"The best general account of evolution I have read in recent years."--E. O. Wilson. With a new introduction. Twenty years after its original publication, "The Blind Watchmaker," framed with a new introduction by the author, is as prescient and timely a book as ever. The watchmaker belongs to the eighteenth-century theologian William Paley, who argued that just as a watch is too complicated and functional to have sprung into existence by accident, so too must all living things, with their far greater complexity, be purposefully designed. Charles Darwin's brilliant discovery challenged the creationist arguments; but only Richard Dawkins could have written this elegant riposte. Natural selection--the unconscious, automatic, blind, yet essentially nonrandom process Darwin discovered--is the blind watchmaker in nature.
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Richard Dawkins is not a shy man. Edward Larson's research shows that most scientists today are not formally religious, but Dawkins is an in-your-face atheist:
I want to persuade the reader, not just that the Darwinian world-view happens to be true, but that it is the only known theory that could, in principle, solve the mystery of our existence.
The title of this 1986 work, Dawkins's second book, refers to the Rev. William Paley's 1802 work, Natural Theology, which argued that just as finding a watch would lead you to conclude that a watchmaker must exist, the complexity of living organisms proves that a Creator exists.
Not so, says Dawkins: "All appearances to the contrary, the only watchmaker in nature is the blind forces of physics, albeit deployed in a very special way...it is the blind watchmaker".
Dawkins is a hard-core scientist: he doesn't just tell you what is so, he shows you how to find out for yourself. For this book, he wrote Biomorph, one of the first artificial life programs. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
In 1995 Richard Dawkins became the first holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. He is the bestselling author of THE SELFISH GENE, CLIMBING MOUNT IMPROBABLE (Penguin, 1996) and UNWEAVING THE RAINBOW (Penguin, 1998).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
164 of 169 people found the following review helpful
By L. Scholey
Format:Paperback
I read this, as many others may have done because I was interested by 'The God Delusion' and wanted to delve a little deeper into Dawkins impressive thought processes. While 'The God Delusion' is much in the limeight and undoubtedly opening up discussion on the issues involved, this book is of an entirely different calibre.
I found 'The God Delusion' well argued but too inclined to go off on tangents. I also thought it was too busy dissecting other arguments to put across its own argument in a clear and coherent fashion.
This book is entirely different in that its cogency and clarity are unfailing throughout. It is much less self-conscious (or media conscious?) and more satisfying and thought provoking as a result. Perhaps it is because I knew less of the subject matter before coming to it, but I found it entertaining, readable and accessible to the lay reader at all times, and yet never condescending or over-simplified in content.
Here is a rare writer who is not only quite obviously an exceptional thinker in his own field but has the communicative skill to make that field understandable, entertaining and fascinating to the general reader.
Forget 'The God Delusion' and read this, as it is to me infinitely better written and more absorbing. I now look forward to reading more of Dawkins work, and understand the intellectual and critical acclaim he has received.
I found 'The God Delusion' well argued but too inclined to go off on tangents. I also thought it was too busy dissecting other arguments to put across its own argument in a clear and coherent fashion.
This book is entirely different in that its cogency and clarity are unfailing throughout. It is much less self-conscious (or media conscious?) and more satisfying and thought provoking as a result. Perhaps it is because I knew less of the subject matter before coming to it, but I found it entertaining, readable and accessible to the lay reader at all times, and yet never condescending or over-simplified in content.
Here is a rare writer who is not only quite obviously an exceptional thinker in his own field but has the communicative skill to make that field understandable, entertaining and fascinating to the general reader.
Forget 'The God Delusion' and read this, as it is to me infinitely better written and more absorbing. I now look forward to reading more of Dawkins work, and understand the intellectual and critical acclaim he has received.
110 of 116 people found the following review helpful
By Q. Langley
Format:Paperback
The very best whodunnits stand or fall by last page. On that page the author explains not only who dunnit, but how and why. When you read the how you should not be left thinking that your own idea was just as good. Once explained, it should be completely obvious. The intelligent reader should be left slapping his or her forehead and exclaiming "how did I miss that?".
Dawkins's explanation of evolution is just as complete. His entire book has the beauty of an explanation that slots together perfectly. Dawkins shows that natural selection not only explains every aspect of life but renders other explanations unnecessary. Any additions to the theory add more questions than answers. I particularly reveled in Dawkins's explanation of the evolutionary reasons why some people find evolution hard to accept...
At no point does Dawkins, or Darwin, suggest that evolution is explained by blind chance.
Dawkins conclusively shows that in every case life has evolved by natural selection. The examples produced by the most supersitious critics of Darwin, such as the eye and the human brain, are picked up and explained totally by Dawkins. Every organ that exists in nature is one that is capable of evolving by simple steps, every one of which bestows clear advantages. At every stage from a cluster of light sensitive cells to a fully functioning eye we have an easily understood process. By contrast, organs or limbs which could not have evolved, such as wheels, at least on land animals, do not exist. We are left with two possible explanations: evolution by natural selection or intelligent design by a designer who has deliberately chosen to disguise his work as evolution by natural selection.
65 of 69 people found the following review helpful
By apressello
Format:Paperback
Richard Dawkins's brilliant explanation of the theories of Charles Darwin is must-reading for anyone interested in the origin and diversity of life.
I picked this up after reading that Douglas Adams (author of "The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy") credited this book with confirming his atheism and filling out his understanding of Darwinism. There certainly is not much left for a deity to do by the time Dawkins finishes explaining the story of life as we know it.
There are a number of mind-blowing concepts discussed in the book, such as Dawkins's discussion of probability. Dawkins writes that our perception of probablity is necessarily limited by the fact that we only live for a few decades. If we lived for say, half a million years, we would probably avoid crossing streets (if you crossed the street every day for half a million years, you would consider getting struck by a conveyance as a likely outcome.)
I have to agree with some reviewers that the prose was a bit tough to get through in places, but I still had to give this book five stars for its overall impact. I will never look at the world the same again.
I picked this up after reading that Douglas Adams (author of "The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy") credited this book with confirming his atheism and filling out his understanding of Darwinism. There certainly is not much left for a deity to do by the time Dawkins finishes explaining the story of life as we know it.
There are a number of mind-blowing concepts discussed in the book, such as Dawkins's discussion of probability. Dawkins writes that our perception of probablity is necessarily limited by the fact that we only live for a few decades. If we lived for say, half a million years, we would probably avoid crossing streets (if you crossed the street every day for half a million years, you would consider getting struck by a conveyance as a likely outcome.)
I have to agree with some reviewers that the prose was a bit tough to get through in places, but I still had to give this book five stars for its overall impact. I will never look at the world the same again.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dawkins defeats his own argument.
Whilst not making a stand for the Creationist theory that Dawkins so despises, I feel that this book does not outline a reliable alternative. Read more
Published 3 months ago by MarkP
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent evolution?
Really interesred discussion on the evolution of all life. Addresses the question of a spiritual origin to start it all off; almost no one now believes in 'Adam and Eve' but the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Alan and Jan
1.0 out of 5 stars
What a Laugh!!!!
Q) Why doesn't someone write a book about what science knows about the creation of life
A) Because science doesn't know anything about it!! Read more
A) Because science doesn't know anything about it!! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Car57
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Blind Watchmaker
Excellent read, Makes one really think, and review life as it is. Gave this as a christmas present, having already read a copy previously.
Published 4 months ago by Kevin John Ollivier
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Blind Watchmaker
In The Blind Watchmaker Richard Dawkins succeeds admirably in showing how natural selection enabled scientists to do away with heavily religion based theories such as purpose and... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Enid Brightman
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment
Disappointment right from the start, I expected an exciting read which was intellectually encouraging what I was given was a well padded script which was annoying and not terribly... Read more
Published 12 months ago by R. Keirnan
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
If you liked the Selfish Gene, you will also enjoy this book. Full of interesting cases and persuasive arguments. Read more
Published 12 months ago by bva123410
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding
Possibly the best neo-Darwinism exposition ever written, by one of Darwin's greatest advocates and mayhap evolution's leading exponent. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. C. B. Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Love It When He Writes What He Knows
Richard Dawkins is a trained zoologist and this book thoroughly reflects his expertise. I found myself fully absorbed from page one to the very end.
Published 20 months ago by Jaypinions
4.0 out of 5 stars
eloquent, at times brilliant, but a bit much
I greatly enjoyed this book, which is a splendid introduction and defence of neo-Darwinism. Like the best of SJ Gould, the book has real flavor because its author has a strong... Read more
Published 23 months ago by rob crawford
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