here's my confession, I didn't do the experiments [that would be taking a step too far - who knows what mayhem would have ensued?!].
I often wonder what Darwin and others would think about what is written about them, their lives and careers today. I think he would have enjoyed this book though, but been a bit bemused too. I was concerned that I wouldn't get into this book, and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it.
I often wonder what Darwin and others would think about what is written about them, their lives and careers today. I think he would have enjoyed this book though, but been a bit bemused too. I was concerned that I wouldn't get into this book, and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it.
February 17, 2018
I had to muscle my way through this one. It was incredibly detailed, thoroughly researched and annotated, but not as readable as, say, a Sam Kean book - at least not for this layperson. I also found the experiments required more than the average person would have readily at hand. Still, any true Darwin fan will be thrilled by all the information on subjects ranging from earthworms to honeybee cells to orchids.
January 11, 2018
In some places you might feel like you need at least Biology 201 to read this book. But the rewards are great...showing Darwin’s obsessive pursuit of his interests and all the collaboration he sought in arriving at his final paper On The Origin of Species and on Natural Selection. He must have been a delightful man to spend time with !
February 13, 2019
Fascinating! I truly enjoyed this. The focus is experimenting, and the author uses Darwins child-like enthusiasm to inspire the reader. Darwin sound like an inspiring person to have been around. And I laughed out loud multiple times. And if you have the time and money, you can replicate Darwin's experiments yourself with the thorough guidelines at the end of each chapter.
October 19, 2023
A very detailed look at Darwin's life of experimentation and quest for knowledge. Definitely dry and can be boring, but I enjoyed going through all the different topics that fascinated him and seeing how they all tied into the evolution theory. Works as a biography because you understand the man and the life he led.
October 21, 2017
Good background in Darwin’s domestic experiments, which inform so much of the origin of species. Tone of the book slightly annoying—presumes a familiarity with the other figures of the time and a little too infatuated with Darwin on a personal level.
August 3, 2018
Really good read demonstrating how Darwin's entire life each and every day was that of a person with an unquenchable thirst for the "why" of how nature works. The book is filled with very enjoyable stories of how he managed to involve his entire family and friends in his quest for knowledge.
March 12, 2019
This is a powerhouse of a book. Experiments at the end that you just want to go out into your backyard and do (but I was reading it in winter), and interesting facts about Darwin's life and strategies for his "experimentizing". It's long--but well worth getting to the end.
June 11, 2019
Great book! I loved the stories about the research Darwin did from the comfort of home and surrounding farmland. This book, and Darwin, inspire curiosity, observation and experimentation in normal every day life. And I loved the lesson plans on how to replicate Darwin's curiosity.
December 29, 2019
I expected to really like this book, but somehow it didn't sit well. It seemed to drag on and on.
It follows each of Darwin's many many interests through all of his research, which means you need to pay a bit of attention to dates since he was always working on more than one topic.
It follows each of Darwin's many many interests through all of his research, which means you need to pay a bit of attention to dates since he was always working on more than one topic.
April 9, 2022
What a genuinely delightful read! It was especially fascinating to see how family & friends, large and small, was caught up in Charles Darwin's enthusiasm for earthworms, barnacles or orchids, eagerly helping him collect data and providing input on the greatest theory of life ever devised.
September 10, 2017
Really intriguing look at a variety of Darwin's experiments, including with orchids, bees, and worms.
September 17, 2017
Interesting concept. Framed as a novel, this is almost most appropriate to use as a textbook.
October 8, 2017
I've read Darwin biographies before, so I didn't learn much new here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews