The book shows that biology, especially evolutionary biology, is a dynamic and extremely exciting field and that there is much left to be discovered by the next generations of biologists. It delves deeply into Darwin's Origin of Species as well as into the paradigm prevailing during his time.

Alexander Czaja, Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution

Delisle and Tierney have immersed themselves in the text of On the Origin of Species like few, if any, before. This is a highly original, critical, yet sympathetic deconstruction of the Darwin idolatry that has dominated biological evolution theory for decades.

Nicolaas Rupke, Professor of the History of Science, University of Göttingen, Germany and Washington and Lee University, USA

A much-needed deconstruction of the 'Darwin Legend', that is, the seemingly irresistible temptation of many modern readers to read their own ideas back into On the Origin of Species, and to make Darwin an ahistorical icon, or the father figure of an even more ahistorical 'Darwinism'.

Antonello La Vergata, Professor of the History of Philosophy, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy