About this title: An innovative book on evolution and the theory of natural selection that discusses how the so-called selfish gene can also be quite subtle. Includes stories from nature, such as the phenomenon of bees committing suicide by stinging to protect the hive, and birds risking their lives to warn the flock of an approaching hawk.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780195200003ISBN:0195200004
Description: Good. Spine-Slightly worn in accordance with age and use. Page colour-Slightly discoloured in accordance with book age. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Edition: 3 REV ED
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780199291151ISBN:0199291152
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 384 pages. (384 pages) the 30th anniversary edition of the million copy international bestseller, with a new introduction from the author. as relevant and influential today as when it was first published, this classic exposition of evolutionary thought, widely hailed for its stylistic brilliance and deep scientific insights, stimulated whole new areas of research. illustrations edition 3 rev ed (Paperback) read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780199291151ISBN:0199291152
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 196x129 mm. (384) the 30th anniversary edition of the million copy international bestseller, with a new introduction from the author. as relevant and influential today as when it was first published, this classic exposition of evolutionary thought, widely hailed for its stylistic brilliance and deep scientific insights, stimulated whole new areas of research. (Paperback) read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 1989-11-23
ISBN-13:9780192177735ISBN:0192177737
Description: Good. Has the look of a book that has been around the block a few times. Has wear to the cover, especially along the edges, some writing on the inside of front cover, a slight forward lean and several noticeable creases in the spine. Otherwise in good shape with tight binding and clean pages. In short a good reading copy. We usually ship within 24 hours. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780199291151ISBN:0199291152
Description: Good. Used item may show library stamps, stickers and marks. Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780199291151ISBN:0199291152
Description: Good. Cover and pages may have some wear or writing. Binding is tight. We ship daily Monday-Friday. Delivery Confirmation included on all domestic orders. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 01/12/1987
ISBN-13:9780195200003ISBN:0195200004
Description: Used-Good. Book in good or better condition. Dispatched same day from warehouse. Please email with any questions for quick response. read more
Binding: Trade Paperback.
Publisher: Paladin
Date Published: 1978
ISBN-13:9780586083161ISBN:0586083162
Description: Very Good. Light shelf wear, pages beginning to yellow, some pencil annotation. 224pp including bibliography and comprehensive index. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York
Date Published: 1978
ISBN-13:9780195200003ISBN:0195200004
Description: Good. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Minor edge and corner wear, lightly scuffed and scratched, spine is lightly creased, some shelf wear, former owner's name in ink on the inner front cover, pages are toning, overall a nice used copy! Color illustrated wrapper with orange and white lettering. 224 very clean unmarked and uncreased historical and thought-provoking pages! "This book should be read almost as though it were science fiction. It is designed to appeal to the imagination. But it is not science ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 1990
ISBN-13:9780192860927ISBN:0192860925
Description: Fine. Near brand new condition inside/out, pages clean with no notes/highlights/underlines, covers in great shape-just a slight nick on back cover edge, 22nd Printing (1M). read more
Edition: Reprint. 14th printing
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 1989
ISBN-13:9780192860927ISBN:0192860925
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. This book is solid, clean and unmarked with minimal edge and surface wear. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 368 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
"The Science and Inquiry Book Club selection for August. Also the inaugural selection - yippie!
-- -- -- Key concepts for me: +The universe is populated by stable things +"In sexually reproducing species, the individual is too large and too temporary a genetic unit to qualify as a significant unit of natural selection." +"The individual is a survival machine built by a short-lived confederation of long-lived genes." +Evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS), instead of group selection +Stable polymorphism (stable ratio of genes in gene pool) -- I dig and respect Dawkins's gene selection arguments, but it sure is hard not to get a little depressed when reading how the only reason an animal will help another animal is if it will assist their genes in being passed on, etc. After reading the Battle of the Sexes chapter, I couldn't help imagining what a bizarre boyfriend Dawkins would be..."
"I found this a very illuminating read, as well as very convincing. I am forever disenchanted with the notion of "group fitness" in evolutionary theory, as a result of this book. Dawkins here takes the imposing subject of genetics and breaks its ideas down into easily-digestible, lucid, and (most importantly) layman sentences that sound intuitive because of their exacting logic and elegant simplicity.
Also, having read a lot of Danile Dennet, who I consider to be Dawkin's partner in Darwin-Championing (amongst other things), I was amazed at how much more approachable Dawkins can be with subjects such as meme survival, game theory, and mathetmatical models of ESS. While Dennet emerses one in too much minutia and pedagogical language, Dawkins is able to explain the very same content without tempting one to denounce science writing and it's headache-inducing effects."
"I can't believe this book has been around for so long and I'd never heard of it! This guy coined the word "meme"! And had lots of intelligent things to say about evolutionary theory. He even made clear just what is meant by a gene!
This is not your usual, vague, bio-jabberwocky-laden, strained- metaphor-filled, popular science book. Dawkins is a mathematician at heart; he sure isn't one of those all too common people who chose the "softer" sciences because he was afraid of rigorous thought, computers, and equations. (Although he does admit that he thinks animals are really nice.) Reading this book was a blast, like reading a good mystery, just as the author himself predicted in the beginning of the book.
Chapters 11, 12, and 13 are really the strongest. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but will say that he explains in clear terms that anyone can understand how to apply game theory to evolutionary theory in mathematical simulations.
The only reason this book does not get full stars is because of the irritating end notes! Dawkins wanted to update a number of points in his book, and decided to put the updates in end notes. This got out of hand: there are around 60 pages of end notes and some really interesting stuff is buried in the notes. Would it have been so hard to just insert the end notes into the original text? Or add more chapters?"
"Although I consider myself a Jesus-loving, god-fearing, creationist, I simply LOVE reading about evolution. I'm not sure what it is, but I find the whole concept, when explained by a lucid and accessible author, fascinating. And Dawkins is nothing if not lucid and accessible. He presents the topic and various questions and scientific controversies in a way that anybody with a willingness to pay attention can follow it. Some of the chapters were a bit more of a slog as Dawkins has to resort to scary scary math and numbers to prove some of his points and set up for even more mindblowing stuff in future chapters. But most of the time, this book is chock full of insanely interesting examples and user-friendly analogies. Dawkins sure knows his way around language too. One of my favorite lines is: "Sex: that bizarre perversion of straightforward replication."
On the science of it all, as I said, I'm a creationist, but I like to read up on the other side and at least understand, if not appreciate, what their take on the matter is. And to read Dawkins is to realize, yes, this does sound like a very solid theory. My one stumbling block to getting onto the evolution train one hundred percent is time. Perhaps my comprehension of just how long hundred million years is is faulty, but I just can't wrap my mind around how all of these ACCIDENTAL mutations, with no conscious will on the part of the group, individual or gene itself, could possibly result in the complexity of life as we see it now. There is an adage that if you gave an infinite number of monkeys an infinite number of typewriters and an infinite amount of time, they would eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare. To believe evolution is to believe that you now have a FINITE amount of monkeys and a FINITE amount of time and yet they STILL manage to produce the complete works of Shakespeare... and they do it OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. Just doesn't seem plausible. But perhaps further reading will sway me at a later date."
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