About this item
Patent debunks several commonly held beliefs about Darwin as she explores the life of the young man, "ill suited to education," who would turn the world of science upside down. A poor student, Darwin preferred hunting to scholarship, and he drifted from medicine to the clergy in search of a suitable career. He satisfied his personal curiosity by taking geology and botany courses, and it was a geology connection that led him to board the Beagle. Patent recounts his momentous four-year journey, noting that it was not some epiphany in the Galapagos that led to his theory of natural selection. Rather, he came to it slowly, after returning home and applying other scientists' ideas about biological adaptation to his firsthand observations. Throughout, the author balances the man as scientist with the man as devoted husband and father, building a blended portrait of an individual who let his observations shape his beliefs instead of the other way around.
About the Author
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an animal like a wolf, living wild and free, running with four legs instead of only two and with a built-in coat to keep you warm? Or a bird like an osprey or eagle, diving down to snatch fish from a river with your sharp, curved talons, then taking it to feed your hungry chicks waiting in the big nest you've built high up in a tree? Well I have, and I've been lucky enough to be able to learn about these animals and more and share my knowledge with readers of every age. Ever since I was a child I've loved nature and animals. I spent my time out of doors, chasing butterflies and scooping tadpoles out of ponds. So it's no wonder I studied biology and became an author myself, sharing my fascination with the living world with readers. I've expanded into other fascinating areas of knowledge, too, especially historical topics of the American west, such as the Lewis and Clark expedition and the relationships of Native Americans with bison and horses. The lives of wolves and dogs especially fascinate me. Scientists consider them the same species, but wolves are successful at being wild, and dogs have done a great job of attaching themselves to humans. I've explored this relationship from different angles in recent books--"Dog On Board: The True Story of Eclipse, the Bus-Riding Dog," "The Right Dog for the Job: Irah's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog," "Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance," "Dogs on Duty: Soldiers' Best Friends on the Battlefield and Beyond," and "Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives on the Job."My one fiction, "Return of the Wolf," available in a Kindle edition, tells the story of how one wolf. kicked out of her pack as one wolf too many, has many adventures as she seeks a new home and a mate to share her life. If you read this book, you'll recognize behavior your dog shares with its wild cousin. "When the Wolves Return: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone" demonstrates the importance of wolves to the natural ecosystem.My interest in animals goes way beyond canines--"Decorated Horses," for young readers, explores a number of ways people over time have decorated their horses for different reasons, and "The Call of the Osprey" explores not only the life of this amazing bird but also research at the University of Montana on dangerous heavy metals deposited in the Clark Fork River from past mining operations. Where do ospreys come into that story? Ospreys feed in fish from the river, and scientists can measure these substances in the blood of osprey chicks.My work has given me the gift of travel to all sorts of fascinating places such as the Galapagos Islands, the Costa Rican Rain Forest, the arctic tundra, the wilds of Tasmania, and more. Since my favorite activity is learning new information, I plan to keep traveling and writing for y
