On the Origin of Species

Penguin Classics

By: Damien Hirst, Charles Darwin, William Bynum - introduction

Narrated by: Ben Arogundade

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by accomplished voice actor Ben Arogundade who is known for his voice work in Doctor Who and Horizons. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by William Bynum and the cover design is by Damien Hirst.


The Origin of Species is one of the most important and influential books of its time and remains one of the most significant contributions to philosophical and scientific thought. The theories Darwin sets out here had an immediate and profound impact on the literature and philosophical thought of his contemporaries, and continue to provoke thought and debate today. Written for the general public of the 1850's, The Origin of Species laid out an evolutionary view of the world which challenged contemporary beliefs about divine providence and the fixity of species. He also set forth the results of his pioneering work on the interdependence of species: the ecology of animals and plants.

This book should be in every hotel!

This book helps answer so many questions about organized religion and encourages readers to be curious and helps explain why so many people are guilted/pressured into being part of the religion they were brainwashed into from birth. If you like science and fact based decisions, welcome to atheism! Atheists aren’t mean or immoral, we are curious and seek answers.

A must read indeed.

Just like Smith's Wealth of Nations or Newton's Principia this work is pretty dense and dry no doubt. But, if one truly wishes to understand certain fields one must go the classic primary sources. I love it. Not sure why, but Alexa keeps starting a chapter or two behind where I left off making the journey feel much longer to trek through and it only occurs with this book. Now to the narrator, cannot seem to get into the groove with this narrator it's like Ben Stein making this work feel more boring than Darwin actually is. Still I greatly appreciate it being on audible and want to thank all who made that happen.