or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
29 used & new from £0.61
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book

Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think (Hardcover)

by Alan Grafen (Editor), Mark Ridley (Editor) "PILLOW talk first introduced me to The Selfish Gene ..." (more)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £11.69 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £1.30 (10%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock but may require up to 2 additional days to deliver.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

12 new from £3.21 17 used from £0.61
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback (New Ed) £7.99 £5.07 44 used & new from £1.47

Frequently Bought Together

Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think + The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary edition + The Blind Watchmaker
Price For All Three: £23.44

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

  • This item: Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think by Alan Grafen

    In stock but may require up to 2 additional days to deliver.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary edition by Richard Dawkins

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Climbing Mount Improbable

Climbing Mount Improbable

by Richard Dawkins
4.2 out of 5 stars (10)  £5.98
Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder

Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder

by Richard Dawkins
4.1 out of 5 stars (29)  £5.99
The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene (Popular Science)

The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene (Popular Science)

by Richard Dawkins
4.1 out of 5 stars (11)  £5.82
River Out Of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life (Science Masters)

River Out Of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life (Science Masters)

by Richard Dawkins
4.1 out of 5 stars (13)  £5.48
A Devil's Chaplain: Selected Writings

A Devil's Chaplain: Selected Writings

by Richard Dawkins
4.2 out of 5 stars (25)  £5.78
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 298 pages
  • Publisher: OUP Oxford; illustrated edition edition (16 Mar 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0199291160
  • ISBN-13: 978-0199291168
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.7 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 275,243 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #82 in  Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > Richard I

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

  • See Complete Table of Contents

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
   Did Jesus Christ Exist? opens new browser window
www.TheGodMovie.com  -  "The God Who Wasn't There" Acclaimed documentary now on DVD 
  
 

Product Description

Spectator, 25 March 2006

'an interesting series of essays'


Review

An interesting series of essays. (Philip Hensher, The Spectator )

A sparkling collection. (Prospect )

This book presents a vivid picture of how one man, by force of rigorous analysis and clear writing, taught a generation of biologists how to think about evolution (New York Times )

While such festschrifts are usually deadly dull, designed to flatter rather than enlighten, this is a delightful exception, containing a number of thought-provoking essays that go beyond mere appreciation of Dawkins's book. (Jerry A. Coyne, Times Literary Supplement )
See all Product Description
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
PILLOW talk first introduced me to The Selfish Gene. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
 
science
richard dawkins
r  dawkins
evolution
evo-devo
biology
anthropology
alan grafen

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think
45% buy the item featured on this page:
Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£11.69
The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary edition
25% buy
The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary edition 4.3 out of 5 stars (87)
£5.77
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution
12% buy
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution 4.5 out of 5 stars (87)
£9.97
The Blind Watchmaker
10% buy
The Blind Watchmaker 4.2 out of 5 stars (84)
£5.98
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth it, 13 Oct 2007
By Mr. SDL Cane "sam_2007" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think (Paperback)
Edited by Mark Grafen and Matt Ridley, this anthology of essays by such luminaries as Ridley himself, along with, among others, Daniel C. Dennett, A.C. Grayling and Philip Pullman, functions very effectively as either an introduction to Dawkins or as an overview for those more familiar with Dawkins's work. Discussing both the scientific context of Dawkins's work and exposing some of the controversies borne out of it, these essays are well worth exploring. I recommend this book very highly.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
158 of 171 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a cheering section, 11 Jun 2006
By Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
If Darwin's revelation of natural selection is "the best idea anyone, any where, ever had", then Richard Dawkins' identification of the "selfish gene" must run a close second. While Darwin's concept explained the workings of life, Dawkins' insight disclosed the mechanism of natural selection. The 1976 publication of "The Selfish Gene" not only stimulated a fresh wave of thinking among biologists, it also stirred public interest and imagination. If life was under the thrall of those strings of chemicals in our cells, how far did that influence reach? In this set of excellent essays on the issues, Dawkins ideas and their impact are presented and discussed. The fruit of his insights are bittersweet, and while most of these writings applaud his probity and communication skills, there is the tang of doubt about some of them.

More than two dozen essays comprise this collection. They are topically organised, starting with the biology issues, moving through the logic Dawkins uses to his writing skills. Today, the biology seems straightforward: genes build bodies. Those bodies contain nervous systems and brains - the root of behaviours. At the publication of "The Selfish Gene", it was widely thought that evolution worked at the species' level. Dawkins moved that mechanism much deeper. Its effect is manifested through various ways, with mate choice one of the more significant. Andrew Read explains how evolutionary pressure forces such practices as "lekking" in certain bird species. The mechanism can be readily projected to other creatures, and is manifested in humans, as well.

The "selfish gene" operating in humans has, of course, caused the greatest distress among many readers. An entire section of the book is devoted to that issue. Randolph Nesse discusses how the term "selfish" has been mindlessly condemned by many. Adding to the furor, and fury, was the publication of Edward O. Wilson's "Sociobiology". Although Wilson's book focussed on social species, particularly insects, the implications were clear. If genes build bodies and guide behaviour, how many of our activities are similarly directed? How many of our actions are "genetically determined". Nesse notes that Dawkins had closed his book saying we are the one species capable of overriding our genes' guidance, few either read or failed to comprehend the implications.

Outside the realm of pure biology, Dawkins has made clear his position on religion and its dogmas. No less a figure than the Bishop of Oxford takes up the challenge. In his essay on Dawkins and humanism, Richard Harries deals with what drives a person to atheism. Noting other powerful scholars have turned away from "faith". He exempts science itself as a cause, instead Harries relies on Alister McGrath's recent book, "Dawkins' God" as a buttress. Harries sympathises with Dawkins sense of awe at the wonders of the universe. Harries, of course, wishes Dawkins' awe could be "grounded in a reality that lies beyond the visible universe".

The concluding essays focus on Dawkins' writing skills. That talent is universally exclaimed throughout the set, but Matt Ridley and Philip Pullman go beyond merely addressing Dawkins ability to impart science. Pullman, in particular, finds elements of Dawkins' prose that should appeal to all readers, notably "phrase-making" and humour. Making readers smile is a rare trait among science writers, but Dawkins has managed to Pullman's satisfaction and delight. He even compares Dawkins with Dickens, no small compliment. It is a fitting cap to this collection - a tribute well deserved by its subject. Having read "Selfish Gene" some time ago, this collection impels me to take up its insights and delightful reading once more. As these writers stress, Dawkins is a thought-stimulator par excellence. We need more like him. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject






















i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.