Focusing on the twenty-one year period between Darwin's return from his travels on the Beagle and the eventual publication of On the Origin of Species, Quammen illuminates the development of Darwin's thoughts and his hesitation to tell the world. Kevin Padian, president of NCSE's board of directors, described The Reluctant Mr Darwin as "a fresh and original look at one of history's greatest scientists, written by one of our very best science writers." A prolific writer, Quammen also wrote The Song of the Dodo, The Flight of the Iguana, and the cover story — "Was Darwin Wrong?" — for the November 2004 issue of National Geographic.