Darwin: Discovering the Tree of Life

Charles Darwin’s ideas resonate deeply in western culture today and his theory still lies at the heart of modern scientific evolutionary research. As other nineteenth-century figures fade, Darwin’s theory of evolution still provokes controversy, spilling over into curriculum battles around the world. In exploring the everyday artefacts of Darwin’s life, his notebooks and early manuscripts, Niles Eldredge provides a rare glimpse into the mind of this highly intuitive, creative scientist. The celebration of Darwin’s 200th birthday in 2009 began in November 2005 with the opening of a major travelling exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History, curated by Eldredge. More than a companion book to the exhibition, Darwin is a rich and inspiring reconstruction of Darwin’s life through his writings and discoveries.