On the Origin of Species and its ability to explain a wide range of observations. The "Examiner" review of 3 December 1859 commented, "Much of Mr. Darwin's volume is what ordinary readers would call 'tough reading;' that is, writing which to comprehend requires concentrated attention and some preparation for the task. All, however, is by no means of this description, and many parts of the book abound in information, easy to comprehend and both instructive and entertaining." While the book was readable enough to sell, its dryness ensured that it was seen as aimed at specialist scientists and could not be dismissed as mere journalism
Reactions to On the Origin of Species example and Ramsay's data in chapter 9 of "On the Origin of Species" to estimate that erosion of the Weald's layered dome of Lower Cretaceous rocks “must have required 306,662,400 years; or say three hundred million years“. The "necessary corrections" Darwin made to his drafts for the second edition of the "Origin" were based on comments from others, particularly Lyell, and added a caveat suggesting a faster rate of erosion of the Weald: "perhaps it would be safer to allow two or three inches per century, and this would reduce the number of years to one hundred and fifty or