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The Selfish Gene

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The Selfish Gene

By: Richard Dawkins
Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
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About this listen

 Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands of readers to rethink their beliefs about life.In his internationally bestselling, now classic volume, The Selfish Gene, Dawkins explains how the selfish gene can also be a subtle gene. 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. 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.This 30th anniversary edition of Dawkins' fascinating book retains all original material, including the two enlightening chapters added in the second edition. In a new Introduction the author presents his thoughts thirty years after the publication of his first and most famous book, while the inclusion of the two-page original Foreword by brilliant American scientist Robert Trivers shows the enthusiastic reaction of the scientific community at that time. This edition is a celebration of a remarkable exposition of evolutionary thought, a work that has been widely hailed for its stylistic brilliance and deep scientific insights, and that continues to stimulate whole new areas of research today.©1989 Richard Dawkins (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Genetics Science Thought-Provoking

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Editor reviews

The internationally best-selling The Selfish Gene, is written by renowned author Richard Dawkins and narrated in this unabridged 30th Anniversary audiobook edition by the author himself alongside Lalla Ward. Darwin’s theory on natural selection are revisited in this absorbing book that aims to explain why nature is selfish in its instincts for survival. Dawkins also reveals those selfless acts to protect others that are occasionally seen in nature and tries to explain why they occur in the animal kingdom irrespective of conscience. It includes the original foreword by Scientist Richard Trivers and a new introduction by the author. Available now from Audible.

Critic reviews

"Dawkins first book, The Selfish Gene, was a smash hit.... Best of all, Dawkins laid out this biology - some of it truly subtle - in stunningly lucid prose. (It is, in my view, the best work of popular science ever written.)" (H. Allen Orr, Professor of Biology, University of Rochester, in The New York Review of Books)
All stars
Most relevant

If you could sum up The Selfish Gene in three words, what would they be?

Impressive, persuasive and conclusive.

What did you like best about this story?

Although this is not really a story, but the way the whole concept has been explained with clear examples, it really leaves no questions. Once you've gone through the whole book, one becomes a strong supporter of Darwinism automatically. Great respect for Richard Dawkins and ofcourse finally to Darwin. Once you understand the theory one wonders how such an obvious point is not clear to anyone.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The parts which explains True altruism.

A mind opener

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It was an essential book, when it came out first, and thanks to the careful rewrites of the new editions, it's still on the top. If everyone would understand it, the world would be a better place. Or at least it would be well understood.

impressive

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It would be better if there would be less jumpings between readers and story and endnotes. Rewriting it into one truthful story instead of jumping between old knowledge and changes since then would help. Less confusion. Otherwise it was very interesting and educating.

Too many readers

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Many of the points made, and of course, the main thesis, of this book have so infused our modern understanding now that reading the book at last is like a parade of deja vu moments.

The ideas and concepts are familiar but the details and specifics are at last brought into focus.

Great, great book. I should have read it 35 years ago but I will read it again.

I should have read this 35 years ago.

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Liked the two narrators to show what was original and what was added. Clear and concise treatment of theory of genetic evolution. Can't help but think he could have played devil's advocate a bit more

Well written and read. Recommended.

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