Hard book to review. On the Origin of Species often reads like Charles Darwin presenting possibilities rather than firm conclusions. He frequently admits uncertainty and notes the lack of definitive proof. His arguments rely largely on observation and personal reasoning, which sometimes makes the justification feel weak.

That said, the book undeniably laid a strong foundation for thinking about inheritance and genealogy (areas that were still poorly developed at the time). Rather than a doctrine everyone must accept, I see On the Origin of Species as a valuable framework for further inquiry into inheritance and the deeper question of where we come from, a line of thinking that has clearly influenced our modern studies of genealogy and species.

Anecdotally, I also feel there is a kind of collective fixation on idolising Darwin. I’m not entirely sure why this happens. It doesn’t seem to be the result of any obvious propaganda through television, schools, or other forms of mass communication that explicitly encourage people to revere him. Instead, many people appear to do it voluntarily, perhaps because admiration for Darwin has become associated with being educated, rational, or scientifically literate.