Coral Reefs

Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 522K words
Chapters: 53

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Coral Reefs by Charles DarwinAuthor: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882,Language: English, Class: QE: Science: Geology, Release Date: Jun 1, 2001

Editor's review

This is Darwin's classic scientific work on the origin of coral reefs, an important text at the intersection of geology and biology. In it he systematically sets out his observations and inferences on how coral reefs form, including hypotheses on the origins of atolls and fringing reefs, reflecting his method of combining field observation with theoretical reasoning. The public-domain electronic edition from Project Gutenberg makes this document in the history of science available at low cost, and it serves as useful supplementary material for understanding the full range of Darwin's thought—he was not only an evolutionist but also a rigorous geological observer. Reading it conveys the clear logic and empirical spirit of nineteenth-century scientific writing, and it is especially valuable to readers interested in marine geology, ecology, and the history of science. Because it was written long ago, some specific conclusions have since been revised by later research; readers should approach it from the perspective of the history of science, focusing on its observational methods and reasoning rather than treating it as the latest word in modern marine science.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers and enthusiasts interested in Darwin's thought and the history of science
Students in marine geology or coral reef ecology
Readers who want to understand nineteenth-century scientific writing through primary sources
Science readers with English proficiency willing to look up terminology

Not a good fit for

Beginners who only want modern popular-science conclusions about coral reefs
Readers who struggle with English or lack basic geological terminology
Those expecting a richly illustrated, easy popular book on the ocean

Reading tips

Before reading, brush up on the basics of modern coral reef formation for comparison.
Focus on Darwin's observations and chain of reasoning rather than memorizing specific conclusions.
Keep a map or marine geography reference at hand to reconstruct the spatial structures described.
After each chapter, summarize its argument to appreciate the logic of nineteenth-century scientific writing.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Are the coral reef theories in this book still valid today?

Darwin's subsidence hypothesis had a profound influence on the history of science, and some of its core ideas are still discussed, but later research has revised and supplemented the specific mechanisms. Read it as a document in the history of science and compare it with modern marine geology.

Can I understand this book without a geology background?

You can try, but some preparation helps. The book involves concepts such as reef types and sea-level change; looking up basic terminology and the distribution of coral reefs first will make the original text easier to follow.

Does this edition include illustrations or maps?

The information provided confirms only that this is a public-domain English electronic text released by Project Gutenberg and does not state whether illustrations or maps are included. Check the version notes on the download page to confirm the exact presentation.

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About the author

Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 Author

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) was an English naturalist known worldwide for his theory of evolution. The library holds 37 of his works, including On the Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, and The Voyage of the Beagle. On the Origin of Species sets out the mechanism of natural selection, The Descent of Man extends the evolutionary perspective to humankind, and The Voyage of the Beagle records his observations from a round-the-world expedition. His writing rests on careful observation and abundant empirical evidence, building arguments step by step in plain, rigorous prose that makes complex theory accessible to general readers. His works profoundly changed how we understand the origin and diversity of life and influenced fields far beyond biology. Public information is limited; this profile is based on the library's holdings and common knowledge.