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A Macat analysis of Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene
A Macat analysis of Richard Dawkin's The Selfish Gene.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.
Richard Dawkins’ 1976 investigation into the science of evolution has become an enormous success, selling over a million copies in 25 languages.
Drawing on the work of renowned evolutionary scientists, Dawkins makes his argument about evolution by focusing on the gene itself. While others considered evolution to occur at the level of the individual or the group, here Dawkins sees the process of natural selection differently.
For him, the individual is nothing more than a vessel for a gene—a selfish gene—whose only impulse is to guarantee it survives into the future, even if that means the death of the individual.
Complex, controversial and very readable, The Selfish Gene invented a whole new language for the discussion of science. Taking complicated scientific analysis out of the laboratory and direct to the general reading public, the book not only opened eyes to new ways of seeing, but also successfully introduced the author who would go on to create a sensation with 2006’s best-selling The God Delusion.
You can find out more about how Dawkins' ideas have been challenged and applied – and how his work has impacted on thinkers in other academic disciplines – by exploring further in the Macat Library.
Macat’s analyses cover 14 different subjects in the humanities and social sciences. To browse our whole multi media library and get a lot more, visit www.macat.com today.
Macat. Learn better. Think smarter. Aim higher.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.
Richard Dawkins’ 1976 investigation into the science of evolution has become an enormous success, selling over a million copies in 25 languages.
Drawing on the work of renowned evolutionary scientists, Dawkins makes his argument about evolution by focusing on the gene itself. While others considered evolution to occur at the level of the individual or the group, here Dawkins sees the process of natural selection differently.
For him, the individual is nothing more than a vessel for a gene—a selfish gene—whose only impulse is to guarantee it survives into the future, even if that means the death of the individual.
Complex, controversial and very readable, The Selfish Gene invented a whole new language for the discussion of science. Taking complicated scientific analysis out of the laboratory and direct to the general reading public, the book not only opened eyes to new ways of seeing, but also successfully introduced the author who would go on to create a sensation with 2006’s best-selling The God Delusion.
You can find out more about how Dawkins' ideas have been challenged and applied – and how his work has impacted on thinkers in other academic disciplines – by exploring further in the Macat Library.
Macat’s analyses cover 14 different subjects in the humanities and social sciences. To browse our whole multi media library and get a lot more, visit www.macat.com today.
Macat. Learn better. Think smarter. Aim higher.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2017
9 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 10, 2019
Short but interesting.
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February 4, 2021Lol this is basically a study guide... I truly don’t know why I read it... but I guess I now have a very surface level knowledge of the selfish gene, the different models proposed and Richard Dawkins’ life and work??
July 17, 2023
This is my first time ever engaging with a Macat Analysis.
Generally speaking, I think these might be useful as a primer to understand the context in which a book is written, not as a replacement for the book itself (unless you're content with a 50,000' view).
Generally speaking, I think these might be useful as a primer to understand the context in which a book is written, not as a replacement for the book itself (unless you're content with a 50,000' view).
May 2, 2021
Very brief but nice introduction to the selfish gene.
December 20, 2025
Did not expect to be just an analysis of a book idk why. It put into perspective now I have to read the book itself.
July 15, 2020
Borrowed this audio book from the online local library and listened to the 1h22m at 1.5x speed during lunch break. Lots of repetition, which is fine when a bit distracted, but could be boring if paying full attention. Convenient when trying to quickly get an idea of the book while writing a report within a few hours.
July 14, 2022
Since the library doesn't have the full length book The Selfish Gene available, I did summary instead.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews