The Principles of Biology, Volume 1 (of 2)

"The Principles of Biology, Volume 1" by Herbert Spencer is a late 19th-century exploration of core biological ideas through an evolutionary perspective. Spencer seeks to reveal universal biological truths clarified by specific examples. The book begins with a preface that details the book's purpose and revisions that reflect advancements in biological comprehension since the book's initial release. Spencer acknowledges the fast progress in the discipline, and emphasizes the work's importance in explaining the fundamental concepts of biology related to organic material, the effects of forces on organic matter, and the interactive relationship between life and its environment. Spencer introduces ideas such as molecular mobility and chemical affinities, which sets the stage for an expansive understanding of biological events that have a basis in evolution.