A Most Interesting Problem: What Darwin’s Descent of Man Got Right and Wrong about Human Evolution is a landmark collection of essays edited by Jeremy DeSilva. Released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man (1871), this book offers a fresh, multidimensional look at Darwin’s influential and controversial legacy in the study of human evolution. DeSilva, along with a distinguished group of twelve scholars across fields such as anthropology, genetics, paleontology, and bioarchaeology, provides a deep and honest assessment of Darwin’s work—celebrating his groundbreaking insights, exposing his shortcomings, and exploring how these have shaped current thinking about what it means to be human12.
The book is organized into thematic essays, each authored by a leading expert. These chapters collectively dissect the core arguments of Darwin’s Descent of Man, with each contributor working to answer: What did Darwin get right? Where did he go wrong? And how has knowledge advanced since then? The central themes include:
Human origins and evolutionary evidence
Biological variation and race
Sexual selection
Cultural and social evolution
Scientific developments since Darwin
Each chapter is bookended with imaginative scenarios: one where DeSilva speculates on Darwin confronting a Neanderthal skull in 1864, and another where Ann Gibbons envisions a modern dinner conversation with Darwin, reflecting on scientific advances since his era2.
The book carefully acknowledges that Darwin’s approach was nothing short of revolutionary for his time. Among the enduring triumphs of The Descent of Man discussed in these essays:
Human Evolution Rooted in Africa: Darwin’s comparative work with living primates led him to speculate that humanity originated in Africa. This conclusion, reached without access to fossils or genetics, has been vindicated by subsequent discoveries32.
Describing Common Ancestry: Darwin correctly placed humans within the continuum of the animal kingdom, laying out evidence for shared ancestry with apes. His observations about vestigial structures and embryonic development anticipated later genetic research13.
These contributions form the bedrock of evolutionary science today.
The contributors are candid about Darwin’s limitations and the societal prejudices of his Victorian context:
Misconceptions About Race: Darwin categorized humans into different “races” and established a hierarchy, asserting that Europeans were superior. These ideas, now thoroughly debunked by genetics and anthropology, later fueled racist ideologies and eugenics movements43.
Sex Differences and Gender Bias: Darwin suggested women were biologically inferior to men in nearly every way, echoing the prevailing biases of his time rather than empirical evidence. This view has also been refuted by modern science13.
Technological and Data Gaps: Working before the era of DNA, brain imaging, or a robust fossil record, Darwin was forced into conjecture. Many of his errors stem from the limits of 19th-century science, gaps which are now filled with transformative evidence52.
The book’s contributors are forthright in critiquing these errors but resist anachronistic judgments, emphasizing how Darwin reflected—not shaped—the prejudices of his cohort.
A Most Interesting Problem stands out for several reasons, making it a significant contribution to both scholarship and public discourse:
By systematically revisiting Darwin’s hypotheses with the tools of modern science, the book illustrates the self-correcting nature of scientific inquiry. It offers readers a panoramic history of how ideas about human evolutionary origins have changed—and continue to change—over time13.
Importantly, the book does not shy away from addressing uncomfortable truths: racism, sexism, and scientific hubris. It models intellectual honesty by subjecting even the most celebrated figures to rigorous scrutiny and calls on scientific communities to confront the legacy of these persistent biases43. It reinforces that progress requires honesty, humility, and inclusivity.
Each essay brings a unique disciplinary lens. The book becomes a model of interdisciplinary scholarship, combining anthropology, genetics, paleontology, bioarchaeology, and more. This collective approach enriches our understanding and reinforces that science thrives on diverse perspectives15.
Written in plain, compelling prose, the book is accessible to lay readers and experts alike. Vivid analogies, historical vignettes, and contemporary parallels animate dense scientific concepts, making the book a valuable teaching tool for students, a lucid update for interested non-specialists, and a reflective read for practicing scientists2.
By highlighting both what Darwin got right and what he misunderstood, the book encourages ongoing skepticism and curiosity. It illustrates that scientific knowledge is provisional, always open to revision and improvement. For anyone invested in understanding human origins, biological diversity, or the role of science in society, A Most Interesting Problem offers not only answers but also frameworks for asking better questions15.
In sum, Jeremy DeSilva’s A Most Interesting Problem is both a tribute and a challenge to Darwin’s legacy. While honoring the immense courage and creativity of Darwin’s work, it refuses to overlook his errors or the social prejudices his theories sometimes reflected. By presenting a balanced, evidence-based evaluation, the book illuminates the path of scientific progress: one of constant questioning, collaboration, and ethical reflection. It is an indispensable resource for scientists, students, and anyone interested in the story—and the future—of what makes us human123.