Global Grey - Download epubs, pdfs, kindle e-books
Home Ebooks Articles Images Quotes Buy Collections Donate F.A.Q About Contact Search

On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin


On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin - click to see full size image

Free download available in PDF, epub, mobi, and AZW3 ebook formats. Or read online.
Skip straight to downloads.

Description

On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin was first published in 1859. The full title of the book is 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'. Darwin's book, which shows evidence of life arising by common descent, and progressing and evolving over generations through natural selection, became the foundation of evolutionary biology. At the time the book was published, there was already growing support for the concept of evolution, but that also conflicted with the Church which at the time was very intertwined with the scientific establishment in England. One of the reasons the book was so popular was because Darwin wrote it not for scientists, but for general readers.

The book was delayed from 1839, and whilst various theories have been put forth for this (including Darwin's fears of religious persecution), it would seem that it was more a case of him wanting to get everything right. But in 1855, Alfred Russell Wallace published a paper which had claims regarding fossil species that seemed very close to the theories that Darwin was about to propose in On the Origin of Species. The Scottish geologist Charles Lyell urged Darwin to publish his book so as to establish priority.

Within two decades of the publication of On the Origin of Species, evolutionism was a mainstream scientific theory and the term Darwinism entered the English language.

№ 3 in Neil deGrasse Tyson's Essential Book List.

№ 19 in Anne Haight's List of Banned Books.

Part of the Encyclopaedia Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World set.

This book has 297 pages in the PDF version, and was originally published in 1859. This text is from the 6th edition, first published in 1872.

Production notes: This ebook of On the Origin of Species was published by Global Grey on the 2nd September 2018 and updated on the 5th August 2021. The artwork used for the cover is 'A Macaque' by Charles Verlat.

Download for ereaders (below donate buttons)

I run this site entirely on my own. Last week, around 28,000 people downloaded books from my site - 7 people donated. Please consider donating a small amount - without the help of people like you, this site cannot keep running.
The buttons below are set in British Pounds currency - click here if you would prefer to donate in USD, CAD, or AUD.

stripe donate button


You might also like...


cover page for the Global Grey edition of The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

The Descent of Man

Charles Darwin

cover page for the Global Grey edition of The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin

The Voyage of the Beagle

Charles Darwin

cover page for the Global Grey edition of On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals by William Harvey

On the Motion of the Heart and Blood...

William Harvey

cover page for the Global Grey edition of Man’s Place in the Universe by Alfred Russel Wallace

Man’s Place in the Universe

Alfred Russel Wallace

cover page for the Global Grey edition of Harmonies of the World by Johannes Kepler

Harmonies of the World

Johannes Kepler

cover page for the Global Grey edition of From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe by Alexandre Koyré

From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe

Alexandre Koyré


Support the site

Support the site!
Give a small donation gift to help keep the site up and running.

Science and Psychology Collection

Science and Psychology Collection
£3


Related categories...


Philosophy

Philosophy

Psychology

Psychology

Essays

Essays

Society and Politics

Society and Politics


Back to top of page
  • Home
  • Ebooks
  • Articles
  • Images
  • Quotes
  • Buy Collections
  • Donate
  • About
  • Contact
  • F.A.Q
  • Search
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy

Social

  • Copyright © 2012-2022
    Global Grey