Darwin's Ghost: Summary and book reviews of Darwin's Ghost by Steve Jones, plus links to an excerpt from Darwin's Ghost and a biography of Steve Jones.

Charles Darwin's masterpiece, The Origin of Species, is probably the best-known, least-read book. Unquestionably one of the most important achievements of the millennium, its publication in 1859 caused a sensation, because it forced mankind to see itself as part of the animal world--a notion that hundreds of millions still deny. Darwin's theory of common descent did for biology what Galileo did for astronomy: made it into a single science rather than a collection of unrelated facts. Those facts, however, are now a century and a half old, as are The Origin's illustrative examples and Victorian prose style. Writing as "Darwin's ghost," the well-known geneticist Steve Jones has drawn on our ever-expanding scientific knowledge and the brilliant logic set out in The Origin to restate evolution's case for the twenty-first century. Jones has been called "the British Carl Sagan" because of his prominence as a popularizer of science. Using contemporary examples--the AIDS virus, the rules of the American Kennel Club, the sheep who never forget a face and the garbage that floats in the Pacific--he shows the power and immediacy of Darwin's great argument. Filled with anecdotes, humor and the very latest research, Darwin's Ghost is a popular, readable and comprehensive account of the science that makes life make sense.

Media Reviews

The Independent on Sunday This is a delightful book, infused with wit and panache, and as enthralling in its own way as was Darwin's original....[W]onderfully conceived and gloriously executed.   The Observer Review A thumping good read. Jones succeeds in this gargantuan undertaking.   The Spectator The echoes of the master go elegantly beyond the mere re-use of chapter and section headings...bristles with splendidly informative illustrations and crisply executed demonstrations, liberally spiced with anecdote and curiosity. [It] will rightly be hailed.   The Times (UK) Of the 'new versions' of great books being made available to the public, the most compelling is surely Steve Jones's Darwin's Ghost.   Sunday Times (UK) A richly readable introduction to the science that The Origin of Species invented. Jones is a star writer [who makes] the old bones throw off their dust and dance the boogie.   The Guardian (Books of the Year)(UK) An extraordinary ride through Darwinism, yesterday and today. Jones is in the premier league of what appears to be a new breed--brilliant scientists able and eager to share their written erudition with the rest of us.   Sunday Telegraph (UK) This is a clever book about serious ideas that can be happily read on the beach.   The Independent Hugely enjoyable. The richness is almost overwhelming, and I am awed by Jones's reading.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by srparedon
The inherently absorbing subject matter rescues this book from Jones's maddeningly poor writing style-- awkward transitions, obscure antecedents, inapt adverbs consistently detract from an otherwise compelling read.

Rated of 5 by Jairam Maharaj
Simply wonderful...makes simple reading of an intensely complex subject...used it as an intro to my studies of Biogeography...

Rated of 5 by Rose Roberto
Darwin's Ghost is well written, interesting, and educational...in a fun way. The definition of evolution is simply "change through time" and the author uses examples from what biologists know today of genetics, DNA and molecular biology...   Read More

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