Category Archives for Commentary

Happy 201st birthday, Charles Darwin

Happy 201st birthday, Charles Darwin.About a year ago, the Reading Odyssey started a Facebook group to celebrate Darwin and his great book, “On the Origin of Species.”In that year, we have accomplished many things with our global volunteer communi… Continue reading

12. February 2010 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: | Comments Off on Happy 201st birthday, Charles Darwin

Avatar is a biologist’s dream?

New York Times Science writer, Carol Kaesuk Yoon, argues in an essay in today’s New York Times Science Times that the blockbuster movie Avatar is a “biologist’s dream.”She says:Mr. Cameron somehow has the audience seeing organisms in the tropical-… Continue reading

19. January 2010 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: , , , , , | Comments Off on Avatar is a biologist’s dream?

Thankful for Darwin

On this 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s publication of “Origin of Species”, I’m thankful for his multi-decade effort to understand one of the greatest questions of human history: where do we come from?When I asked Stanford biologist Robert S… Continue reading

25. November 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: , | Comments Off on Thankful for Darwin

Happy Origin Anniversary!

Hello Origin readers,Happy Origin Day! I don’t know about you, but I’m really enjoying all the celebration about Darwin, Wallace and Origin of Species. Here are a few newspaper articles I’ve been enjoying this morning: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/… Continue reading

24. November 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: | Comments Off on Happy Origin Anniversary!

Origin of Species: Additional evolution texts

Hello Origin Readers,We discussed some additional texts that may be of interest to anyone enjoying Origin of Species last night during our conference call. In case you’re interested in exploring them, here is the list of books mentioned and links … Continue reading

08. October 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: , | Comments Off on Origin of Species: Additional evolution texts

Darwin’s kick in the pants – Wallace 1858

If anyone is curious about reading Wallace’s text on natural selection, download this file. This is the paper Wallace sent to Darwin that prompted Darwin to move forward with his publication of ‘Origin of Species’. Enjoy! Stephanie Aktipis Continue reading

07. October 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Comments Off on Darwin’s kick in the pants – Wallace 1858

Comments by Mark Casey on Book 7 of the Odyssey

Question: In book 7, Odysseus is carefully counseled by two women (one a princess, the other a goddess) in how to approach Queen Arete. How is hospitality defined according to Odysseus’ experience at the palace in Phaeacia? How does it compare to … Continue reading

07. October 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: | Comments Off on Comments by Mark Casey on Book 7 of the Odyssey

National Geographic covers Reading Odyssey Darwin150 campaign

National Geographic just wrote a positive article about the Reading Odyssey’s Darwin150 campaign.You can see the write-up here:http://www.Darwin150.comThanks. Continue reading

13. September 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: | Comments Off on National Geographic covers Reading Odyssey Darwin150 campaign

E.O. Wilson, the final speaker in our Darwin150 campaign, writes an important editorial

E.O. Wilson just wrote an important editorial, “We must save the living environment” in the New Scientist, June 22, 2009. He calls for action to save the living world at the same level as there has been action about saving the physical world (i.e…. Continue reading

22. August 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: | 1 comment

Call with Peter Bevelin, author “Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger”

Great call today with Peter Bevelin author of “Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger”Peter asked us not to record the call so we have no audio.- Tweet recapYou can see the live tweet recap here:http://search.twitter.com/search?max_id=2119952624&pa… Continue reading

12. June 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Darwin | Tags: | 1 comment