Acclaimed as the most influential work on evolution written in the last hundred years, "The Blind Watchmaker" offers an inspiring and accessible introduction to one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time. A brilliant and controversial book, which demonstrates that evolution by natural selection - the unconscious, automatic, blind, yet essentially non-random process discovered by Darwin - is the only answer to the biggest question of all: why do we exist?
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Richard Dawkins is not a shy man. Edward Larson's research shows that most scientists today are not formally religious, but Dawkins is an in-your-face atheist in the witty British style:
I want to persuade the reader, not just that the Darwinian world-view happens to be true, but that it is the only known theory that could, in principle, solve the mystery of our existence.
The title of this 1986 work, Dawkins's second book, refers to the Rev. William Paley's 1802 work, Natural Theology, which argued that just as finding a watch would lead you to conclude that a watchmaker must exist, the complexity of living organisms proves that a Creator exists. Not so, says Dawkins: "All appearances to the contrary, the only watchmaker in nature is the blind forces of physics, albeit deployed in a very special way... it is the blind watchmaker."
Dawkins is a hard-core scientist: he doesn't just tell you what is so, he shows you how to find out for yourself. For this book, he wrote Biomorph, one of the first artificial life programs. You can check Dawkins's results on your own Mac or PC. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Oxford zoologist Dawkins (The Selfish Gene, The Extended Phenotype trumpets his thesis in his subtitlealmost guarantee enough that his book will stir controversy. Simply put, he has responded head-on to the argument-by-design most notably made by the 18th century theologian William Paley that the universe, like a watch in its complexity, needed, in effect, a watchmaker to design it. Hewing to Darwin's fundamental (his opponents might say fundamentalist) message, Dawkins sums up: "The theory of evolution by cumulative natural selection is the only theory we know of that is in principle capable of explaining the evolution of organized complexity." Avoiding an arrogant tone despite his up-front convictions, he takes pains to explain carefully, from various sides, why even such esteemed scientists as Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould, with their "punctuated equilibrium" thesis, are actually gradualists like Darwin himself in their evolutionary views. Dawkins is difficult reading as he describes his computer models of evolutionary possibilities. But, as he draws on his zoological background, emphasizing recent genetic techniques, he can be as engrossing as he is cogent and convincing. His concept of "taming chance" by breaking down the "very improbable into less improbable small components" is daring neo-Darwinism. Line drawings.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Richard Dawkins taught zoology at the University of California at Berkeley and at Oxford University and is now the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, a position he has held since 1995. Among his previous books are The Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, and A Devil's Chaplain. Dawkins lives in Oxford with his wife, the actress and artist Lalla Ward.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
773 of 868 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's pretty obvious that a fair few people criticising this book have not read it - and have no intention to. Or if they have attempted to read it they simply haven't grasped the most basic concepts. General assumptions that a pro-evolution stance is just an "opinion", or that evolution is "just a theory" (a complete misunderstanding of the meaning of the word in a scientific context), or statements like "given enough time, dirt can turn into people." show that clearly. One person even takes one of the central aims of the book - where Dawkins takes Paley's watchmaker analogy and attempts to show how a complex object like an eye could evolve by selection - and berates Dawkins because because he apparently doesn't grasp the fact that because a watch or computer has a designer, that life must have a designer as well! Awe-inspiring. If I remember he also accuses Dawkins of circular reasoning!
The whole case of the book is that this "it's all chance" thing is precisely the opposite of what Darwin and Wallace said. As Dawkins writes in the prologue "The trouble with evolution is that everyone *thinks* they understand it". If one thing should be taken from this book, it is the realisation that Natural Selection is *anything* but chance.
I used to think I understood evolution. I did Biology as an elective at university but I didn't really begin to understand the subtleties and elegance of the theory until I first read this book 10 years ago. It's genuinely one of the milestone books of my life - and not because I already had an opinion before I read it - unlike the creationists.
To paraphrase Dawkins in this book: If I don't understand Quantum Mechanics or Relativity the last thing I should reasonably expect to be able to do is get away with criticising it as though my opinion had as much weight as that of a person who spent a professional lifetime studying it. Yet, alone amongst the sciences, the theory of evolution is considered fair game for criticism by people of any level of ignorance.
In the middle ages at least people had an excuse for such ignorance. In this age of high technology and scientific breakthoughs, the ingrained, bigoted and ill-thought out repostes to evolution can only be described as willful ignorance. And that's the worst kind.
163 of 182 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dawkins has said that if you are going to read only one of his books, make it "The Extended Phenotype". That statement has merit but I would say the following. If you are going to read only one book to see how theory of evolution responds to the creationist arguments, make it "The Blind Watchmaker".
The argument Dawkins is dealing with is the well-known argument of Intelligent Design. The basic tenet of the proponents of intelligent design is the assertion that the complexity existing in the nature can not come about without an intelligent designer. Dawkins is primarily dealing with that assertion in this book, explaining how the process of natural selection gives rise to the complexity.
"The Blind Watchmaker", in my personal opinion, is one of the most successful books written by evolutionists. The success of the book lies in the fact that it deals with a very difficult question in a very readable manner. Dawkins prose is flawless and his skill at presenting arguments is unmatched.
Most of the book, obviously, deals with the creationist argument of design but towards the end of the book, Dawkins moves his focus to the other theories that can be considered rival theories of the theory of evolution like neutral Lamarckism, mutationism etc.
My only complaint about this otherwise marvelous book is its rather limited index. That may not sound like a genuine complaint but once you have read the book, you will realize that Dawkins has dealt with a plethora of things and the index of such a book should enable you to look up those things for quick reference.
Beside that one shortcoming, this book is nothing but perfect.
The argument Dawkins is dealing with is the well-known argument of Intelligent Design. The basic tenet of the proponents of intelligent design is the assertion that the complexity existing in the nature can not come about without an intelligent designer. Dawkins is primarily dealing with that assertion in this book, explaining how the process of natural selection gives rise to the complexity.
"The Blind Watchmaker", in my personal opinion, is one of the most successful books written by evolutionists. The success of the book lies in the fact that it deals with a very difficult question in a very readable manner. Dawkins prose is flawless and his skill at presenting arguments is unmatched.
Most of the book, obviously, deals with the creationist argument of design but towards the end of the book, Dawkins moves his focus to the other theories that can be considered rival theories of the theory of evolution like neutral Lamarckism, mutationism etc.
My only complaint about this otherwise marvelous book is its rather limited index. That may not sound like a genuine complaint but once you have read the book, you will realize that Dawkins has dealt with a plethora of things and the index of such a book should enable you to look up those things for quick reference.
Beside that one shortcoming, this book is nothing but perfect.
786 of 903 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hi, for the un-informed, I'd recommend a search of the phrase "Richard Dawkins" in google.com, which should answer all questions asking if he is a scientist or not.
The book, is an excellent book. I am not an atheist. The reviews with "one" starts have one goal: To prevent you read this book. Because the review writers know - and fear - that people would understand the point of view of Dawkins.
"It is not science". "Evolution Theory is wrong".. These sentences, are nothing but dogmatic claims. Whole books have been written discussing what is science and what is not, and rather comprehensive books have been written to disprove evolution. But as an open-minded person, I'd suggest you to be informed abouth both approaches to the subject, before making an ill-informed judgement about the issue. Don't listen to people who try to prevent you from reaching knowledge.
The book?
Oh, yes... It is excellent, I'm still amazed by his ability to deconstruct complex topics and discuss them in a simple way.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Best Book About Evolution!
When I read The Origin of Species, I really had trouble getting through it. Darwin was obviously brilliant but not the most captivating writer. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jaypinions
A Bravo Attempt at Defending Evolution
The cover of Richard Dawkins book states "Why the evidence of evolution reveals a universe without design. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Randolph Eck
There are better evolution books out there.
I'm fascinated by evolution, its one of my current favorite topics which kind of leads me back to reading one of the best known evolution writers, Dawkins. Read more
Published 4 months ago by David T.
science isnt good enough
Dawkins, like in his other books, claims that reality can be known only thru reason.......but that is wrong. Why do we have reason? Because of God. He gave us reason. Read more
Published 4 months ago by E. L. Johnson
I really got it!
As a long-time biologist, horticulturist and now biology teacher I have been meaning to read this "for a while", (about 15 years or so). Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. Robbins
Just as relevant as ever
I may have picked this up 20 years too late, but the information remains just as relevant today as ever. Read more
Published 6 months ago by B. Wilson
one more for the shelf
After reading The Selfish Gene, God Delusion and The Blind Watchmaker, I think it's safe to say 'You can read just about any book written by Richard Dawkins'.
Published 7 months ago by Arun Mahendrakar
Not for anyone with any scientific or technological background
I am an atheist, scientist, and believer in the evolutionary process. So, all of this will obviously color my impression of the book. Overall, I hated it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by CM
Extremely informative, extremely dogmatic
As a student of historical religions, and science as religion I find Darwin extremely compelling, and logical. Dawkins on the other hand, has truly drunk the Kool-aid. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Gare
Good, not spectacular
This is a good, but not a spectacular book. I am fully sympathetic to the view of evolution here supported, but I cannot help but think that Dawkins might have done a better job. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Will Jerom
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
togetherness factor, true cladists, computer biomorphs, genetic hyperspace, one true tree, male tail length, average tail length, cumulative selection, utilitarian optimum, choice discrepancy, transformed cladists, utilitarian selection, genetic space, single mutational step, nonrandom survival, constructive evolution, genetic formula, cladistic taxonomy, chirp radar, cent vision, complete fossil record, adaptive complexity, adaptive improvement, nine genes Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Blind Watchmaker, Biomorph Land, Mont Blanc, Old World, South America, New Testament, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Charles Darwin, Red Queen, The Selfish Gene, New World, North America, Solar System Number, Second World War, Arthur Koestler, Russell Lande, Richard Goldschmidt, Guinness Book of Records, Blind Watchmaker, Animal Space New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
togetherness factor, true cladists, computer biomorphs, genetic hyperspace, one true tree, male tail length, average tail length, cumulative selection, utilitarian optimum, choice discrepancy, transformed cladists, utilitarian selection, genetic space, single mutational step, nonrandom survival, constructive evolution, genetic formula, cladistic taxonomy, chirp radar, cent vision, complete fossil record, adaptive complexity, adaptive improvement, nine genes Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Blind Watchmaker, Biomorph Land, Mont Blanc, Old World, South America, New Testament, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Charles Darwin, Red Queen, The Selfish Gene, New World, North America, Solar System Number, Second World War, Arthur Koestler, Russell Lande, Richard Goldschmidt, Guinness Book of Records, Blind Watchmaker, Animal Space New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 55
books:
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53
books
cite this book:
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- The Origin Of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition by Charles Darwin on 5 pages
- On the Origin of Species (Penguin Classics) by Charles Darwin on 5 pages
- The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin on 5 pages
- Blind Watchmaker (Penguin Science) by Richard Dawkins on 4 pages
- Natural Selection (Phoenix 60p paperbacks) by Charles Darwin on page 199, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 55 books this book cites
- Human Nature After Darwin: A Philosophical Introduction (Philosophy and the Human Situation) by Janet Radcliffe Richards in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions about Intelligent Design by William A. Dembski on page 38, and Back Matter
- Thinking Straight in a Crooked World by Gary DeMar on page 87, and page 117
- GOD, REASON AND THEISTIC PROOFS (REASON RELIGION S.) by STEPHEN T. DAVIS on page 119, and Back Matter
- The Limitations of Scientific Truth: Why Science Can't Answer Life's Ultimate Questions by Nigel Brush on page 222, and Back Matter
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