- Paperback: 262 pages
- Publisher: Matador; 1st edition (24 Nov 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1848763069
- ISBN-13: 978-1848763067
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 611,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"Highly entertaining...I did find myself laughing out loud quite often..."
--Jonathan Porritt CBE.
"This "book"...deserves to be shredded and covered in excrement and flushed down the loo." --Ian Hart MA VetMB MRCVS
"I read your book. I read it in three consecutive mornings. I loved it." --C. Dardel
"This "book"...deserves to be shredded and covered in excrement and flushed down the loo." --Anon
"If you believe the world could still be flat, don't bother reading the book."
--Lee Chanona
--Jonathan Porritt CBE.
"This "book"...deserves to be shredded and covered in excrement and flushed down the loo." --Ian Hart MA VetMB MRCVS
"I read your book. I read it in three consecutive mornings. I loved it." --C. Dardel
"This "book"...deserves to be shredded and covered in excrement and flushed down the loo." --Anon
"If you believe the world could still be flat, don't bother reading the book."
--Lee Chanona
Product Description
Thus as it seems to me, the manner in which single species and whole groups of species become extinct accords well with the theory of natural selection. We need not marvel at extinction; if we must marvel, let it be at our own presumption in imagining for a moment that we understand the many complex contingencies on which the existence of each species depends. Charles Darwin, 'On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'. Have you really accepted natural selection? For those who believe in conservation, this book will not make comfortable reading. In fact, it will challenge you throughout because life just isn t as fragile as we have been led to believe. Yes, Giant Pandas are fragile, and yes, Polar Bears are fragile (relatively), and yes, even humans may be fragile, but life isn t about species; it s about life. It s about pragmatic survival in a dynamic world. And besides, plenty of species are having a fabulous time anyway. Cane toads are doing marvellously well for example. As are Grey Squirrels, and Comb Jellyfish, and Japanese Knotweed, and a whole host of other favoured races that conservationists have condemned as invasive pests just because they re demonstrating success in the struggle for life. In fact, as far as I can work out, conservation specifically involves the preservation of unfavoured races and the elimination of favoured races and thus, quite amazingly, is specifically trying to achieve the exact opposite of the evolutionary process it claims to represent. Either way, 'On the Destiny of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Elimination of Unfavoured Races in the Struggle for Life' is a culturally blasphemous but objectively bomb-proof natural history polemic that will be published exactly 150 years after Charles Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life' (24/11/1859 + 150 years).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was quite interested in the content of this book, having read the article about it in the Daily Mail. Sadly, the book is quite badly written and is clearly the product of someone who was, at some point in the past, experiencing a painful and distressing reaction to disillusionment with his professional career. That might have been interesting had he written something that was honest and introspective. Instead he chose to combine his professional anger with a natural history of pet keeping. This is quite painful in its misunderstanding of evolutionary theory and represents the latest in a long history of disasterous neo-darwinistic attempts to apply concepts of natural selection to everything from business ethics to healthcare. Its pretty much the same kind of misunderstanding that produced the eugenics movement. If you want to read a book that is the product of a bitter and angry mind that has outwardly directed some of its self-loathing then this is for you. Otherwise give it a miss. There is also a sense that the whole thing might be a deliberate and cynical publicity grabbing invention. I came across this author quote on a website about self-publishing: "I always knew the veterinary controversy would be of interest to the press. It is my ace in the pack and so I have managed to convince the Daily Mail to run a double page spread on it in the next couple of weeks. That should generate a bit of publicity and inspire people to find out more by buying the book". It does seem that for all his angst, Mr. Watkinson still retains a keen eye for self-publicity that isn't shy of creating and exploiting controversy. I suggest he might be well suited to a career in public relations or tabloid journalism.
34 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book comes across as a very blinkered approach to natural selection from someone who has come at the problem with pre-conceived views. Given that this issue raises huge questions for the medical profession if it was to be considered correct, it astounds me that there is not more thought given to this question. To justify the euthanasia of individual animals purely on the basis that they are not genetically strong or come from a breed the author considers injurious to the species is a travesty for animal welfare. Yes, evolution will create the strongest and best species for a niche, however can we ever get back to a stage of world development that truly allows this to happen or should we accept that at our level of development we now have a hand in evolution - either intentionally or by inadvertant actions.
Unfortunately what could be a good argument is sullied by this blinkered argument and further by attempts to sensationalise the issue and make it far more emotive than this philisophical argument should be (press stories). As such this book can be seen as nothing more than a hack trying to do exactly what he preaches against - make money off the veterinary profession.
Unfortunately what could be a good argument is sullied by this blinkered argument and further by attempts to sensationalise the issue and make it far more emotive than this philisophical argument should be (press stories). As such this book can be seen as nothing more than a hack trying to do exactly what he preaches against - make money off the veterinary profession.
26 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The argument could have been an interesting one, but it has been put forward by someone that clearly has an axe to grind. The issue has been sensationalised by the author to give him the publicity he needs, which does the book no favours. It is not particularly well written, and doesn't tell us anything very new. I can see why he had to self-publish this book - I can't imagine any serious publisher would have taken it on!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thoroughly good read!
Hysterical. I enjoyed this book so much that I couldn't put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. The author has a sharp wit and a delicious sense of sarcasm. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Louise
A waste of time
You would think I would be the ideal reader for a book about Darwin's Origin of Species written by a veterinarian who was critical of veterinary price-gouging and who also thought... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Patrick C. Burns
The Destiny of Species - Matthew Watkinson
'Witty, informative, thought provoking, challenging, demanding, in parts confusing, but overall this explores and explodes the myths/ideology surrounding the closed worlds of the... Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2010 by Michele A. Ross
Only Objective
Should you read this book? Yes. Why should you read this book? Well, if you want to know why 1 > 25 million, read the book. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by Rosemarie Chanona
support
I'd be very interested to know who the people are who have written such negative comments on this book. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2010 by Helvetia
So far, 5 stars
I believe the author has come forth to say something that most people do not want to hear. Namely, that no matter how much we want to be the center of the universe as human beings,... Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2009 by Margaret Chung
waste of money
Poorly written, arrogant tone, illogical. The author would have done as well on a soap box at Hyde Park.
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by Tim Newton
Don't bother with it
I guess this guy was as poor a vet as he is an author. Not worth wasting money on
Published on 3 Dec 2009 by Roger C
Hypnotic
Better than Temazepam for inducing a great sleep. Thanks. Trouble is, here in Wales our medicines and prescriptions are free, so even at Amazon's discounted price for this... Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2009 by Pook
Poorly written, I feel sorry for the author - but more for any readers
Mr W has used the 150th aniversary of Darwin's publication to peddle his verbose (and boring) views. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2009 by RD Partridge
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