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The Galapagos Islands
One of 60 low-priced classic texts published to celebrate Penguin's 60th anniversary. All the titles are extracts from "Penguin Classics" titles.
53 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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493 people want to read
About the author
Charles Darwin
2,380 books3,415 followersCharles Robert Darwin of Britain revolutionized the study of biology with his theory, based on natural selection; his most famous works include
On the Origin of Species
(1859) and
The Descent of Man
(1871).
Chiefly Asa Gray of America advocated his theories.
Works of Jacques Martin Barzun include Darwin, Marx, Wagner (1941).
Charles Robert Darwin, an eminent English collector and geologist, proposed and provided scientific evidence of common ancestors for all life over time through the process that he called. The scientific community and the public in his lifetime accepted the facts that occur and then in the 1930s widely came to see the primary explanation of the process that now forms modernity. In modified form, the foundational scientific discovery of Darwin provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.
Darwin developed his interest in history and medicine at Edinburgh University and then theology at Cambridge. His five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist, whose observations and supported uniformitarian ideas of Charles Lyell, and publication of his journal made him as a popular author. Darwin collected wildlife and fossils on the voyage, but their geographical distribution puzzled him, who investigated the transmutation and conceived idea in 1838. He discussed his ideas but needed time for extensive research despite priority of geology. He wrote in 1858, when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay, which described the same idea, prompting immediate joint publication.
His book of 1859 commonly established the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human sexuality in Selection in Relation to Sex , and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals followed. A series of books published his research on plants, and he finally examined effect of earthworms on soil.
A state funeral recognized Darwin in recognition of preeminence and only four other non-royal personages of the United Kingdom of the 19th century; people buried his body in Westminster abbey, close to those of John Herschel and Isaac Newton.
Her fathered Francis Darwin, astronomer George Darwin, and politician, economist and eugenicist Leonard Darwin.
(Arabic: تشارلز داروين)
Chiefly Asa Gray of America advocated his theories.
Works of Jacques Martin Barzun include Darwin, Marx, Wagner (1941).
Charles Robert Darwin, an eminent English collector and geologist, proposed and provided scientific evidence of common ancestors for all life over time through the process that he called. The scientific community and the public in his lifetime accepted the facts that occur and then in the 1930s widely came to see the primary explanation of the process that now forms modernity. In modified form, the foundational scientific discovery of Darwin provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.
Darwin developed his interest in history and medicine at Edinburgh University and then theology at Cambridge. His five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist, whose observations and supported uniformitarian ideas of Charles Lyell, and publication of his journal made him as a popular author. Darwin collected wildlife and fossils on the voyage, but their geographical distribution puzzled him, who investigated the transmutation and conceived idea in 1838. He discussed his ideas but needed time for extensive research despite priority of geology. He wrote in 1858, when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay, which described the same idea, prompting immediate joint publication.
His book of 1859 commonly established the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human sexuality in Selection in Relation to Sex , and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals followed. A series of books published his research on plants, and he finally examined effect of earthworms on soil.
A state funeral recognized Darwin in recognition of preeminence and only four other non-royal personages of the United Kingdom of the 19th century; people buried his body in Westminster abbey, close to those of John Herschel and Isaac Newton.
Her fathered Francis Darwin, astronomer George Darwin, and politician, economist and eugenicist Leonard Darwin.
(Arabic: تشارلز داروين)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 6, 2025
"Η φυσική ιστορία αυτών των νησιών είναι εξαιρετικά περίεργη και αξιοπρόσεκτη. Τα περισσότερα οργανικά είδη είναι γηγενή και δεν βρίσκονται πουθενά αλλού. Υπάρχει επίσης διαφορά ανάμεσα στους πληθυσμούς των ποικίλων νησιών. (...) Το αρχιπέλαγος είναι ένας νέος μικρός κόσμος".
November 2, 2016
Excerpts from Darwins Voyage of the Beagle, touching on the Galapagos Islands and Tahiti, published as a Penguin 60s Classic. (I have also read the Penguin Little Black Classic It was snowing butterflies, which is also excerpts from that book.)
I really enjoyed this, and found this selection less cumbersome than It was snowing butterflies which was a bit wordy.
Darwin explains things in good detail, touching on an array of interesting things and he is generous with crediting others in the information he provides (he quotes Humboldt a bit in this).
In Galapagos, he touches on the volcanic geology, the general character of the vegetation, various birds, the two giant tortoise breeds, marine lizards, other reptiles, and the fearlessness of the animals in their contact with humans.
Tahiti also gets a positive review - especially for the native men, the women not so much "I was much disappointed in the personal appearance of the women; they are far inferior in every respect to the men." P38.
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this, and found this selection less cumbersome than It was snowing butterflies which was a bit wordy.
Darwin explains things in good detail, touching on an array of interesting things and he is generous with crediting others in the information he provides (he quotes Humboldt a bit in this).
In Galapagos, he touches on the volcanic geology, the general character of the vegetation, various birds, the two giant tortoise breeds, marine lizards, other reptiles, and the fearlessness of the animals in their contact with humans.
Tahiti also gets a positive review - especially for the native men, the women not so much "I was much disappointed in the personal appearance of the women; they are far inferior in every respect to the men." P38.
4 stars.
April 15, 2025
If classic literature isn't usually your thing, let me change your mind by sharing some delightful anecdotes about Darwin from this short story. It captures his playful interactions with the wildlife of the Galapagos, like the time he attempted to ride a tortoise, only to feel a bit embarrassed by his lack of balance. The story also showcases his anxious personality in a humorous light. I found it so entertaining that I couldn't help but laugh while waiting at the airport.
P.S. Mr Charles Darwin, please stop bullying nature everywhere you go!
P.S. Mr Charles Darwin, please stop bullying nature everywhere you go!
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December 28, 2021This was quite an interesting read. Much of it consists of Darwin being a little bully and a troll to creatures of the Galapagos Islands (and, to a lesser extent, of Tahiti). The juxtaposition of curiosity that explained so much of the natural world, with the narrow-mindedness that feels able to pass judgement on fellow humans and animals, after the most perfunctory of glances, is something to behold. It makes one wonder: what do we take morally for granted, that will make us look so ridiculous in a few years?
August 6, 2025
my rating is only how it is because the app compelled me to give one. this was a very interesting little retelling of a naturalist's adventure through the Galapagos islands and Tahiti. no glaring flaws, and a scattering of very charming brief anecdotes as examples of what Darwin describes. it strikes a good balance between scientific usefulness and vivid descriptions that paint a lovely mental picture of these locations and their inhabitants.
March 30, 2022
This is a nice short peek into Darwin's work and style. His adventures make Bear Grylls look so sophisticated, with regards to animals... Especially tortoises. Animals being not afraid of people is the reason I wanted to read this book to begin with, and on that account it didn't disappoint at all. Men of Tahiti were an added bonus.
July 28, 2022
I recently read On the Origin of Species, and really liked it. This I took to less. I know this is composed more from personal diaries, so it's not really designed for an audience, so that might by why. Oddly, it felt less passionate than On the Origin of Species - the text didn't have the same spark of wonder at the natural world.
July 15, 2023
Um- not even fully about the Galápagos Islands. He starts to come to conclusions that something is going on in the Galapagos but the entire time he’s like kind of violent and not so scientisty towards the animals.
June 8, 2021
3.5 stars
I want to ride a giant tortoise now!!🥺🥺🐢
I want to ride a giant tortoise now!!🥺🥺🐢
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews