Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Voyage of the Beagle  By  cover art

The Voyage of the Beagle

By: Charles Darwin
Narrated by: Richard Dawkins
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.63

Buy for $19.63

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The Voyage of the Beagle - or, to give it its full title, Journal of researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries visited during the Voyage round the World of H.M.S. Beagle under command of Captain FitzRoy, R.N. - is much more than merely an account of Darwin's scientific observations in his 1831 - 36 travels across the globe: it is fine travel writing in its own right.

Voyage of the Beagle foreshadows Darwin's world-changing On The Origin of Species (also a CSA Word audiobook read by Richard Dawkins), in its constant intellectual quest. Darwin - still only in his early 20s - never just accepts what he sees, but wants to understand it; he shares his thinking in clear, entertaining, witty, even lyrical writing.

Professor Richard Dawkins, renowned evolutionist and author of ten books including The Selfish Gene, The God Delusion, and The Greatest Show on Earth, reads a carefully considered selection of extracts which makes Darwin's observational and logical genius accessible to a whole new audience.

©2009 CSA Word (P)2009 CSA Word

What listeners say about The Voyage of the Beagle

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    90
  • 4 Stars
    22
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Glimpses of a great mind at 22

It is not news to anyone that Charles Darwin was a bright guy. One of the great minds of science, as we all know, and the iconic images of the man, with his bald head, long white beard, and serious expression, leave no one in doubt. But still I was surprised to know how intelligent and sensitive he was at the tender age of 22. The first entries in this selection show how much knowledge he had already mastered in geology, zoology, botany, anthropology. The reader / listener has the privilege of observing him in the act of making the connections that lead ultimately to the elucidation of evolutionary processes, one of the great intellectual feats of science and civilization. Darwin's meticulous natural history of numerous species of plants and animals are as fresh and as fascinating as anything written today. Of particular timely interest is Darwin's experience of an earthquake in Chile, which sounds almost exactly like the news reports of the quake there in February 2010. Professor Dawkins selected these particular passages and brings the exuberance of the young man alive with every sentence in his reading. I recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in Darwin, in evolution, or in Dawkins.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

With Charles and Richard on the journey

Really fascinating. It illustrates the high academic standard Darwin achieved prior to his Beagle journey. His excellent diary style, acute observations added to by easy reading skills make this much better than I would have hoped. Richard Dawkins makes an excellent narrator and his own scientific knowledge obviously assists in correct emphasis and pronouniciation. I had anticipated some dryness and that a bit of endurance might have been called for but nothing of the sort. Lots of human interest, adventure and exploration with the added threats of sail and risks of the time add considerably to the readabilty. Well recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Biased Review

This is an incredibly biased review and rating. I enjoy all of the books Dawkins have written and am fascinated by evolutionary biology. This book was a no-brainer for me. If you like Dawkins and Darwin, it will be a no-brainer for you too!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting insight to early Darwin thinking.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes. Intriguing story of Darwin travels to the third world. Helps one understand the development of his thinking and depth of his understanding.

Would you recommend The Voyage of the Beagle to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, a worthwhile account.

Did The Voyage of the Beagle inspire you to do anything?

Read more Darwin

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book from a young Darwin

Have you listened to any of Richard Dawkins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dawkin's is one of the best audio book readers out there and his British ascent works perfectly with both Darwin books.

Any additional comments?

This concise book is easier to read than the full version and Dawkin's does an excellent job reading it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Adventure

What did you love best about The Voyage of the Beagle?

Insight into what Darwin experienced on this journey.

What did you like best about this story?

Darwin's vivid descriptions of the people, animals, plants, and land.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Night time

I’ve listened to this book numerous times. Very easy to listen to and very relaxing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exciting prelude to the Origin of Spieces

Dawkins is as much a eloquent narrator as he is a scholar. Really enjoyed this book as an insight to what lead Darwin to his great work. Also, this being a journal rather than a scientific work, it’s a great story on its own.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun, fascinating and a wonderful narrative

Really fun stories of Darwin across Latinoamerica, and with such level of detail you can travel with him. Also, it is fascinating how the observations shared in this book link to what became the theory of Natural Selection. Dawkins makes an incredible job. Enjoy it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dawkins Reading Darwin is Mana for the Soul

When you hear these words and realize they were penned by a 22 year old man who was really experiencing these things, it's almost surreal. I've now a strange desire to travel to Patagonia.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!