Discussion Questions for THE RELUCTANT MR. DARWIN (Nonfiction selection)

1. On page 18, Quammen explains why he chose to write about Darwin's life after the Beagle voyage. How did you feel about the fact that the author did not portray Darwin's earlier life or his life on the Beagle?

2. Darwin was ill for much of his later life, yet there is no definitive explanation for his various illnesses. Do you think his sickness was brought on by his work and the stress he put on himself? Do you think he picked something up during his travels to remote locations? How do you think his poor health impacted his research and thought process? Do you think his poor health prevented him from publishing sooner?

3. Darwin waited 21 years after returning from the Beagle voyage before publishing his theories of evolution and natural selection. How do you think the finished product would have been different if Darwin had published immediately?

4. Prior to publishing Origin, Darwin spent 7 years studying the taxonomy of barnacles. How did this project help him develop his theories?

5. Darwin wrote a "will" for his wife in regards to his theories. Do you think he expected that he would not live to see it published?

6. Darwin was finally moved to publish after receiving Alfred Russel Wallace's proposed journal article that outlined Darwin's own theories. How did Darwin handle this event? Do you think Wallace was treated ethically?

7. In Darwin's Origin, he does not directly come out and say that humans developed from other organisms (monkeys). Given the times, do you think this was wise to suggest it but not directly come out and say it?

8. After the first edition of Origin was published, Darwin produced 5 more editions of his work. It appears that he used the new editions to answer his critics. Was this procedure the right way to handle the criticism? What do you think Darwin should have done?

9. Darwin's theories were not immediately accepted, but by the 1959 centennial of the publication of Origin, most scientists accepted the theories as plausible. Now 150 years later, what is the status of Darwin's theories?

10. Has anyone read Darwin's Origin of Species? On page 175-176 of Quammen's book, the author claims that Darwin's book is easy to understand and is "written in plain everyday language and meant by its author to speak to any attentive reader." (176) Do you agree with this assessment?

Discussion Questions for THE DARWIN CONSPIRACY (Fiction selection)

1. Darnton tells his fictional account from 3 points of view: present-day Hugh, a Darwin scholar; Darwin's daughter Lizzie via her diary; Darwin himself via his Beagle journal. Did you find that this writing style kept you interested and encouraged you to read on, OR did you find it confusing because you had to keep track of 3 different storylines simultaneously? Explain.

2. Hugh makes the following observation of Darwin: "Darwin's gift - his genius - was more than doggedness; it was that uncanny ability to step back, take the broadest possible view, and make connections that others could not, so that a pattern appeared." (p.243) Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?

3. As Robert McCormick perishes in the volcano, he says to Darwin, "So that's how it is, eh, Mr. Darwin? Survival of the fittest!" (p. 264-265) It is at this point, according to Darnton, that Darwin completely changed events, and even altered and destroyed evidence. Why do you think Darwin took these actions?

4. Throughout the book Hugh learns not only about Darwin, but also about Hugh's own brother and the circumstances leading up to his death. Do you think his relationship with his brother and his brother's death added anything to the rest of the story?

5. The author takes well-known Darwin facts and "spins" them to create a fascinating alternate storyline. For example, he explains Darwin's ill health after the Beagle voyage by saying he was consumed with guilt and fear. What did you think of the author's tactics?

6. Of all Darwin's children, why do you think the author chose Lizzie to be the one to discover her father's secrets?

7. The information that Hugh uncovers changes everything currently known about Darwin. If you had found this information, what would you have done with it? Would you have made it public, or kept it secret? Why?

Created February 2009