6. Read a biography of somebody you don't admire and show genuine interest

In my previous exercise, I learned to show interest in a specific topic.
I will be mixing that with my next endeavour- reading the biography of someone I do not admire and to be empathetic toward that person:
being the biologist, Charles Darwin.

Now, don't get me wrong. Just because I don't admire him doesn't mean I don't respect him or honour him, just to be clear. Prejudice doesn't play part here.

Now, Darwin was born Charles Robert Darwin on February 12^th, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He studied in the sciences, specifically as a naturalist and biologist, and is famously well- known for developing the theory of evolution, and is especially acknowledged in the scientific, biological and philosophical communities. Before publishing his book, On the Origin of Species, he voyaged across the globe in his studies on species, their progression and to further his research to formulate theories.

He specialised in the theory of natural selection, which stated that survival is deemed to the fittest of animals in the natural world, and that the weaker ones had died off. In his studies, he noticed similarities among species across the world, caused by adaptation and natural selection and based on these observations, developed his theories.  

Regarding his personal life, his father was a renowned botanist, but research suggests that he had personal struggles with his father in both his early and later life, which led him to rebel against his father's Creationist worldview, and follow the course of proving his father wrong. This includes when his father shrewdly sent his son to study to be a parson, which followed his father's disapproval of his passion in naturalistic studies. Later in life, near the end of his father's life, he had difficulties in his relationship with his father.

In his famous Voyage of the Beagle, the boat he used to sail across the globe, sailed around the coastlines of the southern parts of South America, included the most southern part of Africa, Cape Town, visited Mauritius and ended his journey on the southern coastlines of Australia, which is said to have consisted of his greatest discoveries in his theory for evolution. 

He died in his family home on April 19, 1882. His work is still cited today by many evolutionists and biologists as the foundation of the naturalistic mindset.

This was an interesting research trip. Darwin had lived a fascinating life in many different facets of study, and has done incredible research on various topics. I do admire him for his headstrong attitude and his attributes of loyalty to study.


 The lesson that I have learned is to care about people more.
The next stop will be: spend a day without using the word "I".


So goodnight, and good luck.




Some sources:

https://www.biography.com/people/charles-darwin-9266433
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin

x