Darwin: Portrait of a Genius

<b>A &quot;riveting&quot; (<i>The Wall Street Journal</i>) biography of one of the most influential and controversial scientists in Western history</b><br><br>Acclaimed historian and biographer Paul Johnson turns his keen eye on Charles Darwin, the towering figure whose work continues to spur scientific debate.<br><br>With his publication of <i>On the Origin of Species</i>, Darwin forever changed our concept of the world. While Johnson praises Darwin's extraordinary skills as a natural scientist and his monumental achievements, he does not sidestep Darwin's tragic failures as an anthropologist. Johnson argues that by applying his theory of natural selection to humans, Darwin provided a platform for the burgeoning eugenics movement. Lay readers and academics alike will enjoy this concise and unflinching exploration of Charles Darwin, a genius whose discoveries - even the flawed ones - add significant dimension to our understanding of his mind, the era in which he lived, and his everlasting impact on our world.