The Selfish Gene

By: Richard Dawkins

Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward

Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

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 to rethink their beliefs about life.

In his internationally best-selling, 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.

©1989 Richard Dawkins (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

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)

Old book, but fresh ideas

While this book is out of date, it's charmingly so. Highly recommend, this will change the way you look at biology, evolution, and life.

Btw, this is the book that coined the word 'meme'. I think the way the word has evolved since it's inception here perfectly demonstrates the point he makes with it.

Superb

A tour de force work that has stood the test of time / scientific advancement. Audiobook / narration quality is excellent (including the treatment of the substantial footnotes from the more recent edition, which are narrated by Dawkins)

Better than print!

Any additional comments?

This is one of those special cases where the audiobook has features that are better than reading a printed book. This is an updated version (after more than 30 years) of an important and controversial work, and the newer revisions are read by a different narrator, so the newer material is always distinct from the original. The copious footnotes are read as they occur, so you hear them seamlessly in context, and without the constant page-flipping that is required if you read a print version. Both narrators are a pleasure to listen to, and since one of them is Dawkins himself you have the added pleasure of having the author speaking directly to you.

Mind-bender for those unfamiliar with the science.

If you have difficulty comprehending complicated subjects on audio, this may be one best left to reading. If you can absorb science through listening, then this is one of those crucial listens, which may drastically change your perspective of the world if you are unfamiliar with Dawkins or his work.

There are very incredible topics here that people just normally don't discuss and think about, like that we are all "survival machines" designed to allow our genes to replicate. The last few chapters were especially interesting, as meme has now become such a famous word used for internet phenomenas, and Dawkins coined the word here for culturally-catching trends like fashion, melodies or song lyrics, etc. The last few chapters take the concepts he's been working with the whole book so far that I felt they were tickling the very back of my brain. He talks of how genes can be seen as not modifying only the bodies they are in but their external environment as well, if I understand correctly, in the last chapter, and this made me go "Oh my."

The most delightful part of the audiobook was the narration. The text of the book itself, which was originally published in 1976, is narrated by the soothing, concise, and English-accented Lalla Ward. But as there have been subsequent versions of the book released with Dawkins noting further revelations and thoughts and responding to his detractors, he narrates the countless footnotes and endnotes, choosing to narrate them throughout the book when they are relevant rather than at the end for ease of comprehension. The effect is as if Dawkins himself is constantly popping into your mind as you are reading his book, arguing with those who have spoken out against it and defending it when necessary. It was a very entertaining way to do things.

Obnoxious treatment of footnotes

Dawkins made the decision to read the footnotes thought the text of the book rather than update the book itself. The footnotes probably ended up being longer than the text itself. The self-important and unnecessary commentary sprinkled throughout also distracted from the point of the book.

Good Review of a Popular Science Classic

"The Selfish Gene" is well known as Richard Dawkins' perspective of a process whereby genes are the central drivers of evolution, rather than organisms or populations. I admit that this is my first time reading this canonical work, but I enjoyed that my anniversary edition included footnotes that tried to update some sections and put others into context. This book was originally published in the 1970's, but it is still relevant and readable.

Because this book has already been popular for some time in the field, however, the contents weren't really eye opening for me. This was a great review and I am very glad I read this classic by such a well known contemporary intellectual in the field. Nevertheless, many of the examples and explanations were already familiar to me due to my scientific high school and undergraduate education. This is representative of how influential this work has been to science education over the past few decades. It is important to know where these perspectives originated from, and the evolution of scientific theories is an interesting history topic in itself.

The audio book narration was OK, but having two narrators was jarring at times and the production value of the experience lower as a result. I appreciated that the end-notes were said when they are mentioned, instead of all of them listed at the end like how it would have been printed. However, there were a couple of mentions of other Dawkins books, which felt like an advertisement, which was frustrating.

Overall, this was nice to read, even if I didn't necessarily learn anything new. I recommend this to students of biology, evolution, ecology, and genetics. This is also great review of basic evolution and genetic concepts for those interested in popular science books.

The one that gave the 70's it's moniker of the Me Generation

That gave the 70's it's moniker The Me Generation. And when read incorrectly it certainly makes a great case for that. But read as the genius scientific treatise that it is, we're convinced again by Dawkin's magic wit that the replicator, the proto-bearer of all individual life forms - which are really just handy bags for ferrying about the masters of replication, the almighty and neigh on immortal genes - that these replicators are the force behind the populations of the universe and that their replication is, in the Darwinian time scale, what keeps us all living, laughing, loving and most importantly, replicating.

Excellent for General Audiences

Though a tad light on the hard science, Dawkins' exemplary intelligence and passion make this a compelling read. Accessible to laymen and interesting enough to keep the attention of those who may not find biological textbooks to be utterly captivating beach reading material.

Thought provoking Will need to read several times.

This book has a lot of incredible ideas presented with candor and grace. Much of the content is intensely logical so the reader should take frequent breaks to take in each step. The reading is kept fresh by alternating male and female readers. I do love this author though I dont always agree with him on general conclusions. Concpet of meme (sp?) is great to take from this book also.

Amazing eye opening book

This book has opened new way of looking on human life and it’s meaning. I’ve learned much about evolution and the tiniest mechanisms required for life to exist - immortal Replicator. Life’s goal to replicate successfully.
It puts in perspective how insignificant we humans are. Life has come far to build the most elaborate machines capable of becoming conscious. Everything that we do, feel, want, experience is a tool that serves that purpose. I wonder why?
I took from it the lesson, that I am only here along for a very short ride. But it’s my choice what that ride should look like. I have every tool handed me from my genes to make my life as rich of fun and happy experiences as possible, and I have tools to build even better world for machines yet to come, so they have chance to enjoy the ride as well. Another question. Is there more to it? Being conscious of truth makes me wonder even more! What is the end game of replicators? If memes are replicators on the level of consciousness, what is going to be next level? Where it’s all going?
But along this amazing ride, I will busy myself by defying what replicators made us to do, by copulating with opposite sex without reproduction ;) Thank you for sharing these tools, Richard Dawkins. I have enjoyed your work greatly.