Its one of the odd beauties of this whole mess that dawkins himself coined the term meme, and did so in the selfish gene. Jan 04, 20 a few popular science books rise above the genre and become popstars of the book world bestsellers. As influential today as when it was first published, the selfish gene has. In the selfish gene, richard dawkins crystallized the genes eye view of evolution developed by w. About the book quality, this is one of the very good rated among the ones i have read. Dawkinss pithy writing style and mastery of telling detail combined to make the book one of the popular and controversial books on evolution ever written. The gene seye view was a synthesis of the population genetic models of the modern synthesis, in particular the work of ra fisher, and the social evolution models of w.
The book raises curious possibilities and inspired me to write the story below. Discover book depositorys huge selection of richard dawkins books online. Even fewer among them change public discourse and, finally, culture. There is a ton of great information in the selfish gene. Jun 23, 2016 the selfish gene lays out a cool theory about what drives evolution. The selfish gene is a 1976 book on evolution by the biologist richard dawkins, in which the author builds upon the principal theory of george c. To this extent, contrary to popular opinion, dawkins exposition is not merely a popularisation, but actually breaks new ground theoretically. The selfish gene is a classic exposition of evolutionary thought.
The selfish gene lays out a cool theory about what drives evolution. The selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9781455856350, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The selfish gene is the most wonderful book for anyone interested in evolution and the one who wants to know about the marvels the biological world possesses. Richard dawkins brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the. The selfish gene ebook by richard dawkins rakuten kobo. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Jan 28, 2012 the selfish gene was a metaphor used by dawkins to explain genebased evolution.
On the selfish genes 30th anniversary, many of dawkinss admirers, including writer philip pullman and cognitive scientist steven pinker, contributed essays to the book richard dawkins oxford university press, 2006 edited by his former students alan grafen and mark ridley no relation of mine. The selfish gene rational optimist book matt ridley. Bees, for example, will commit suicide when they sting to protect the hive, and birds will risk their lives to warn the flock of an approaching hawk. The selfish gene tsg by richard dawkins is one of these rare books. And selfish was just one word, opportunistic might.
Ive now finished my 2nd and started my 3rd dawkins book but the selfish gene is the best. If you want a suggestion for the free audiobook or for reading a book, heres fightmediocrity beginners reading list. Dawkins coined the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the gene centred view of evolution, which holds that evolution is best viewed as acting on genes and that selection at the level of organisms or populations almost never overrides selection based on genes. The books persuasion notwithstanding, the article notes ongoing. Jun 10, 2015 if you want a suggestion for the free audiobook or for reading a book, heres fightmediocrity beginners reading list. The selfish gene is a book on evolution by richard dawkins, published in 1976. First four chapters richard dawkins seminal book, the selfish gene, immediately sends your brain spinning.
Buy a cheap copy of the selfish gene book by richard dawkins. Man has always wondered about the universe that surrounds him. The geneseyeview the selfish gene is indeed a seminal work in the history of biology primarily because dawkins takes the socalled geneseyeview of evolution to its logical conclusion. Selfish genes and genecentered evolution bitesize bio. You will find yourself reading this book from both ends. Gene editing and the unthinkable power to control evolution. The selfish gene por richard dawkins, 9780198788607, disponible en book depository con envio gratis. The book depository limited retains the right to end this promotion without notice.
Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution. The greatest show on earth is not a bad book dawkins wouldnt know how to do that. Read the selfish gene 40th anniversary edition by richard dawkins available from rakuten kobo. The world of the selfish gene revolves around savage competition, ruthless exploitation, and deceit, and yet, dawkins argues, acts of apparent altruism do exist in nature. As a note, i read the selfish gene in my younger twenties and it completely blew me away. Dawkins says in this anniversary edition of the book that he regrests naming it the selfish gene because people go into it believing that the thesis of the book revolves around an inevitability of the most selfish genes, and by asoociation, creatures surviving. The gene seyeview the selfish gene is indeed a seminal work in the history of biology primarily because dawkins takes the socalled gene seyeview of evolution to its logical conclusion. The selfish gene richard dawkins oxford university press. Genes are not literally selfish any more than rocks are. This meme, methinks, forms the true bone of contention and the true obstacle to progress. The greatest show on earth by richard dawkins new scientist. Adaptation and natural selection, and helped popularize w. The view was popularized by george williamss adaptation and natural selection and richard dawkinss best seller the selfish gene. In 1976, the selfish gene became the first real blockbuster popular science book, a poetic mark in the sand to the public and scientists alike.
The selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9780198788607, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The selfish gene caused a wave of excitement among biologists and the general public when it was first published in 1976. May 29, 2016 in 1976, the selfish gene became the first real blockbuster popular science book, a poetic mark in the sand to the public and scientists alike. Richard dawkin is an ethologist and evolutionary psychologist. Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the gene centred view of evolution as opposed to the views focused on the organism and the group, popularising ideas developed during the. The selfish gene was a metaphor used by dawkins to explain genebased evolution. Other articles where the selfish gene is discussed. The author begins by suggesting that intelligent, thinking animals must ask questions about its origins, and that darwin has supplied excellent answers. Some of them do buy the new book and, for the rest, my wife consoles me by arguing that people who newly discover an author will naturally tend to go back to his first book. May 27, 2014 coupons are nontransferable and cannot be exchanged for cash coupons cannot be used with any other voucher coupon or promotion. Forty years after its first publication, the book is still in amazons top 10 for both the genetics and evolution categories, with over a million copies sold and more than 25 translated versions. Everyone interested in the universe and their place in it. The selfish gene book by richard dawkins thriftbooks.
In the end, it was michael rodgers of oxford university press who enthusiastically published the selfish gene, after demanding i must have that book. Coupons cannot be retrospectively applied to preexisting orders. There are 4 prefaces covering the different editions over the years and 70 odd pages of end notes, covering the latest thinking and giving dawkins a reply to his critics. Selfish gene by richard dawkins, first edition abebooks. The first sentence is, intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its existence 1. Even if youve slept all the way through biology class in high school, this book can catch you up on at least 70% of whats important within a few hours. You can buy richards book the selfish gene on amazon dawkins explains how the genes that are around today in us and every other living organism come from an. The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Mar 02, 2016 there is no book quite like richard dawkins the selfish gene.
The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed. I was an 18yearold creationist when i first read the selfish gene by richard dawkins. Jan 27, 2016 in the end, it was michael rodgers of oxford university press who enthusiastically published the selfish gene, after demanding i must have that book. The selfish gene charles simonyi professor of the public. This book will completely change the way you see people, animals, and all of their interactions. And they have not found a way to displace a meme so powerful as the selfish gene. The extended selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9780198788782, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Per dawkins, selfish genes control what traits creatures possess in their. Its vivid rendering of a gene s eye view of life, in lucid prose, gathered together the strands of thought about the nature of natural selection into a conceptual framework with farreaching implications for our understanding of evolution. I find the selfish gene thought provoking and stimulating. A freshman, prevet major at colorado state university, i found myself in bernard rollins honours biology course. Dawkins argued that natural selection takes place at the genetic rather than the species or individual level, as was often assumed. He has been a professor at oxford for many years and also published the bestselling book the god delusion. In july 2017 a poll to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the royal society science book prize listed the selfish gene as the most influential science book of all time.
The selfish gene simple english wikipedia, the free. In it 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 the replication of genes. On selfish genes and human behaviour scientific american. In 1976, a littleknown biologist named richard dawkins published a book called the selfish gene, which presented a stark some said merciless version of evolutionary theory. The selfish gene 30th anniversary edition edition 3 by. Id rather see the math for myself, because the way gene is defined in the book necessitates a probabilistic definition of what constitutes a gene. Feb 28, 2014 you can buy richards book the selfish gene on amazon dawkins explains how the genes that are around today in us and every other living organism come from an. According to the introduction to this book, the selfish gene changes the way that many scientists look at the process of natural selection. Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution as opposed to the views focused on the organism and.
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