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History of Evolutionary Theory: Top Ten Books to Read

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2. [https://www.amazon.com/Charles-Darwin-Biography-Vol-Voyaging/dp/0691026068/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132599&sr=1-1&keywords=browne+darwin ''Charles Darwin: A Biography, Vol. 1 – Voyaging & Vol. 2 – The Power of Place'' by Janet Browne].<ref>Browne, E. Janet. Charles Darwin: Voyaging: a Biography. Princeton University Press, 2005.</ref> Most historians of science view Browne’s two-part biography of Charles Darwin as the most thorough and engaging work on Darwin’s life and the creation of his theory of evolution by natural selection. Browne draws on countless sources, including Darwin's personal letters and journals to give her reader a crystal-clear picture of Darwin’s frame of mind before publishing ''On the Origin of Species'' in 1859.
3. [https://www.amazon.com/Politics-Evolution-Morphology-Conceptual-Foundations/dp/0226143740/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132631&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Politics+of+Evolution+by+Adrian+Desmond ''The Politics of Evolution'' by Adrian Desmond].<ref>Desmond, Adrian. The Politics of Evolution: Morphology, Medicine and Reform in Radical London. University of Chicago Press, 2011.</ref> This work, as its name suggests, deals with how ideas about evolution were taken up by disenfranchised, politically agitated, and reform-minded artisans peoples in Britain, Europe, and America to further populist agendas.
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5. [https://www.amazon.com/Huxley-Devils-Disciple-Evolutions-Priest/dp/0201959879/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132677&sr=1-1&keywords=Huxley%3A+From+Devil%E2%80%99s+Disciple+to+Evolutions+High+Priest+by+Adrian+Desmond Huxley: ''From Devil’s Disciple to Evolutions High Priest'' by Adrian Desmond].<ref>Desmond, Adrian. Huxley: from Devil's Disciple to Evolution's High Priest. Helix Books, 1999.</ref> Thomas Henry Huxley was known as “Darwin’s bulldog”. Huxley is perhaps most well known for coining the term “agnostic” in 1869. While Darwin adhered to a more genteel version of his theory of evolution, Huxley debated anyone he could as to the theory's truths.
6. [https://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Ghosts-Secret-History-Evolution/dp/0812981707/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132697&sr=1-1&keywords=darwin%27s+ghosts ''Darwin’s Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution'' by Rebecca Stott].<ref>Stott, Rebecca. Darwin's Ghosts: the Secret History of Evolution. Spiegel & Grau, 2013.</ref> This far-reaching work explores evolutionary ideas that preceded Darwin Victorian evolutionary concepts by many centuries. Stott gives credence to the bravery of evolutionary theorists, from Aristotle to Darwin, for their willingness to defy societal norms.
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7. [https://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Sacred-Cause-Slavery-Evolution/dp/0547055269/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132731&sr=1-1&keywords=Darwin%E2%80%99s+Sacred+Cause%3A+How+a+Hatred+of+Slavery ''Darwin’s Sacred Cause: How a Hatred of Slavery Shaped Darwin’s Views on Human Evolution'' by Adrian Desmond and James Moore].<ref>Desmond, Adrian J., and James R. Moore. Darwin's Sacred Cause: How a Hatred of Slavery Shaped Darwin's View on Human Evolution. University of Chicago Press, 2011.</ref> This relatively new work examines Darwin’s views on evolution as a product of his passionate hatred of slavery. The authors posit that Darwin’s abolitionist passion ultimately compelled him to publish his theory on evolution, despite its his findings being extremely controversial at the time, especially for a gentleman of Darwin's social standing.
8. [https://www.amazon.com/Evolutionary-Theory-Victorian-Culture-Control/dp/1591020034/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132756&sr=1-1&keywords=Evolutionary+Theory+%26+Victorian+Culture+by+Martin+Fichman ''Evolutionary Theory & Victorian Culture'' by Martin Fichman].<ref>Fichman, Martin. Evolutionary Theory and Victorian Culture. Humanity Books, 2002.</ref> This book is an excellent primer for those looking to learn more about how evolutionary theory was perceived among different facets of Victorian society.
9. [https://www.amazon.com/Darwin-Tormented-Evolutionist-Adrian-Desmond/dp/0393311503/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132786&sr=1-1&keywords=Darwin%3A+The+Life+of+a+Tormented+Evolutionist+by+Adrian+Desmond+and+James+Moore ''Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist'' by Adrian Desmond and James Moore].<ref>Desmond, Adrian, and James Moore. Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist. W.W. Norton & Company, 1994.</ref> Before Janet Browne’s two-part biography of Darwin was published, this was the go-to book for those seeking to learn more about Charles Darwin and the world in which he lived.
10. [https://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Science-Context-Bernard-Lightman/dp/0226481123/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132148&sr=1-1&keywords=Victorian+Science+in+Context+by+Bernard+Lightman ''Victorian Science in Context'' by Bernard Lightman].<ref>Lightman, Bernard. Victorian Science in Context. The University of Chicago Press, 1997.</ref> While this book is not solely about evolutionary theory, it is, arguably, one of the best works on Victorian science and society ever published. It contains a collection of essays which masterfully illustrates illustrate the climate in which evolutionary theory was received.
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