The Selfish Gene in Science and Inquiry

From the Bookshelf of Science and Inquiry…

The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins

Start date: June 1, 2014

Finish date: June 30, 2014

Discussion: Book Club 2014

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Book Club 2014

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Sep 14, 2008 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biology, science, evolution, nonfiction

I read the 30th anniversary edition of this book--it is a true "classic". I note that there are over 48,000 ratings and 1,400 reviews of this book on 欧宝娱乐! Richard Dawkins put an entirely original slant on Darwin's theory of natural selection. The book has turned people around, to the understanding that the gene plays the single most central role in natural selection, rather than the individual organism. Over the course of generations, evolution plays a role to ensure the survival of the ge I read the 30th anniversary edition of this book--it is a true "classic". I note that there are over 48,000 ratings and 1,400 reviews of this book on 欧宝娱乐! Richard Dawkins put an entirely original slant on Darwin's theory of natural selection. The book has turned people around, to the understanding that the gene plays the single most central role in natural selection, rather than the individual organism. Over the course of generations, evolution plays a role to ensure the survival of the genes, not the individual or "the species".

Although the book is 30 years old, it has stood the test of time. There are a few passages--primarily about computers--that are 30 years out of date. But the vast majority of the book seems to have held up quite well.

Dawkins' prose is very approachable by the layman. There is a bare minimum of technical jargon--quite different from most other books about genetics that I've been reading in recent years. Dawkins takes the time to explain things, often with appropriate metaphors. There are very few diagrams in the book--additional figures could help clarify some points, in my opinion.

Much of the book is really about the role of game theory, in understanding genetics. Dawkins devotes several chapters to describe how various traits controlled by genes are held in an ESS-- "Evolutionarily Stable Strategy"--a term that Dawkins uses quite often, that I think is a synonym for the game theory term "stable equilibrium". Dawkins shows how an ESS is approached over the course of "iterations" of a game, that is to same, over many generations. These chapters were especially interesting to me, as I recently took an online course on the subject of game theory.

It is in this book that Dawkins coined the now-famous term "meme". The meme is a cultural analog of the biological gene. A meme seeks to self-perpetuate, and mutates if that aids its self-preservation. Dawkins devotes an entire fascinating chapter to his concept of the meme.

Throughout the book, Dawkins deals with the dichotomy between the "selfishness" required for survival, and the "altruism" of human behavior. How do we explain altruism? Dawkins explores this dilemma over and over again, showing in virtually every case how the selfishness of genes can help to explain apparent altruistic behavior of the individual.

This is an absolutely fascinating book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in genetics, evolution, or sociology.

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Sep 05, 2007 Casey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: knowledge-is-good, cognitive-scientists-do-it-in-lab, dear-ones

This book was recommended to me while I was working on a research project in Evolutionary Psychology at my university. Being a student in Psychology, I had background knowledge in evolution and natural selection, but this book changed the way I thought about evolutionary theory.

It may not be hard science (it is, after all, popular science writing), but it will open your eyes to different ways of thinking about genes and genomes. It's also a fun read, that can be read in a day (which is more than ...more

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Sep 08, 2009 Finley rated it really liked it

This is a really wonderful book. I tried to read it a couple of years ago and just wasn't able to get through it. Although Richard Dawkins is very smart and writes well, he has a tendency to come of as a bit of a snob. So initially, this really repelled me. However, once I gave it a genuine attempt I was able to get past the sections where an annoyingly know-it-all tone pops up and was able to really appreciate it for the great work that it is. The Selfish Gene describes Dawkin's theory (partly ...more

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Apr 28, 2014 Alissa Thorne marked it as abandoned

Shelves: genre-nonfiction, about-science

For whatever reason, in the second edition of The Selfish Gene, Dawkins was not inclined to compromise the fidelity of the original so instead appended commentary of developments since the first edition at the end, likely referenced by footnote in the printed version. In the audio however, he made the unfortunate choice to interleave this commentary throughout the reading. As a result, the main content of the book is interrupted every few minutes by a defensive exposition directed at the critics ...more

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Jun 08, 2008 Rowland rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science

鈥淭he Selfish Gene鈥� is an extremely well researched and written book on evolution. Dawkins looks at the genes as the most basic unit of replication. He argues that it is the survival of genes that is the reason that life exists and that 鈥渁 predominant quality to be expected in a successful gene is ruthless selfishness鈥�.

It is a very thought provoking read. He not only looks at the how a gene propagates from generation to generation but also how a gene might express certain behaviour in an organis ...more

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Jul 22, 2008 Kathy rated it liked it

Shelves: read-non-fiction, read-science, x-feb-08-thru-jan-09

I admit a certain prejudice against Richard Dawkins, whom I originally had my hero list. But when he started his evangelism of atheism, he lost my respect. I do not object in any way to atheists; what I resent is an atheist's (or anyone else's) scorn of my own beliefs.

Anyway, that prejudice may have influenced me. Dawkins has an intriguing premise and sets it forth reasonably, but in places I found myself annoyed with his intellectual superiority. Perhaps it's my fault rather than his - but not ...more

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