The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages. This 30th anniversary edition includes a new introduction from the author as well as the original prefaces and foreword, and extracts from early reviews. As relevant and influential today as when it was first published, The Selfish Gene has become a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. Professor Dawkins articulates a gene's eye view of evolution - a view giving centre stage to these persistent units of information, and in which organisms can be seen as vehicles for their replication. This imaginative, powerful, and stylistically brilliant work not only brought the insights of Neo-Darwinism to a wide audience, but galvanized the biology community, generating much debate and stimulating whole new areas of research.
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Review
"A genuine cultural landmark of our time." -- The Independent
"Review from previous edition The sort of popular science writing that makes the reader feel like a genius." -- New York Times
"The Selfish Gene is a classic." -- Robin McKie, The Observer
Here is a genuine cultural landmark of our time. -- The Independent, 10 March 2006
It's a classic that's still relevant today. -- Daily Express, 17 March 2006
"Review from previous edition The sort of popular science writing that makes the reader feel like a genius." -- New York Times
"The Selfish Gene is a classic." -- Robin McKie, The Observer
Here is a genuine cultural landmark of our time. -- The Independent, 10 March 2006
It's a classic that's still relevant today. -- Daily Express, 17 March 2006
About the Author
Richard Dawkins is the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Royal Society of Literature, and an international lecturer. His acclaimed books include The Extended Phenotype, a more technical sequel to TheSelfish Gene, and The Blind Watchmaker, which won the Royal Society of Literature Award and the Los Angeles Times Prize, both in 1987. His other bestsellers include River out of Eden, Climbing Mount Impossible, Unweaving the Rainbow, and the A Devil's Chaplain. His most recent book is The Ancestor'sTale.
Professor Dawkins is the recipient of many prizes and honors, including the Shakespeare Prize, the Silver Medal of the Zoological Society of London, the Royal Society's Michael Faraday Award, the Nakayama Prize for Achievement in Human Science, The International Cosmos Prize, and the Kistler Prize.
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First Sentence
Intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its own existence. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its own existence. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
183 of 201 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While you might expect Dawkins' classic to be terrifically interesting (and you'd be right), you'd probably expect it to be a bit of a slog. In this respect you'd be completely mistaken - it flows beautifully, and is seriously difficult to put down. And the whole way through you have the wonderful sense that you're being educated as well as entertained.
The book starts right from first principles, describing a plausible theory for the origin of life, and explaining how more and more complex molecules could have formed in the 'primaeval soup'. Eventually a molecule arose that could replicate itself, and life has never looked back. Dawkins goes on to define a gene, which turns out to be quite an important step (I thought I knew what the word meant already, but I was wrong), and relates how genes have indirect control over what he calls 'gene machines', i.e. living things. Subsequent chapters then detail various survival strategies, 'altruism' and how it can be explained genetically, tensions between sexes and generations, and a new replicator, the 'meme'.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is the way that Dawkins draws on game theory to assess mathematically the most sensible way for a gene machine to act. In particular, the sections on 'the Prisoner's Dilemma' (a specific game theory scenario which crops up all over the place in nature) are, to me at least, a radical new way of thinking of many problems in (human) life, and how we should approach them. It could have ramifications for politics, social policy, economics, and the environment, to name only a few. Like all the difficult concepts in this book, Dawkins explains this simply and thoroughly, and the reader never feels patronised. And if you ever feel a bit stuck, a captivating, and often extremely bizarre, illustration is selected from the animal kingdom to clarify the point. Dawkins is also refreshingly willing to state that certain aspects of this theory are +the truth+, a brave claim in our muddled, PC society.
I would therefore thoroughly recommend this book to the general reader. It's stuffed with hugely stimulating concepts (Dawkins' own 'meme', or replicating idea, is a paricularly rich one), and wonderful snapshots of the animal kingdom. Be warned though, it may take over your life for a while - personally I feel tempted to jack everything in and go and take a bilogy degree!
The book starts right from first principles, describing a plausible theory for the origin of life, and explaining how more and more complex molecules could have formed in the 'primaeval soup'. Eventually a molecule arose that could replicate itself, and life has never looked back. Dawkins goes on to define a gene, which turns out to be quite an important step (I thought I knew what the word meant already, but I was wrong), and relates how genes have indirect control over what he calls 'gene machines', i.e. living things. Subsequent chapters then detail various survival strategies, 'altruism' and how it can be explained genetically, tensions between sexes and generations, and a new replicator, the 'meme'.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is the way that Dawkins draws on game theory to assess mathematically the most sensible way for a gene machine to act. In particular, the sections on 'the Prisoner's Dilemma' (a specific game theory scenario which crops up all over the place in nature) are, to me at least, a radical new way of thinking of many problems in (human) life, and how we should approach them. It could have ramifications for politics, social policy, economics, and the environment, to name only a few. Like all the difficult concepts in this book, Dawkins explains this simply and thoroughly, and the reader never feels patronised. And if you ever feel a bit stuck, a captivating, and often extremely bizarre, illustration is selected from the animal kingdom to clarify the point. Dawkins is also refreshingly willing to state that certain aspects of this theory are +the truth+, a brave claim in our muddled, PC society.
I would therefore thoroughly recommend this book to the general reader. It's stuffed with hugely stimulating concepts (Dawkins' own 'meme', or replicating idea, is a paricularly rich one), and wonderful snapshots of the animal kingdom. Be warned though, it may take over your life for a while - personally I feel tempted to jack everything in and go and take a bilogy degree!
119 of 133 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a landmark piece of writing without any doubt. This was in fact the book that sparked a whole genre. Until the success of 'The Selfish Gene' popular science writing was spectacularly under-read. After this popular science sections became noticeable in every self-respecting bookshop.
The book itself tackles what in essence could be a very difficult subject (the level at which natural selection acts) but it articulates it so well. Many since have tried to contribute to the debate but none have the prose skills of Dawkins nor the ability to put over a difficult subject with the reader seeing it as outstandingly obvious and common sense. Dawkins also initiates the idea of the meme as a unit of cultural evolution here for the first time. In the long run this may turn out to be Dawkins biggest original contribution to science and it has spawned many books on the subject since.
I have a particular fondness for this book. It was having read this and 'The Blind Watchmaker' which sent me back to full-time education at the age of 29 to read Genetics and subsequently develop a career in science myself. Truly an inspirational piece of work - one of the outstanding books of the Twentieth Century.
The book itself tackles what in essence could be a very difficult subject (the level at which natural selection acts) but it articulates it so well. Many since have tried to contribute to the debate but none have the prose skills of Dawkins nor the ability to put over a difficult subject with the reader seeing it as outstandingly obvious and common sense. Dawkins also initiates the idea of the meme as a unit of cultural evolution here for the first time. In the long run this may turn out to be Dawkins biggest original contribution to science and it has spawned many books on the subject since.
I have a particular fondness for this book. It was having read this and 'The Blind Watchmaker' which sent me back to full-time education at the age of 29 to read Genetics and subsequently develop a career in science myself. Truly an inspirational piece of work - one of the outstanding books of the Twentieth Century.
107 of 121 people found the following review helpful
By M. de Boer
Format:Hardcover
As far as evolutionary biology's concerned I'm very interested, but nevertheless a layman. Richard Dawkins has however the rare ability to explain any scientifically difficult subject to practically everybody. His style is easy to read, very understandable, sometimes funny, and he uses very good examples to explain. Anybody having difficulties to understand evolution (and there are many out there) should read Dawkins' The Selfish Gene. A very good book: convincing, informative, readable book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
Although this is his first book, and I am behind the times reading it (I read 'The God Delusion' first), it is typical of Dawkins' absolute clarity of thought and exceptional... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Richard, London
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent writing, important subject
Intelligent writing, perceptive thinking. Mr Dawkins comes across as rational, honest and a 'proper' scientist. Very glad to have (very belatedly) read this classic.
Published 23 days ago by Mr. Andrew Walsh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Good read but need a bit of work to get throughit. bbb bbbb bbb bbb bbb bbb bb bbb bb
Published 1 month ago by John Ball
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic. Everyone should read this.
I don't want to be an evangelist for the atheist left, but this book helps to sort out a lot of ideas that are very useful in the daily grind of dealing with proselytising... Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent Read
An Excellent and thought provoking read. As always, Mr Dawkins delivers with knowledge and study... A brilliant book. In fact a must read !!!!!!
Published 1 month ago by david smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is wrong with the world
politically correct people will hate it but it explains so much about what is wrong with the world and some of humanity.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Kenneth Lawrence Sayers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book.
A great introduction to Sociobiology. Very well written and interesting. Dawkins can come across as a bit arrogant but it makes for ifun reading. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Adam
4.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT BOOK
Extremely interesting, definitely a great read. My book did have more damage than indicated unfortunately but is still worth the read.
Published 1 month ago by maryiam
2.0 out of 5 stars
Mistake
Bought this when I was a bit tipsy watching atheist videos on youtube. Sat here collecting dust. I hear it's good, though.
Published 2 months ago by Sam Dorrian
5.0 out of 5 stars
On time and in great shape
I bought this book for my boyfriend. I was really happy that it was in great shape since it's used. He loves the book and after he's finished with it I plan on reading it too. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sara
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