Poll says Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ is most influential book

By Kerry Chan Laddaran, Special to CNN
2 minute read
Published 5:36 PM EST, Wed November 11, 2015
Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" founded evolutionary biology when it was published in 1859.
Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" founded evolutionary biology when it was published in 1859.
Bantam Classics
"The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was a political pamphlet published in 1848.
"The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was a political pamphlet published in 1848.
International Publishers Co.
"The Complete Works" by William Shakespeare is a collection of historical plays and poems written by the English writer, actor and poet also known as the "Bard of Avon."
"The Complete Works" by William Shakespeare is a collection of historical plays and poems written by the English writer, actor and poet also known as the "Bard of Avon."
Collector's Library Editions; Main Market Ed.
Plato's "The Republic" is a widely read dialogue known to spark philosophical discussion about justice, government and the ideal state.<br />
Plato's "The Republic" is a widely read dialogue known to spark philosophical discussion about justice, government and the ideal state.
Dover Publications
First published in 1781, "Critique of Pure Reason" by Immanuel Kant is one of the most influential books in philosophy.
First published in 1781, "Critique of Pure Reason" by Immanuel Kant is one of the most influential books in philosophy.
Penguin Classics
Charles Darwin's book voted most influential in history

Story highlights

Voters had a choice of 20 academic books that changed the world

A panel of experts selected the top 20 books from 200 titles submitted by publishers from the United Kingdom

No. 2 is "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

CNN  — 

Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” has been voted the most influential academic book in history in an online poll.

Darwin’s book, which founded evolutionary biology when it was published in 1859, was the undisputed winner with a quarter of the votes submitted by the public. The poll asked voters to choose from 20 books that were selected by experts.

“It’s not in the least surprising, and completely right, that ‘On the Origin of Species’ won. No work has so fundamentally changed the way we think about our very being and the world around us,” said Alan Staton, head of marketing at the Booksellers Association in the United Kingdom.

“The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was second, followed by “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.”

A panel of experts organized by The Academic Book of the Future project selected the top 20 books from 200 titles submitted by publishers from the United Kingdom. The diverse list ranged in subjects from science, philosophy, feminism and art.

“It is important that the list includes titles that might not be considered by some to be academic,” said Neil Smyth, senior librarian of the Faculty of Arts, University of Nottingham Literary. “Shakespeare and Orwell are available in academic libraries. They are read by academic staff and students, and influence ideas for the academic books of the future.”

The online poll took place on the Academic Book Week website and kicked off a weeklong event hosted by The Academic Book of the Future project. The project looks at how scholarly work in the arts and humanities will be produced, read, and preserved in coming years.