The selfish gene is a 1976 book on evolution by the biologist richard dawkins, in which the. From the genecentred view, it follows that the more two individuals are. Jun 17, 20 a giant learns to open his heart in this classic tale. Natural selection therefore sees to it that gangs of mutually compatiblewhich is almost to say cooperating genes are favoured in the presence of each other. 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. The selfish gene is part of the wikiproject biology, an effort to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to biology on wikipedia. You can call me a big bad wolf but not a bore, says richard dawkins. But what of the acts of apparent altruism in nature the bees who commit suicide when they sting to protect the hive, for example. The selfish gene is a book on evolution by richard dawkins, published in 1976. The watchmaker belongs to the 18thcentury 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. This book is about opinion on how genes work by dawkins right. In it professor dawkins articulates a genes 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. All his logics seem to fall at the right places, he knows what he is saying and has a strong backing of reasons behind it.
Professor dawkins holds out the hope that our species has the power to rebel against the designs of the selfish gene. 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. However we can discover yoga exercise and also reflection anywhere. He has been a scientist, a journalist, and a national newspaper columnist, and he is the chairman of the international. This imaginative, powerful, and stylistically brilliant work not only brought the. 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.
It is an interesting book, full of great ideas and explanations. The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages. This edition added two extra chapters, and substantial endnotes to the preceding chapters, reflecting new findings and thoughts. Aug 31, 2012 m y copy of the selfish gene is the first paperback edition of 1978. At no time does this evolution of the cooperative gene violate the fundamental principle of the selfish gene. The first sentence is, intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its existence 1. In terms of the selfish gene theory, dawkins proposed that the gene pool is an evolutionary environment, in which good genes those which survive in the gene pool are selected for. B this article has been rated as bclass on the projects quality scale. Buy a discounted audible edition of the selfish gene mp3 cd from australias leading online. Suppose, instead of thinking about organisms using genes to reproduce themselves, as we. The selfish gene by richard dawkins, lalla ward, audio cd.
The concept of the selfish gene has been around for more than three decades. Professor dawkins articulates a genes eye view of evolution a view giving centre stage to these persistent units of information, and in. In fact, these two new chapters are not all that new, being lifted wholesale from dawkins next work, the extended phenotype, a work whose contents he has already summarised in chapter the long reach of the gene, itself an earlier addition to the book s ever expanding contents list. The autobiography of a species in 23 chapters audiobook. This 78page guide for the selfish gene by richard dawkins includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. In fact, i not a biologist, but fascinated by evolution ever since dinosaurs and the first high. 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. Even if youve slept all the way through biology class in high school, this book can catch you up on at. In this revised edition of his classic, richard dawkins demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world.
Actually, the selfishness refers, not to a trait a gene encodes in its bearer, but rather to a metaphoric quality of genes themselves. The selfish gene audiobook richard dawkins audible. According to the introduction to this book, the selfish gene changes the way that many scientists look at the process of natural selection. Richard dawkins demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world. In his internationally bestselling, now classic, volume, the selfish gene, dawkins explains how the selfish gene can also be a subtle gene. Its no wonder this book is still relevant after three decades. May 10, 2015 the selfish gene is a fantastic book and gives a very unique perspective on how to think about evolution in terms of the gene.
Selfishness then, is very useful in describing replicator behavior, but not necessarily an individuals behavior. This book will completely change the way you see people, animals, and all of their interactions. Therefore, the gene pool can be seen as an evolutionary stable set of genes. A world of savage competition, ruthless exploitation, and deceit. First four chapters richard dawkins seminal book, the selfish gene, immediately sends your brain spinning. The selfish gene, 40th anniversary edition by richard dawkins. Jan 04, 20 the selfish gene tsg by richard dawkins is one of these rare books.
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. Its vivid rendering of a genes 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. This was never a technical book on genetics, but an argument for an interpretation of the process of natural selection at the gene level. Contains two new chapters and a wealth of new insights into the biological world. Dawkins acknowledges a role for genegene interactions in the selfish gene, noting that the effect of any one gene depends on interaction with many others. Richard dawkins seminal book, the selfish gene, immediately sends your brain spinning. The selfish gene caused a wave of excitement among biologists and the general public when it was first published in 1976.
Written by richard dawkins, audiobook narrated by richard dawkins, lalla. I read it at the start of 2014 before beginning an undergraduate degree in genetics and i found it incredibly helpful. If it was not an audiobook i could have easily skipped that section, but here i can only go to next chapter or jump 30 seconds which dont work very well. 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. Introduction to 30th anniversary edition preface to 1989 2nd edition foreword to 1976 1st edition preface to 1976 1st edition 1. 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 selfish gene is quite a fascinating book and i liked the way he introduced the metaphors and analogies.
The selfish gene by dawkins, richard, 1941print book. After establishing the basis for the selfish gene, richard dawkins moves on to analyze various relationships between individuals, or survival machines, in the selfish gene. There is a ton of great information in the selfish gene. Sep 20, 2016 thus the new title the extended selfish gene. Yes, this article is about the book the selfish gene and it quite properly contains material about the book s reception, which includes remarks about how many copies sold. The selfish gene 30th anniversary edition edition 3 by. The selfish gene is a fantastic book and gives a very unique perspective on how to think about evolution in terms of the gene. A lot of us can not go down whatever and also thrill to an apartment in rome and afterwards to a resort in india and afterwards to bali. In march 2011, audible inc published an audiobook edition narrated by richard dawkins. Chapters were not intended to be howto chapters, yet thats what most of them were for me. As relevant and influential today as when it was first published, the selfish gene has become a classic exposition of evolutionary thought.
The blind watchmaker, knowledgably narrated by author richard dawkins, is as prescient and timely a book as ever. First coined by evolutionary biologist richard dawkins in his 1976 book, the selfish gene, the term describes sequences of dna that spread by forming additional copies of itself within the genome and make no specific. But this action might not be a conflict of the selfinterest of the organism with his. The selfish gene book by richard dawkins thriftbooks. As relevant and influential today as when it was first published, the selfish gene has become a classic. The selfish gene lays out a cool theory about what drives evolution. The selfish gene is a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. After reading quickly through the first 3 chapters, it became apparent that there was a great. Apr 15, 2006 the million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages.
Im a 23 year old without any alevels or degree with no other than intrinsic interest in the theory of natural selection. Chapter 5 concentrates on evolutionarily stable strategies esss, analyzing different games played in nature that relate to aggression. The selfish gene audiobook mp3 cd by richard dawkins. Dec 22, 2012 after establishing the basis for the selfish gene, richard dawkins moves on to analyze various relationships between individuals, or survival machines, in the selfish gene.
In the end, it was michael rodgers of oxford university press who enthusiastically published the selfish gene, after demanding i must have that book. Evolution biology, genetics, sociobiology, behavior genetics, genetica, etologia animal, genetics. The author begins by suggesting that intelligent, thinking animals must ask questions about its origins, and that darwin has supplied excellent answers. The selfish gene was first published by oxford university press in 1976 in eleven chapters with a preface by the author and a foreword by robert trivers. The selfish gene simple english wikipedia, the free. The audio cd of the the selfish gene by richard dawkins, lalla ward.
Mid this article has been rated as midimportance on the projects importance scale. A few popular science books rise above the genre and become popstars of the book world bestsellers. 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. May 29, 2016 the selfish gene is published by oxford university press. The selfish gene topics for discussion richard dawkins this study guide consists of approximately 50 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the selfish gene.
It also introduces several interesting theories and explains some of the challenges of modern well, decadeago genetics. This month we read the selfish gene by richard dawkins. Booktopia has the selfish gene audiobook by richard dawkins. Since at that time i was working on the guardian s arts page, i suppose i bought it because it was one of those books everybody. Replicators compete directly for space within an individual, and only consequently for existence in the gene or meme pool. 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. The selfish gene wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The selfish gene, 40th anniversary edition by richard. Hamiltons work dawkins used the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution. Published in 1976, tsg is not only still in print, but according to the a long, chronologically uninterrupted trail of stamps. How nature turns on nurture won the award for the best science book published in 2003 from the national academies of science. Adaptation and natural selection, and helped popularize w.
Even fewer among them change public discourse and, finally, culture. With chapters such as genesmanship, battle of the sexes, and nice guys finish first, he tackled concepts of. The selfish gene by richard dawkins, lalla ward, audio. The selfish gene tsg by richard dawkins is one of these rare books. M y copy of the selfish gene is the first paperback edition of 1978. Part of the reason i have used the term survival machine is that animal would have left out plants and, in some peoples minds, humans.
I have a problem with the loose definition of a gene. The book is not only a collection of curious facts about genes, presented without the annoying sensationalism often found in the media like intelligence gene found. In keeping with his selfish gene view, dawkins states that another survival machine which is not its own child or another close relative is part of its environment. Some of the material under the header reception is not directed carefully at the book, and appears more to be an exposition of alternative approaches. In 1976, a littleknown biologist named richard dawkins published a book called the selfish gene, which. But research since then show that these interactions take place in nonlinear, nonadditive ways of a complexity impossible to understand at the time dawkins wrote his book. Dawkins may not be the first or the only proponent of the selfish gene theory, but hes certainly the most eloquent and captivating. The selfish gene pool was written to encourage dialogue on the issue of the claim that all people are destined to act selfishly in all situations, whether they are aware of it or not, because their fitness in resulting generations depends on it. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
The selfish gene restarted a function and feeling in my brain that ive not felt for a long time. Richard dawkins in this revised edition of his classic, richard dawkins demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world. Having read the first edition 40 years ago, this reread was somewhat nostalgic and a reminder of how controversial the original was. Dawkins used the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution. Many people who have never read the selfish gene and strangely a few who apparently have misunderstand the phrase selfish gene to mean a gene that causes people to be selfish. A giant learns to open his heart in this classic tale.
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