Review #1 - The Selfish Gene

should show up HERE shortly


The Wrecking Machine, an undergrad, October 2, 2008,

Real Science for a Secular Crowd

When the Selfish Gene was first published in the 70s, Dawkins redefined not only scientific thinking about evolution, but also the entirety of scientific literature. While some of the langauge and metaphor is, indeed, daunting, Dawkins does a phenomanal job keeping his work layman-friendly. The Selfish Gene has been lauded since its publication as a masterpiece... rightly so. The ideas are insightful and the language inviting. The new Anniversary Edition sees the Selfish Gene regain its relevance and reinforces its place in the scientific pantheon. Though Dawkins intended only to flesh out evolution in more cohesive turns and replace the level of selection with the gene, he managed to change how evolution is understood. Ideally, everybody SHOULD read this book. Rudimentary knowledge of science is becoming increasingly important, and this book provides all the tools and insights necassary to arm one with scientific literacy, a trait lacking in a truly devastating amount of Americans. The application is far-reaching, extending well into mathematics and philosophy. The Selfish Gene is an intellectually stimulating, yet less-than-rigourous read.