The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins

Book Synopsis

"The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins is a groundbreaking exploration of the theory of evolution from a gene-centered perspective. Dawkins presents a compelling argument that genes, rather than individual organisms, are the fundamental units of natural selection and the driving force behind evolution.

Through clear and accessible language, Dawkins explains how genes, through the mechanism of mutation and selection, possess the ability to shape the behavior and traits of living things. He unveils the concept of the "selfish gene," positing that genes act in their own self-interest to maximize their chances of survival and reproduction.

Dawkins examines various examples from the animal kingdom, illustrating how genes manipulate their hosts to ensure their own propagation. He delves into topics such as kin selection, altruism, aggression, mating strategies, and cooperation, using extensive evidence from scientific research to support his claims.

Furthermore, Dawkins challenges the notion of the "ladder of life," suggesting that all living organisms, regardless of their complexity, share a common ancestry and are merely vehicles for the survival and reproduction of their underlying genes.

"The Selfish Gene" presents a compelling case for the central role of genes in the evolution of life on Earth. Dawkins invites readers to question traditional assumptions about the purpose and meaning of life, offering a thought-provoking perspective on our place in the natural world.

Explore More Books

See All
The Snowball
Bitcoin Billionaires
The Lizard King
Hug Your Haters
Siddhartha
Hackers and Painters
Billy Martin
The Innovator’s Solution
The Robert Collier Letter Book
Hunger of Memory
Reboot
The Path to Love
One Summer
Sexual Personae
The Gift of Adversity
Limping on Water
Adultery
Genius
San Fransicko
The Stopwatch Gang
The Wisdom of Life
Seeing Serena
Bad Blood
Consciousness Medicine
The Old Way
Ender's Shadow
Hell Yeah or No
The Contrary Farmer
The Evolution of Everything
Generations
The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe
Fauna & Family
Being You
Understanding Michael Porter
American Kingpin
The Muqaddimah
My Brother Ron
Farsighted
Ghost Fleet
Shook One
Getting Real
Good Calories, Bad Calories
Capital In The 21st Century
Conscious Business
Simon the Sea Cat
The Opposing Shore
The Accidental Universe
The Cost Of Hope
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
Superhuman
The Woman I Wanted to Be
A Great Leap Forward?
BLITZ
The Case Against Sugar
How Trump Is Making Black America Great Again
Charged
The Discovery of France
The Undercover Economist
Naked Statistics
Lights Out
The Most Powerful Idea In The World
The Startup Community Way
Born Red
Getting Better
Concorde
How We Got To Now
Ending the War on Drugs
Self-Made Success
Sell with a Story
Darwin's Blind Spot
Trust Me, I'm Lying
On Writing
Sourdough Culture
Orwell's Revenge
The Halo Effect...
The Paleo Solution
Titan
Learned Optimism
Modelling Extremal Events
Delivering Happiness
The Three Marriages
A Shot To Save The World
The Great Revolt
The Prophet
On The Move
The Wages of Guilt
The Smartest Guys In The Room
Losing The Signal
The TB12 Method
Civilized to Death
The Kill Chain
The Sum of Us
Working in Public
Fallen Leaves
The Vital Question
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
Job Stacking
The Alchemy of Air
Zorba the Greek
Modern Engineering for Design of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines