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The Selfish Gene

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Authors:: Richard Dawkins (author) and Simon Levy (covers)
Language:: English
Original language:: English
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Categories:: Biology and science
Publication year:: 2006
Original publication year:: 1976
ISBN:: 978-0-19-929115-1
Pages:: 360
Synopsis:: A pretty comprehensive guide to evolution, and the second book that introduced the gene-centric view of evolution (namely, that genes use bodies — survival machines — to pass themselves on, rather than organisms using genes to pass their traits on). The main goal of the book is to explain altruistic behavior and to dispel the myth that just because genes are selfish, we must (or should) be selfish, and I think it succeeds. The book also introduced the concept of memes (supposed to rhyme with genes), which are units of culture (like a catchy tune or a piece of trivia or a certain way of walking) that are capable of being copied from mind to mind.
Has read?: Yes
Debut?: Yes
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High-res images:: [Back (10.33 MB)] [Spine (1.51 MB)] [Front (11.62 MB)]
Table of Contents:: [Toggle visibility]

Introduction to 30th anniversary edition

Preface to second edition

Foreword to first edition

Preface to first edition

Why are people?

The replicators

Immortal coils

The gene machine

Aggression: stability and the selfish machine

Genesmanship

Family planning

Battle of the generations

Battle of the sexes

You scratch my back, I'll ride on yours

Memes: the new replicators

Nice guys finish first

The long reach of the gene

Endnotes

Updated bibliography

Index and key to bibliography

Extracts from reviews

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