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Darwin Slept Here: Discovery, Adventure, And Swimming Iguanas In Charles Darwin's South America (2009)

by Eric Simons(Favorite Author)

3.44 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1590202201 (ISBN13: 9781590202203)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

The Overlook Press, Peter Mayer Publishers, Inc.

review 1: I chose this book because I wanted to be thrilled by exotic south american travel stories with a tinge science/history seriousness. Plus side was that it was very easy to read, and I was inspired by the thrill of exploring new places even in unglamorous destinations. It made me laugh out loud many times. Also, this book gave me a surprisingly keen sense of seeing the world through the eyes of a young Darwin with nothing more serious on his mind than exploring the world and coming to grips with it. As Darwin is quoted, the effect of traveling "ought to be to teach ... good-humored patience, freedom from selfishness, the habit of acting for himself, and of making the best of everything...or in other words, contentment" Not the Darwin we think of as the old bearded geniu... mores. On the not-so-great side, the book didn't have crazy adventures, just normal ones you might expect. It seemed to spend a lot of time describing locations and scenery, but really could have used a map. And although the author is clearly passionate about Darwin, at times it seems he's trying a bit too hard to connect all of his experiences back to Darwin. But perhaps it's through this unpretentious process he is freed to explore who Darwin could have been - the man, not the myth.
review 2: If you're looking for a detailed account of Darwin's journey, stick to the Journey of the Beagle. This book celebrates the timelessness of adventure and discovery for those who open their eyes to possibilities and at that is succeeds in spades. It's a breezy read; often I was sad to see Simons jump to his next location so quickly, but that's more a testament to his affable prose than a criticism of his pacing. less

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