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)

Great - minus the pedantic footnotes

Any additional comments?

This would have been better presented as two options: 1) read with footnotes and asides inline, or 2) read without footnotes entirely. Classic book. Great listen. Gets a bit bogged down, unnecessarily.

How can a science book be this captivating?

This is one of those rare science books that seems to be accessible to both the scientifically literate and (most) laymen. I'm very familiar with physics, and had reasonable understanding of evolutionary principles, but I never fully understood the mechanism by which evolution works. I didn't think I'd be all that excited about genetics itself, but I found myself positively captivated. It may take a full book to detail its effects and expressions in a complex world, but it's thrilling to learn just how simple of a mechanism genetic evolution truly is at its core.

Dawkins' writing is characteristically eloquent, and his narration matches the writing style. Note that he narrates in tandem with his wife. It's a little jarring the first few times the voice switches, but you quickly get used to it.

I've listened to several others of Dawkins' books, but so far none have matched The Selfish Gene in revelatory and explanatory power. I've listened through two or three times, and recently bought it in print to examine the theory at my own pace. Trust me, this is one book you won't regret spending time on!

Understand evolution and how it shapes behavior

Narration: excellent, the switching between Richard and Lalla keeps the story fresh. They both understand what they read and have nice voices to listen to.

Story: science explained, and although this book is from 1976, endnotes from 1989 and 2011 update some aspects based on current insights. But they are rare, indicating the truth and value of the original work.

This book outlines why genes are the ultimate survivors, and all organisms mainly vehicles for the protection, survival en reproduction of genes. That this leads to a multifaceted world in which even behavior can be explained scientifically, is desribed wonderfully.

Well worth the read if you are interested in understanding the origins and perpetuation of life.

Fantastic production

Every Dawkins audiobook I've listened to has been exceptionally well produced and this is no exception. He takes the time to rearrange and add to the text to better fit the audio format, make it comparatively easy to follow, and include additional updates. The book itself is an absolute must listen for anyone with even a passing interest in the history of life on our planet.

The inventor of the Meme speaks

spoiler alert :

He says this book has a follow up the extended phenotype which I can't find in audiobook format

I wanted to give this four stars because of his outdated references to computers. Also he says humans are the only ones that can go against their genes or something after filling entire chapters with animal behaviour.
But I'm not a biologist so five stars for introducing me to genes , memes, evolution, and animal behaviour.

Fascinating Information

I found this book to be an outstanding understanding of the driving factors behind life's genetic reproduction. I gained a better understanding or how evolution works, and why it is the force behind the diversity of life. It was thought provoking and stripped the mask of mysticism off our existence.

The narration was very good and I appreciate the shifting between Mr Dawkins and Ms Ward. The subject was overly dry in some instances so having the narration broken up helped to avoid ennui.

Evolution from the Point of View of a Gene

What did you love best about The Selfish Gene?

It introduced me to concepts like the ESS and all of the tradeoffs involved in evolution, and explains why it is necessary to look from the point of view of the gene to understand evolution.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

"We are survival machines – robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment"

Amazing

What made the experience of listening to The Selfish Gene the most enjoyable?

The Narrators did a great job of not making this sound boring by avoiding monotone voices and by switching the voice from time to time between male and female. Additionally, it is written in a way that includes humor from time to time which also makes it enjoyable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really loved the part discussing ants farming the aphids for food. Fascinating.

Lalla ward's narration is great, Dawkins not so

it would have been better if there was a way to incorporate the footnotes / new edition into the story. having dawkins read was too jarring and most of the time the new editions was there to refute older critiques, or self serving commentary by the author. I definitely preferred the original narroator. still, the overall message the book tried to convey is really good and recommend either getting the older version with just lalla ward and reading the new edition items later.

Double voices make a little bit discomfort

great voice but just two voices make the story not smooth enough. I recommend more consistent of voice. It could be first half male voice and another half female voice.