More than a century after evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin published “The Origin of Species,” Prof. David Quammen of Montana State University is managing the publicity.

“I’m one of the people doing his book tour for him, 150 years late,” Quammen told about 450 students, faculty and community members in Ryan Family Auditorium on Thursday night.

Quammen was the keynote speaker this year for One Book One Northwestern, a community-wide initiative to promote discussion within the NU community about a different book each year.

At Thursday’s lecture, entitled “Darwin Against Himself: Caution Versus Honesty in the Life of a Reluctant Revolutionary,” Quammen discussed his 2006 biography, “The Reluctant Mr. Darwin.”

The theory of natural selection has become so familiar that the term “Darwinian” has found its way to Wall Street and the National Football League, Quammen said. But not everyone knows about the man behind the theory.

“I want to consider two particular traits of his character,” he said. “Caution and honesty.”

It took Darwin 21 years to publish his revolutionary ideas about natural selection, years he spent in secrecy perfecting and mulling over his work, Quammen said. Darwin’s intellectual honesty is what drove him to publish despite his hesitations, he added.

“He was a fundamentally conservative man who found himself burdened with a deeply radical idea,” he said.

Weinberg freshman Dylan Cruz read Quammen’s book over the summer because he thought he would be tested on it. The book turned out to be surprisingly interesting and readable, he said.

“The book explained the theory without the details,” he said. “It is not a scientific book. Anyone could read it.”

Community Assistant Liz Hohl, who brought some of her residents to the event, agreed that the book was a “simple read.”

“It could be very dry, but he makes it pivotal,” the McCormick senior said.

Arielle Nguyen, a senior at Niles West High School who attended for extra credit, said she agreed that Darwin was a cautious man but thought he was keener on an academic career than on intellectual honesty.

“I agree with cautious but not honest,” she said. “He cared about what society thought. He wanted to get (his work) out before someone else did.”

The One Book One Northwestern planning committee targeted students as well as the community beyond campus, said Teresa Horton, chair of the committee and a professor of neurobiology.

“The topic of evolution was something that demanded broad community involvement,” she said.

Even Quammen’s high school Latin teacher, Jack Macnamara, attended the lecture.

“He was a brilliant student,” he said. “I told him I’d try not to embarrass him.”

The next One Book event, an evolution-themed musical performance, will be Feb. 12