The Selfish Gene Author:Richard Dawkins 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... more » 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 revised edition of Dawkins' fascinating book contains two new chapters. One, entitled "Nice Guys Finish First," demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world. The other new chapter, entitled "The Long Reach of the Gene," which reflects the arguments presented in Dawkins' The Extended Phenotype, clarifies the startling view that genes may reach outside the bodies in which they dwell and manipulate other individuals and even the world at large. Containing a wealth of remarkable new insights into the biological world, the second edition once again drives home the fact that truth is stranger than fiction.« less
I gave this book only 4 stars and not the full 5, not due to author's ideas but to the organization of the book. The author spent too much time jumping from topic to topic or telling you he will discuss a topic a few chapters later.
Example: I felt like the research by Axelrod in later chapters on Game Theory should have been included when ESS was first introduced with the Hawks and Doves game in the earlier chapters. There were too many questions by the reader left unanswered between those chapters.
Aside from the aforementioned, the theories in this book will truly make you put your thinking cap on.