The Selfish Gene

From LeoWiki

Score	Title	Author	Genre
9.4	The Selfish Gene	Richard Dawkins	Non-Fiction

Technophilia	10
Secularity	10
Quality	10
Xenophilia	7
Personal Tilt	10

The Selfish Gene is a supremely brilliant book. Dawkins effortlessly outlines a number of ideas and issues that I've been ranting about recently in a book that predates both Reagan and Thatcher.

The main thesis is that the proper unit of evolution is not the species, group, or even individual. It is the gene.

In a way, individuals do not reproduce. Genes reproduce and grow an new individual around themselves. The relevant dynamics are illustrated well. I'm sold on the idea.:)

Dawkins also coins the idea of memes and memetics in this books. Memetics is a way of looking at ideas and philosophies from the standpoint of selection. They are the genes and we are the environment that they shape. Appealing ideas survive. Ideas paired with appealing ideas survive. Veracity is important, but falsehood alone won't kill a philosophy.

As the second introduction admits, this book has more dated 1970s pronouns than the Sun has hydrogen atoms. Generic "he", "father", and "son" are the annoying norm. This doesn't detract from the enjoyment, but certainly is something one should be aware of.

The chapter on the genetics and behaviour of social insects is totally awesome. It makes ants, bees, and termites far more grokkable.

Everyone should read this book.