On the Origin of Species

Starred review from August 25, 2008
Originally published in 1859, Darwin’s revolutionary idea is revisited in this spirited and profoundly enthralling reading by Professor Richard Dawkins, who in reading Darwin’s material aloud manages to rediscover old ideas and unearth some dramatic subtleties in his prose. Dawkins offers a well-pronounced, pitch-perfect delivery and smartly never attempts to turn the reading into a performance from Darwin’s point of view. Instead, Dawkins delivers the material from his own context as a modern-day interpreter of the classical work. Dawkins also splendidly adapts this abridgment, leaving out sections of Darwin’s original theories that have been discredited by modern science. Dawkins says he believes his alterations are what Darwin himself would have wished for the recording, and the final result is an absolutely astounding glimpse into life as we know it.

September 17, 2018
This attractive, oversize adaptation of Charles Darwin’s classic work of science has been shortened, updated, and streamlined for clarity and readability. Stefoff’s introduction provides biographical detail about Darwin and how the naturalist’s excursions on the HMS Beagle were instrumental to his theory’s development. She also describes the fundamental concepts behind Darwin’s “Big Idea” as well as its significant controversy. Vocabulary words appear in bold throughout the text, while sidebars and supplemental sections delve into related topics: myths and misinterpretations of evolution; how modern research has deepened scientific understanding of evolutionary processes; and the concept of “artificial selection” as it applies to modern dogs. Bright photographs and illustrations of plants, animals, and habitats provide an expansive and inviting visual element. With valuable modifications and enhancements, Stefoff preserves the richness of Darwin’s content for contemporary young readers. Ages 10–up.

September 15, 2018
The bible of evolution theory--condensed, glossed, furnished with updates, and enlivened with vivid photos and images.Darwin's magnum opus needs all the enlivening it can get, as even with considerable editorial work--which includes a substantial introduction, cutting two-thirds of the original text by removing outdated passages and excessive examples, combining chapters, defining unfamiliar words or usages in the margins, and reshaping some of the language--what remains is a lucid but dry mix of (now, at least) cautious claims and undocumented observations: "Mysterious laws govern the way variations occur within a species" Big, bright nature photos or period engravings and paintings on nearly every large spread do inject some juice, even if many seem more decorative than functional. More helpfully, supplemented by the occasional diagram, Stefoff's frequent glosses and boxed side essays unpack major concepts, add historical context, explain how later scientific discoveries modify or support Darwin's broad picture, and even studiously point out where the author went wrong. Young readers seeking to understand Darwin's revolutionary insights and how he achieved them will have no trouble finding more concise accounts (including Stefoff's own Charles Darwin and the Evolution Revolution, 1996), if none at once so handsomely presented and so close to the source.Old news, even to younger audiences, but a glossy edition of one of science's most fundamental works. (index, glossary, print and web resources) (Nonfiction. 13-17)

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November 1, 2018
Grades 7-10 This handsome, oversize book offers a young readers' edition of Darwin's classic, adapted by Stefoff. In the introduction, she explains that her process involved shortening the text by removing outdated sections and multiple examples supporting aspects of his theory. She also simplified the writing somewhat, while preserving as much of Darwin's original language as possible. In addition to her many useful notes in the margins, commenting on words and phrases highlighted in the text, she has added sidebars and full-page articles usually intended to bring the science up to date, discussing topics such as continental drift, DNA, and the term species as used by Darwin, his contemporaries, and scientists today. Most of the spacious double-page spreads feature one or more illustrations, including many color photos as well as period drawings, prints, and photos. An ever-increasing number of science books introduce Darwin's work to young readers. The strength of this attractive volume is that it gives them direct access to Darwin's words on the topic of natural selection, along with informative updates and explanations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)