You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by elijamessss
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
I have many things to say about this book, and I felt almost as if I was rushing through the pages at the end just to get through to write a thorough review. Starting with the positive aspects: I felt the additions made in the 40th anniversary edition made the actual purpose of the book much easier to understand and dissuaded the reader from taking the title or abstractions of concepts too literally. I feel that these additions were needed for the book to be fully well-rounded in this aspect. I also feel like someone educated enough to build off of the concepts presented in the book, say a student in academia, would be able to easily get valuable information from the book. Dawkins also manages to sneak some humorous bits in there every once in a while, which is nice to see in an informative book.
Although Dawkins attempted to make the book accessible to everyone, I don’t think there is enough depth in the right places and often too much depth in the wrong places for the uninitiated to grasp the entire picture. This, along with some palpable arrogance (as well as eugenic and sexist tones) which makes the book an uncomfortable read at times, I think detracts from the information presented and can be read as quite inflammatory, especially when presented to the uninitiated.
While a biology student may be able to comprehend that labeling genes as “good” or “bad” is not to be taken literally, I don’t think newcomers to the topic will be able to grasp the decades of scientific history with eugenics in academic spaces, even with the endnotes and preface. It again is a mixture of complex concepts (like eugenics) and overly simplified wording. It’d almost make the book better and more informative if it wasn’t written specifically for the uninitiated, at least while keeping all concepts covered intact.
While some chapters, such as chapter 12, are really well worded, written, and executed; other chapters, like chapter 9, seemed like they dragged on for quite honestly very few good reasons.
Despite the described, I think if you go into this book purely seeking knowledge, you will find it. I have quite a bit highlighted and I felt I was able to pick up on aspects of the writing which I can apply to my own view of the world, even if they are things Dawkins wouldn’t agree with. Serves to remind you that even the ones we disagree with on the practical applications of understandings, we may have similar underlying understanding of the world all the same.
Although Dawkins attempted to make the book accessible to everyone, I don’t think there is enough depth in the right places and often too much depth in the wrong places for the uninitiated to grasp the entire picture. This, along with some palpable arrogance (as well as eugenic and sexist tones) which makes the book an uncomfortable read at times, I think detracts from the information presented and can be read as quite inflammatory, especially when presented to the uninitiated.
While a biology student may be able to comprehend that labeling genes as “good” or “bad” is not to be taken literally, I don’t think newcomers to the topic will be able to grasp the decades of scientific history with eugenics in academic spaces, even with the endnotes and preface. It again is a mixture of complex concepts (like eugenics) and overly simplified wording. It’d almost make the book better and more informative if it wasn’t written specifically for the uninitiated, at least while keeping all concepts covered intact.
While some chapters, such as chapter 12, are really well worded, written, and executed; other chapters, like chapter 9, seemed like they dragged on for quite honestly very few good reasons.
Despite the described, I think if you go into this book purely seeking knowledge, you will find it. I have quite a bit highlighted and I felt I was able to pick up on aspects of the writing which I can apply to my own view of the world, even if they are things Dawkins wouldn’t agree with. Serves to remind you that even the ones we disagree with on the practical applications of understandings, we may have similar underlying understanding of the world all the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Ableism
Eugenic narratives