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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Wow, this book is old! We've come a long way in 40 years. The nagging feeling of "is this still 'true'?" Stayed with me through most of this book. The diversion (it was relevant I suppose, but still seemed odd) into game theory and Dawkins boasting of his programming skillz was probably hot new stuff back then. It's my fault for reading a classic and expecting it to feel modern...but has this stood the test of time? It didn't seem so to me.
Then again, I learned a lot of fascinating info, particularly about insects. And it is an accessible book, not too technical.
Then again, I learned a lot of fascinating info, particularly about insects. And it is an accessible book, not too technical.
There are very few books that has the ability to change the way you think, but there are even fewer books that can make you realize that what you thought you understood and believed all along was not exactly right, and there is an entirely different way to think about it. I wish I read The Selfish Gene many years ago.
Kunal
Kunal
And finally I have got around to reading Dawkins’ best-known and seminal work of popular science. Even now, nearly forty years after it’s initial publication (I read the 30th anniversary edition) it is still a heated subject of discussion in academic and popular science circles, the ideas it presents are considered ground-breaking, presenting one aspect of Darwinian evolution that is sometimes perhaps a tricky subject.
It turns the attention to the individual gene and examining evolution from the standpoint of its own survival rather than that of a species over its kind group, predators or prey and environment. And why is it a tricky subject? Because it deals with the ideals of altruism and selfishness (sometimes not being as clear cut as we might think) and by definition, ethics and morality.
The first couple of chapters set the definitions of what genes are, what they do and what implication they have for life. He knocks down a few erroneous assumptions about survival of the fittest and explains how gene replication works and its importance in the evolutionary process. If you already understand, then it is interesting to hear it from one of the masters of biology. If you don’t already understand it then allow the Professor to explain one of the most fascinating aspects of biology and the complexity of DNA replication here.
Where the book really gets going is chapter 6 where he tackles “genesmanship”. This is the most thorough explanation of the conundrum of Darwinian evolution of the gene that you are ever likely to read. How does evolution and the survival of the gene play off against genes in its kin group or competing genes of the species or its rivals? It thoroughly explores the problem of kin and family groups and expands further on the issues into chapter seven “family planning” and chapter eight “battle of the generations”. Chapter 9 has the self-explantory “Battle of the Sexes” and discusses the issue in a far more interesting way than any edition of Cosmo or inane daytime chatshow ever could. It is a chapter that will upset feminists and conservative religious types in equal measure.
This is also the book that introduces his well-known meme concept, the idea that ideas get passed along a population and through the generations, rather like a gene. It is an interesting idea and there is no better way to explain how ideas spread and maintain itself through a population. The most interesting thing is that it is spoken of in the same terms as genes.
This is one of the most important popular science books ever to have been written and it is not difficult to see why it is still lauded over thirty years after publication.
See more book reviews at my blog
It turns the attention to the individual gene and examining evolution from the standpoint of its own survival rather than that of a species over its kind group, predators or prey and environment. And why is it a tricky subject? Because it deals with the ideals of altruism and selfishness (sometimes not being as clear cut as we might think) and by definition, ethics and morality.
The first couple of chapters set the definitions of what genes are, what they do and what implication they have for life. He knocks down a few erroneous assumptions about survival of the fittest and explains how gene replication works and its importance in the evolutionary process. If you already understand, then it is interesting to hear it from one of the masters of biology. If you don’t already understand it then allow the Professor to explain one of the most fascinating aspects of biology and the complexity of DNA replication here.
Where the book really gets going is chapter 6 where he tackles “genesmanship”. This is the most thorough explanation of the conundrum of Darwinian evolution of the gene that you are ever likely to read. How does evolution and the survival of the gene play off against genes in its kin group or competing genes of the species or its rivals? It thoroughly explores the problem of kin and family groups and expands further on the issues into chapter seven “family planning” and chapter eight “battle of the generations”. Chapter 9 has the self-explantory “Battle of the Sexes” and discusses the issue in a far more interesting way than any edition of Cosmo or inane daytime chatshow ever could. It is a chapter that will upset feminists and conservative religious types in equal measure.
This is also the book that introduces his well-known meme concept, the idea that ideas get passed along a population and through the generations, rather like a gene. It is an interesting idea and there is no better way to explain how ideas spread and maintain itself through a population. The most interesting thing is that it is spoken of in the same terms as genes.
This is one of the most important popular science books ever to have been written and it is not difficult to see why it is still lauded over thirty years after publication.
See more book reviews at my blog
informative
slow-paced
Excellent book with lucid arguments. Only failings are it's unwavering confidence of the selfish gene theory and the condescending tone of the author when it comes to specific disciplines and people.
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Book #4 completed for Book Riot Challenge 2016: "A nonfiction book about science" Well this just flips all original ideas and perceptions about life on this planet right on their asses. Not only can you apply the concepts to the natural world, but you can see how his theories could possibly explain our society and culture.
informative
slow-paced
Enlightening, just as the first time I read it. Independently of my opinion of Dawkins, The selfish gene is a tremendous contribution of what life is and how it works. It is well written and is extremely entertaining most of the time. This or a shorter version of this should be taught in schools.