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How to Read Darwin
Intent on letting the reader experience the pleasure and intellectual stimulation in reading classic authors, the How to Read series will facilitate and enrich your understanding of texts vital to the canon. Charles Darwin’s permanent legacy is his broad, abstract theories of evolution and natural selection, theories that he tested against an astonishing array of natural history evidence in his writing. Mark Ridley uses a question-and-answer approach to explain how Darwin carefully tackled problems, and shows here how the reader can understand Darwin’s arguments by first working out which question Darwin had implicitly set himself to answer.
Ridley concentrates on understanding Darwin’s most important books, On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man , but he also examines a sample from one of Darwin’s other works on the emotions, as one representative from Darwin’s lesser-known works that ranged from flower pollination to coral reefs, from animal domestication to landscaping by earthworms.
Ridley concentrates on understanding Darwin’s most important books, On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man , but he also examines a sample from one of Darwin’s other works on the emotions, as one representative from Darwin’s lesser-known works that ranged from flower pollination to coral reefs, from animal domestication to landscaping by earthworms.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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December 30, 2020
مارک ریدلی جانورشناسه و استاد دانشگاه آکسفورد. با قلمی صمیمی, مسلط و روان
از داروین طوری مینویسه انگار شخصا و رو در رو شناخت داشته
و طوری مینویسه که انگار باهات توی یه کافه نشسته و چند ساعتی درباره تکامل -فرگشت- حرف میزنین
همه اینها یه پکیج کامل رو میسازه که من به نویسنده اعتماد کنم و این کتاب رو به چهار قسمت تقسیم کرده و هر قسمت رو یک نفس بخونم و جاهایی هیجان زده بشم و جاهایی غر بزنم که ای بابا بیشتر بگو! بیشتر حرف بزن! من تشنه شنیدن از داروینم!
🦆🦆🦆
کتاب قراره فقط یه دید بهمون بده از کارای داروین. با فوکوسی بیشتر روی این یکی کتاب
The Origin of Species
و میگه در هر فصل قراره با چی رو به رو بشیم. قشنگ تشنه‌ترت میکنه که فاینلی جرات کنی و بری سراغ کتاب اصلی
🦧🦧🦧
پشیمون نیستم از فارسی خوندنش. به نظر میومد بزرگواران سانسورچی خوشبختانه قدرت درک و تحلیل علمی‌شون به قدری نیست که متوجه چیزهایی بشن در این ترجمه چاپ شده در این کشور عصلامی :))
🐟🐟🐟
پ.ن.
میتونست خیلی خیلی بیشتر و جامع تر باشه. واسه من خیلی کم بود واقعا حجمش. خود ریدلی البته اشاره کرده بود که قراره سریع ببنده موضوع رو
پ.پ.ن
ندا گفت مثل اینکه واسه هر نویسنده‌ای یه همچین چگونه بخوانیم ای نوشتن
هیچی دیگه. دیگه کارم از این به بعد میشه چطور فلانی و بیساری بخوانیم خوانی :))
از داروین طوری مینویسه انگار شخصا و رو در رو شناخت داشته
و طوری مینویسه که انگار باهات توی یه کافه نشسته و چند ساعتی درباره تکامل -فرگشت- حرف میزنین
همه اینها یه پکیج کامل رو میسازه که من به نویسنده اعتماد کنم و این کتاب رو به چهار قسمت تقسیم کرده و هر قسمت رو یک نفس بخونم و جاهایی هیجان زده بشم و جاهایی غر بزنم که ای بابا بیشتر بگو! بیشتر حرف بزن! من تشنه شنیدن از داروینم!
🦆🦆🦆
کتاب قراره فقط یه دید بهمون بده از کارای داروین. با فوکوسی بیشتر روی این یکی کتاب
The Origin of Species
و میگه در هر فصل قراره با چی رو به رو بشیم. قشنگ تشنه‌ترت میکنه که فاینلی جرات کنی و بری سراغ کتاب اصلی
🦧🦧🦧
پشیمون نیستم از فارسی خوندنش. به نظر میومد بزرگواران سانسورچی خوشبختانه قدرت درک و تحلیل علمی‌شون به قدری نیست که متوجه چیزهایی بشن در این ترجمه چاپ شده در این کشور عصلامی :))
🐟🐟🐟
پ.ن.
میتونست خیلی خیلی بیشتر و جامع تر باشه. واسه من خیلی کم بود واقعا حجمش. خود ریدلی البته اشاره کرده بود که قراره سریع ببنده موضوع رو
پ.پ.ن
ندا گفت مثل اینکه واسه هر نویسنده‌ای یه همچین چگونه بخوانیم ای نوشتن
هیچی دیگه. دیگه کارم از این به بعد میشه چطور فلانی و بیساری بخوانیم خوانی :))
July 31, 2022
مهم‌ترین چیزی که فهمیدم اینه که برای رفتن به سراغ داروین باید هرآنچه از نظریاتش می‌دونم رو دور بریزم.
September 14, 2024
کتابی‌ست پیشنهادی.
January 28, 2013
الكتاب جزء من سلسلة مسماة بـ"كيف تقرأ لـ"، وهي سلسلة من الكتب تتناول مؤلفات مجموعة من الفلاسفة والسياسيين والعلماء المشاهير أمثال نيتشة وسارتر وهيتلر وداروين وغيرهم.
في هذا الكتاب يتحدث المؤلف عن أعمال داروين الأساسية (عن أصل الأنواع)، (التعبير عن العواطف عند الانسان والحيوانات)، و(نشأة الإنسان). وهي كتب تتناول في مجملها نظرية داروين للتطور. ما يميز هذا الكتاب هو قدرة الكاتب على تلخيص كتب داروين في نقاط بسيطة وسهلة الفهم.
أنصح به لمن أراد الاطلاع السريع على أعمال داروين.ـ
في هذا الكتاب يتحدث المؤلف عن أعمال داروين الأساسية (عن أصل الأنواع)، (التعبير عن العواطف عند الانسان والحيوانات)، و(نشأة الإنسان). وهي كتب تتناول في مجملها نظرية داروين للتطور. ما يميز هذا الكتاب هو قدرة الكاتب على تلخيص كتب داروين في نقاط بسيطة وسهلة الفهم.
أنصح به لمن أراد الاطلاع السريع على أعمال داروين.ـ
November 24, 2016
Few scientific ideas have succeeded so brilliantly and elegantly as Darwin’s theory of what he called “descent with modification” but which we know as evolution—least of all not in the wet and squishy sciences. Darwin realized that if a biologic system had three characteristics, one would end up seeing a wide variety of species, but with common characteristics such that one could discern how a species evolved from common ancestors. (BTW: this is invariably what we see in the world.) The three characteristics are: 1.) variation within the population (i.e. members aren’t carbon copies but have varying characteristics); 2.) inheritance (characteristics are passed from parent to child); and 3.) some individuals produce more offspring than others. Under such conditions, those with variations that allowed them to survive better in their particular environment would produce more children (i.e. natural selection.)
Ridley’s book offers readers an outline of the work of Charles Darwin that’s more extensive than Cliffs Notes but less daunting than the original works written in mid-19th century prose. (Darwin is generally credited as being quite readable for a scientist of that era, but it’s still a large lump of work.) Of course, the book is presented not as an alternative to reading the three major works of Darwin addressed herein (i.e. “On the Origin of Species…,” “The Descent of Man…,” and “The Expression of Emotion…,”) but rather as a preparatory guide.
The question arises as to why one should bother reading such a book if one intends to read Darwin anyway. One reason is to help put Darwin’s discoveries in the context of his time. For example, while Darwin knew of heredity, he didn’t have an understanding of genes and genetics. In other words, a neophyte looking back may not know where to put Darwin’s discoveries amid the important scientific ideas that came before and after. Another reason is to see how the critical claims that have arisen since Darwin’s time are dealt with. Darwin’s theory immediately came under attack (and has continued to) because it is inconsistent with the literal interpretations of most major religions’ creation myths, and, adding fuel to the fire, everything we learn has supported evolution to the detriment of creation myths.
The book consists of ten chapters. The bulk of these chapters (Ch. 1 through 6) lay out the argument made in Darwin’s most influential work, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.” These chapters explore what Darwin described as “one long argument” for natural selection, but in doing so address vital concepts like hybridism, biodiversity, and geological succession. These chapters also discuss the case for Evolution, and the charges that have been leveled against it.
Chapters 7, 8, and 9 describe the ideas of Darwin’s “Descent of Man,” which examines both human evolution and sexual selection. The last chapter introduces the reader to the topic that Darwin took up in his 1872 book on “The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals.” This is an early look at what has continued to be an intriguing field of study, namely what is the evolutionary advantage of conveying emotion and why are we so good at reading other people—or, at least, capable of being good at it.
This book is one in a series of brief summaries of the ideas of important scientists, philosophers, and influential (sometimes infamous) thinkers. Other volumes cover the works of Freud, Hitler, Nietzsche, the Marquis de Sade, Wittgenstein, Foucault, Heidegger, Jung, Marx, Derrida, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare.
The book has no graphics and not much by way of ancillary matter. It does present a timeline of Darwin’s life and achievements, and has a “for further reading” section. Each of these features is just a couple pages.
I found this book to be concise and readable. It’s only about 100 pages, and doesn’t get into supporting detail (that’s what reading the original work is for.) It does pull key paragraph length excerpts from the source material to discuss ideas in the modern context. I’d recommend this book for someone who intends to read Darwin, who has read Darwin but was left with a lack of clarity, or—even—someone who wants to understand the gist of the argument but doesn’t have time for hundreds of pages of 19th century prose.
Ridley’s book offers readers an outline of the work of Charles Darwin that’s more extensive than Cliffs Notes but less daunting than the original works written in mid-19th century prose. (Darwin is generally credited as being quite readable for a scientist of that era, but it’s still a large lump of work.) Of course, the book is presented not as an alternative to reading the three major works of Darwin addressed herein (i.e. “On the Origin of Species…,” “The Descent of Man…,” and “The Expression of Emotion…,”) but rather as a preparatory guide.
The question arises as to why one should bother reading such a book if one intends to read Darwin anyway. One reason is to help put Darwin’s discoveries in the context of his time. For example, while Darwin knew of heredity, he didn’t have an understanding of genes and genetics. In other words, a neophyte looking back may not know where to put Darwin’s discoveries amid the important scientific ideas that came before and after. Another reason is to see how the critical claims that have arisen since Darwin’s time are dealt with. Darwin’s theory immediately came under attack (and has continued to) because it is inconsistent with the literal interpretations of most major religions’ creation myths, and, adding fuel to the fire, everything we learn has supported evolution to the detriment of creation myths.
The book consists of ten chapters. The bulk of these chapters (Ch. 1 through 6) lay out the argument made in Darwin’s most influential work, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.” These chapters explore what Darwin described as “one long argument” for natural selection, but in doing so address vital concepts like hybridism, biodiversity, and geological succession. These chapters also discuss the case for Evolution, and the charges that have been leveled against it.
Chapters 7, 8, and 9 describe the ideas of Darwin’s “Descent of Man,” which examines both human evolution and sexual selection. The last chapter introduces the reader to the topic that Darwin took up in his 1872 book on “The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals.” This is an early look at what has continued to be an intriguing field of study, namely what is the evolutionary advantage of conveying emotion and why are we so good at reading other people—or, at least, capable of being good at it.
This book is one in a series of brief summaries of the ideas of important scientists, philosophers, and influential (sometimes infamous) thinkers. Other volumes cover the works of Freud, Hitler, Nietzsche, the Marquis de Sade, Wittgenstein, Foucault, Heidegger, Jung, Marx, Derrida, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare.
The book has no graphics and not much by way of ancillary matter. It does present a timeline of Darwin’s life and achievements, and has a “for further reading” section. Each of these features is just a couple pages.
I found this book to be concise and readable. It’s only about 100 pages, and doesn’t get into supporting detail (that’s what reading the original work is for.) It does pull key paragraph length excerpts from the source material to discuss ideas in the modern context. I’d recommend this book for someone who intends to read Darwin, who has read Darwin but was left with a lack of clarity, or—even—someone who wants to understand the gist of the argument but doesn’t have time for hundreds of pages of 19th century prose.
November 18, 2014
Exactly what it says on the tin.
January 30, 2018
이전에는 이런 입문자용 해설서를 무시했는데 이제는 자주 읽는다.
왜냐하면 학교 다닐 때와 달리 선생님이나 토론 상대가 없으니 혼자 고전을 파고들기도 어렵고 무엇보다 나만의 오해나 독단에 빠질까봐 그렇다.
이 시리즈가 좋은 점은 Sparknotes처럼 모든 걸 다 요약하고 정리해주어서 독자들이 원전을 읽을 필요도 못 느낄 만큼 과하게 친절하지는 않은 것이다. (영화 줄거리를 다 말해주는 프로그램이 영화 자체를 볼 마음이 안 들게 하는 것처럼 지나친 친절은 민폐다)
그리고 아주 얇은 데 원전의 풍부한 내용에서 가장 핵심적이고 여전히 논란의 대상인 부분을 현재의 최신 지견과 함께 다루기도 하면서 그 당시의 시류 속에서 어떤 좌표를 차지하고 있었는지 알려주는 점이다. (그 당시에 대한 배경지식이 없는 이에게 매우 고마운데 나는 다윈이 지금과 다른 생물학적 및 지질학적 분류와 지식 등을 이야기할 때 매우 곤혹스러웠고 hindsight bias를 갖고 다윈을 평가하지 않으려고 노력했다)
또한 Further reading을 위한 가이드를 제공하는 것도 플러스. 고전을 읽었으면 고전을 f/u하는 현대의 책들도 읽어봐야지.
As a sidenote:
이 How to Read 시리즈는 셰익스피어나 사르트르 등 여러 고전들에 대해 나왔고 원서보다 더 저렴한 가격에 나와서 좋았는데 불행히도 한국 번역판이 대부분 절판되었다. 다행히 ebook은 남아있는데 ebook도 영문판 ebook보다 싸다. (5000원 vs $9.99)
저자가 The Red Queen이나 Genome을 쓴 매트 리들리인 줄 알았는데 알고보니 Evolution 책을 쓴 zoologist 마크 리들리였다. 저자 소개를 보니 다른 이들도 자주 혼동한다고 한다.ㅎㅎㅎ
왜냐하면 학교 다닐 때와 달리 선생님이나 토론 상대가 없으니 혼자 고전을 파고들기도 어렵고 무엇보다 나만의 오해나 독단에 빠질까봐 그렇다.
이 시리즈가 좋은 점은 Sparknotes처럼 모든 걸 다 요약하고 정리해주어서 독자들이 원전을 읽을 필요도 못 느낄 만큼 과하게 친절하지는 않은 것이다. (영화 줄거리를 다 말해주는 프로그램이 영화 자체를 볼 마음이 안 들게 하는 것처럼 지나친 친절은 민폐다)
그리고 아주 얇은 데 원전의 풍부한 내용에서 가장 핵심적이고 여전히 논란의 대상인 부분을 현재의 최신 지견과 함께 다루기도 하면서 그 당시의 시류 속에서 어떤 좌표를 차지하고 있었는지 알려주는 점이다. (그 당시에 대한 배경지식이 없는 이에게 매우 고마운데 나는 다윈이 지금과 다른 생물학적 및 지질학적 분류와 지식 등을 이야기할 때 매우 곤혹스러웠고 hindsight bias를 갖고 다윈을 평가하지 않으려고 노력했다)
또한 Further reading을 위한 가이드를 제공하는 것도 플러스. 고전을 읽었으면 고전을 f/u하는 현대의 책들도 읽어봐야지.
As a sidenote:
이 How to Read 시리즈는 셰익스피어나 사르트르 등 여러 고전들에 대해 나왔고 원서보다 더 저렴한 가격에 나와서 좋았는데 불행히도 한국 번역판이 대부분 절판되었다. 다행히 ebook은 남아있는데 ebook도 영문판 ebook보다 싸다. (5000원 vs $9.99)
저자가 The Red Queen이나 Genome을 쓴 매트 리들리인 줄 알았는데 알고보니 Evolution 책을 쓴 zoologist 마크 리들리였다. 저자 소개를 보니 다른 이들도 자주 혼동한다고 한다.ㅎㅎㅎ
September 2, 2024
كتاب رائع .. بيتكلم عن ابو علم البيولوجي وواحد من اثنين غيروا نظرتنا بالكامل للعالم من حولنا ( التاني في رأيي هو نيوتن ) .. يعيب الكتاب شئ واحد و هو عدم تفسير بعض المفاهيم اعتمادا على ان القارئ عنده خلفية عن علم البيولوجي و دا مش بالضرورة يكون صحيح لكن في حالتي كشخص مهتم بعلم البيولوجي و دا مجال دراستي اساسا مواجهتش اوي صعوبة في فهم الكتاب .. كتاب مهم جدا أنصح الجميع بقراءته لمحاولة فهم المبادئ الأساسية لنظريات داروين و لمعرفة قد ايه كان عالم عظيم و أحدث ثورة كبيرة جدا في وقت مبكر جدا ( بنتكلم عن أوائل القرن 19 يا جماعة 😅 معرفتنا مقارنة بدلوقتي كانت صفر تقريبا ) و خلانا نفهم نفسنا و علاقتنا بالطبيعة بمختلف أشكالها بشكل مختلف تماما عن قبل كدا .. تتفق او تختلف معاه زي ما العلم الحديث أكد بعض نظرياته و عارض بعضها .. لكن لا شك ان لو حطينا قائمة باهم العلماء في تاريخ البشرية فبالتأكيد داروين هيحتل مرتبة عالية جدا
July 30, 2024
في إيجاز غير مخل يلخص الكاتب نظرية داروين حول النشوء والارتقاء والانتخاب الطبيعي، ونظرياته الأخرى المتعددة.
الكتاب لم يتجاوز المائة والخمسين صفحة ولكنه يعد مقدمة لمن يرغب في البدء بقراءة كتاب تشارلز داروين، ويعد كذلك مفيداً لمن يريد أن يستعرض فقط رؤية داروين الجريئة ونظرياته بدون الدخول في الكثير من التفاصيل.
الكتاب لم يتجاوز المائة والخمسين صفحة ولكنه يعد مقدمة لمن يرغب في البدء بقراءة كتاب تشارلز داروين، ويعد كذلك مفيداً لمن يريد أن يستعرض فقط رؤية داروين الجريئة ونظرياته بدون الدخول في الكثير من التفاصيل.
November 22, 2021
عالی. هیچ آشنایی درستی با داروین نداشتم که حل و فصل شد.
August 6, 2024
كتاب رائع جدا وإستمتعت به جداً.. والترجمة اقل ما يقال عنها انها إحترافية
November 19, 2012
Gostoso de ler, com uma revisão de mais do que o Origem das Espécies. Me deixou curioso para ler as outras obras do bom velhinho (Descent of Man e o Origins of Emotions). Não sabia que Darwin também deu origem à ecologia moderna, fundamental para o que ele desenvolveu sobre a evolução. Me parece uma criação análoga ao Newton inventando o cálculo para poder falar sobre a gravidade. Aumentou ainda mais minha admiração pela obra completa.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews