Customer Reviews

Dawkins and the Selfish Gene (Postmodern Encounters)

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I enjoyed reading Dawkins and the Selfish Gene by Ed Sexton (2001). It provides a concise summary of the selfish gene theory and the related debates. At just 80 pages, it is perfect for those who have already read The Selfish Gene some time ago and are looking for a quick review with a bit of historical perspective.

First, I must say I was disappointed in how *thin* the book is--big print, not many pages. If you are really a newbie in terms of thinking about evolution and genetics, this book *might* be a useful introduction. For me, I'd read most of the materials he cited and I was hoping for something that would suggest more how selfish gene thinking connects to postmodern theory. This book is not what I was looking for. It works nicely as a sort of "cheat sheet" if you want a quick introduction or a quick reminder that doesn't badly oversimplify the ideas. But if you've been thinking about the issues, I'm not sure this book will advance your thinking much.

Good overview of memetics and an introduction to the debate over the viability of memetics as a science.

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Dawkins says "'nature red in tooth and claw' sums up our modern understanding of natural selection admirably. Indeed it does, and that was how it was in Darwin's books as well.

A more appropiate metaphore for nature is: "Nature wet in pen*s and vag*na". It is reproduction that defines nature.

Natural Selection theory confuses the mechanism of competition, with a non-mechanical comparison on reproductive success.