from cover 'The author is a master of the technical matter. His prose is hauntingly beautiful. ...The book tells more about the history of the development of scientific thought than many a heavy tome or set of books.'-Moris E. Opler, New York Herald Tribune 'This is a sensitive and stirring book...and no one who reads these lectures will fail to take their meaning, to be disturbed, enlightened and refreshed.'-Scientific American 'It is doubtful if anyone ever said more on so large a subject in so short a compass.'-Joseph Wood Krutch, Saturday Review 'An irresistible inducement to partake of the almost forgotten excitements of reflection.'-The New Yorker 'His clear expositions constitute a brilliant history of mans's scientific thought about the world in which he lives.'-American Scholar Contents I How the World Became Natural II How Death Became Natural III How Life Becam Natural IV How Man Became Natural V How Human is Man? VI How Natural is 'Natural'? Bibliography

The author provides a historical account of the development of the theory of evolution. He has researched the relevant figures of the time. His writings are a collection of six lectures. The working is flowery and symbolic. I prefer an author to be more to the point. He comes across as trying to be scholarly and intelectual as opposed to merely reporting his concepts and knowledge. ( )