The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins

Advantages: A good way to broaden the mind with respect to genetics
Disadvantages: Difficult to understand for the wrong audience

The author of this book, Richard Dawkins, is a professor at Oxford University, so you know that what you are about to read is going to be some pretty neat stuff. The book examines the gene as the replicator of DNA, and how every gene is selfish in that it wants to get itself replicated more than any of the other genes it is competing with. Sometimes however these genes benefit and do better in the presence of other genes than they would do on their ...
...Darwinian Theory of Natural Selection; the Survival of the Fittest. That is, a gene that is fitter than others metaphorically speaking, will benefit the body it is in, and so it will be more likely to be passed on to the offspring. Dawkins takes us through 13 chapters of tales and stories, as well as imagined situations in order to help us understand the Selfish Gene concept. Some of these you will already be familiar with, such as cuckoos laying ... 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: Clear explanations, very useful theory.
Disadvantages: Requires some previous knowledge of genetics.

While the previous review on this book has many excellent points, I do believe the potential buyer should know a few more details. First of all, who should buy/read this book? I must disagree with the 17-20 year old suggestion in the previous review. Yes, I read the book when I was 17, but anybody older than that would still find the book fascinating. It was never intended for 17-20 year olds, but for people working in biology - college professors, ...
...either beneficial or detrimental to the final organism they help code. Those not strictly interested in biology, or even science for that matter, may find they understand the world better after reading this book. How can evolution have made the peacock's tail so large when this results in the bird being easier prey for tigers and other predators? This book will clarify just how imperfect the process of evolution through natural selection is and thus ... Read review

Advantages: Fluent prose makes deep science more approachable
Disadvantages: Not for the religious or advocates of intelligent design

...I thought it was timely to reappraise this book in the light of the current debates about intelligent design that are raging through the media and in schools in the USA. Also because it is the 30th anniversary of the publication of Dawkins' best known work, 'The Selfish Gene'. For the uninitiated, Richard Dawkins is best summarised as Darwin's representative on earth, although he'd be the first to acknowledge that we have come a long way in our understanding of evolution since Darwin came back from the Galapagos with his 'Eureka' moment. Dawkins is also someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly, and is particularly vociferous in his argument for evolution as the explanatation of complex life on earth. He has stated in interviews that the book and idea he's most proud of are 'The Extended Phenotype', but for me this is a more... Read review

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Advantages: good
Disadvantages: none

...Authors who are able to bring science to the masses are few in number and largely unrecognised. It is a sad state of affairs when, in answer to the question “name a popular scientific book”, most come up with nothing, and those that do come up with something are likely to pick Darwin’s Origin of the Species or Hawking’s Brief History of Time, neither of which are what one would describe as ‘readable’. There are, however, authors that can do the unthinkable, and write scientific texts that are eminently readable, and indeed, can be read from cover to cover by non-scientists in a relatively short period of time and leave the reader wanting more. Some writers such as Richard Dawkins (The Blind Watchmaker and The Selfish Gene) concentrate on individual topics (in Dawkins’ case it is biology... Read review

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Advantages: A rare scientific treat that gets you thinking
Disadvantages: Requires knowledge of the Harry Potter texts and may just deny you some of the magic

...Authors who are able to bring science to the masses are few in number and largely unrecognised. It is a sad state of affairs when, in answer to the question “name a popular scientific book”, most come up with nothing, and those that do come up with something are likely to pick Darwin’s Origin of the Species or Hawking’s Brief History of Time, neither of which are what one would describe as ‘readable’. There are, however, authors that can do the unthinkable, and write scientific texts that are eminently readable, and indeed, can be read from cover to cover by non-scientists in a relatively short period of time and leave the reader wanting more. Some writers such as Richard Dawkins (The Blind Watchmaker and The Selfish Gene) concentrate on individual topics (in Dawkins’ case it is biology and in particular, genetics) but it is the rare... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful