Science & Technology Books > Richard Dawkins Science & Technology Books

Advantages: Accessible and easy to read
Disadvantages: Short and adds nothing to his earlier works

A River out of Eden - Richard Dawkins ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Professo r Richard Dawkins is one of the worlds leading authorities on evolution and gene theory and a staunch anti-creationist thinker. He first came to public attention with his critically acclaimed 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene', a fairly controversial book in that it espouses the gene as the ultimate currency of life and consigned everything else as merely ...
...level reading lists and contain a level of scientific content that can be somewhat challenging for the average reader. What raises these books above the norm is Dawkins skill as a written communicator. His books are full of accessible exposition and analogies and the reader is never made to feel distanced from the subject matter, for such a highly regarded intellectual writing about his life's work this is some achievement. Despite their undeniable ... Read review

Advantages: lucid, wel written, well argued, enlightening
Disadvantages: very anti-religious in parts

...what some perceive as a raising flood of irrationality - and he does it in excellent style. 'Devil's Chaplain' is a collection of essays, articles and reviews mostly previously published , but now edited and put together in a well thought-out format. I have recently read a book called 'Blank Slate' (by Steven Pinker) which was also a passionate evolutionary manifesto, and I enjoyed it very much, but it was also tiring, readable but perhaps bit too ...
...is also lucid, elegant and a joy to read. He respects his opponents - that is, the ones that are worth respecting. And he is marvellously ruthless towards the ones who are not. Not insulting to them as human beings, by no means; but scathing in the dismissal of arguments that are not even worth arguing with. You see, Richard Dawkins believes in truth being more than just a social, historical and cultural construct. He doesn't like blurring of the ... Read review

Advantages: Engrossing, thought-provoking and informative read.
Disadvantages: Some aspects of the book are difficult to follow.

The Blind Watchmaker is a fabulous book about genes and evolution that provides an explanation for the complexity of humans and other animals. Many believe that such complexity could only have been designed by some higher being because everything within our bodies seem to work perfectly in performing their given function. Dawkins argues that yes we are highlt complex but this has come about through evolution and millions of tiny changes over millions ...
...The book provides an in depth explanation of how evolution works through natural selection (many people are unaware of how evolution actually works) in a very easy to follow and engaging way. Dawkins uses a number of interesting examples to illustrate the points he is making such as the complexity and function of the eye, echolocation in bats, arms races between chaeters and antelopes and many more. Many of the author's ideas are though provoking ... Read review

Advantages: Lucid, enjoyable, informative, gripping
Disadvantages: None

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins was first published in 1976. Even after 31 years of its first publication, it remains an international best seller. Dawkins, an expert in his field (Evolutionary Biology) explains complex biological ideas in a very interesting and lucid way so that even a layman can understand him. In essence, this book explains the theory of evolution by natural selection from genes' action point of view. He explains, through ...
...future generations. To do so, the genes adapt to the environment and if necessary resort to "exploitation" and "deceit"; and hence the name "Selfish Gene". The genes that are thus successful in adapting favourably towards the changing environment are selected by the nature and they pass on to the future generations. Others just get annihilated. Genes of course do not have any mind or conscience and they do not behave selfishly at their will. Genes ... Read review

Advantages: Lucid, pleasant to read, scientifically authentic
Disadvantages: none

...Dawkins style, this book explains the stages of evolution in planet earth. Dawkins is an expert in this field and he explained the complex aspects of evolution in a way so that even people without backgrounds in biology can understand. According to Dawkins' own admission this book is written in the style of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales; Like Canterbury Tales, here human beings start a "pilgrimage". Just as the pilgrims in Canterbury Tales want ...
...oldest ancestor….the ancestor who is the forefather of all living beings on earth today. In this book, Dawkins takes readers to a backward journey tracing the path of evolution. Just like in Chaucer's masterpiece, at every important juncture along this backward journey, we are joined by other "pilgrims" and continue our journey together into farther along the road. These newly joined "pilgrims" are other living beings who evolved in a separate branch ... Read review