text: It was praised by scientists such as Darwin ( to whom the book was dedicated ) , and Charles Lyell , and by non-scientists such as the novelist Joseph Conrad , who called it his `` favorite bedside companion '' and used it as source of information for several of his novels , especially Lord Jim .
simplified: It was praised by Charles Darwin and Charles Lyell and by others , such as the novelist Joseph Conrad , who called it his `` favorite bedside companion '' .