Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Orion Publishing Group (2001), Edition: Reissued 2001, 196 pages
Description
How did the replication bomb we call "life" begin and where in the world, or rather, in the universe, is it heading? Writing with characteristic wit and an ability to clarify complex phenomena (the New York Times described his style as "the sort of science writing that makes the reader feel like a genius"), Richard Dawkins confronts this ancient mystery.
Media reviews
The book breaks no new ground but, as usual, it abounds with metaphors that make things brilliantly clear.
Mr. Dawkins is often portrayed as the village reductionist, the man who thinks there is nothing to life but selfish genes. But this is less than fair. . . He is above all a masterly expositor, a writer who understands the issues so clearly that he forces his readers to understand them too. "River
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Out of Eden" displays these virtues to the full. It is a thinner book than his others, with no special message to deliver, but it maintains his high standards of clarity and excitement. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Michael_Rose
It's not his best book, and he covers much of the same material elsewhere too, but it's useful in understanding who we are as a species.
LibraryThing member seanpmurray
Only the fittest prose survives the judicious editing of BasicBooks’ “Science Masters” series. In this anorexically thin volume, Dawkins has, essentially, written the Cliff’s Notes to his own catalogue of modern classics. “River” is fun reading, but those with interests beyond cramming
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for a biology exam should take the time to enjoy Darwin’s rottweiler in his natural setting, unchained. Show Less
LibraryThing member _Greg
This short and beautiful book explores the aspect of the evolution of genes within the context of the other genes they must cooperate with because they keep winding up sharing the same bodies. Another mind expanding trip from the magnificent Richard Dawkins.
LibraryThing member psiloiordinary
I have read all of Dawkins' other books. I loved the rest. This one slipped the net for some reason and so my wife bought it for me for x-mas. I loved this one as well.
This one is a quick meal but full of flavour. Elegantly worked out analogies abound.
Several jaw dropping moments. In particular I
Read all his books - now.
This one is a quick meal but full of flavour. Elegantly worked out analogies abound.
Several jaw dropping moments. In particular I
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will look at bees with much more wonder in future.Read all his books - now.
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LibraryThing member Othemts
Dawkins polemic on the "Darwinian view of life" while frustratingly dismissive of religious belief provides convincing counter-arguments to Creationist "got ya" points.
These include that things such as the eye do function beneficially when only partially evolved, in fact nothing is "fully evolved"
"Science shares with religion the claim that it answers deep questions about origins, the nature of life, and the cosmos. But there the resemblance ends. Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and get results. Myths and faiths are not and do not." - p. 33
"Sex is an archivist's nightmare. Instead of leaving ancestral texts intact but for an occasional inevitable error, sex wantonly wades in and destroys the evidence. No bull ever abused a china shop as sex abuses the DNA archives." - p. 39-40
These include that things such as the eye do function beneficially when only partially evolved, in fact nothing is "fully evolved"
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as everything is constantly adapting and selecting through the generations. "Science shares with religion the claim that it answers deep questions about origins, the nature of life, and the cosmos. But there the resemblance ends. Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and get results. Myths and faiths are not and do not." - p. 33
"Sex is an archivist's nightmare. Instead of leaving ancestral texts intact but for an occasional inevitable error, sex wantonly wades in and destroys the evidence. No bull ever abused a china shop as sex abuses the DNA archives." - p. 39-40
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LibraryThing member isetziol
A concise and brilliant explanation of the forces of evolution. A good introduction for people with little or no science background.
LibraryThing member Robin_Goodfellow
Superb! I will be reading this again very soon.
LibraryThing member alv
"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference ... DNA neither cares nor knows. DNA just is. And we dance to its music."
LibraryThing member Diwanna
An amazing book that really opened my eyes to rethinking life. Great story of a probable history of life, and examples of the wonders of the natural world. Slightly technical but highly recommended.
LibraryThing member StephenBarkley
I don’t know why I keep torturing myself by reading Dawkins. I’m a believer in Jesus with a serious love and respect for the sciences. Dawkins would assume that my faith in God undermines my ability to think rationally about biology.
River Out of Eden, as the name might suggest, is a look at
- DNA, with its combination of four letters, is essentially digital which allows it to copy itself without degeneration.
- Our ultimate ancestors are found in Africa.
- Natural selection is the most elegant way to explain every aspect of life.
- DNA is not concerned with good or evil; all that matters is self-preservation.
- A number of thresholds have been passed in self-replication (life).
Each of these topics are fascinating. Dawkins makes his case with his trademark wit and wisdom. Unfortunately, each argument is framed with pot-shots at the foolishness of religion. He’s managed to write an incisive book that’s almost impossible to read by anyone who disagrees with his view of religion (unless they have very thick skin).
River Out of Eden, as the name might suggest, is a look at
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Darwinism with a polemical eye toward religion. It’s a short book with five chapters. He examines the following topics:- DNA, with its combination of four letters, is essentially digital which allows it to copy itself without degeneration.
- Our ultimate ancestors are found in Africa.
- Natural selection is the most elegant way to explain every aspect of life.
- DNA is not concerned with good or evil; all that matters is self-preservation.
- A number of thresholds have been passed in self-replication (life).
Each of these topics are fascinating. Dawkins makes his case with his trademark wit and wisdom. Unfortunately, each argument is framed with pot-shots at the foolishness of religion. He’s managed to write an incisive book that’s almost impossible to read by anyone who disagrees with his view of religion (unless they have very thick skin).
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LibraryThing member celephicus
All in all, a bit of a disappointment. It reads like it was a commissioned book, and very heavily edited at that, at least in terms of style. Don't get me wrong, Dawkins is an extremely lucid writer, but this book appears just to restate a lot of earlier material, in a rather slick journalistic
As a secondary complaint, Dawkins can't resist ramming his brand of reactionary atheism down the reader's throat. As I am already an atheist I find this annoying, if I wanted to be preachd at I would read The God Delusion.
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manner. For example, he refers to genes as a stream if pure digital information. Pure? What is an impure stream then. He then goes on to say that mistakes in copying are one of the sources of information. But surely pure information can be copied endlessly? The editors should have caught this.As a secondary complaint, Dawkins can't resist ramming his brand of reactionary atheism down the reader's throat. As I am already an atheist I find this annoying, if I wanted to be preachd at I would read The God Delusion.
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LibraryThing member PickledOnion42
If someone were to ask me for a simple introduction to Darwinism – something not too deep and without showy technical digressions – River Out of Eden would probably be my recommendation. Dawkins is a wonderful communicator of complex ideas, and a true master of scientific metaphor; anyone
Some reviewers have criticised Dawkins's disparagement of religion throughout the book, but this I think misunderstands the point of the work, which is to present a way of thinking about life – how could he have avoided making reference to Darwinism's greatest intellectual rival? I don't think he has been gratuitously harsh. But whether you are religiously inclined or not, if you are looking for a brief yet well-explained introduction to the Darwinian way of thinking, this would be a very good choice.
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already familiar with Darwinism may at times become frustrated with the author's seemingly round-about approach, but anyone new to the subject will surely appreciate his cautiousness in not assuming too much prior knowledge.Some reviewers have criticised Dawkins's disparagement of religion throughout the book, but this I think misunderstands the point of the work, which is to present a way of thinking about life – how could he have avoided making reference to Darwinism's greatest intellectual rival? I don't think he has been gratuitously harsh. But whether you are religiously inclined or not, if you are looking for a brief yet well-explained introduction to the Darwinian way of thinking, this would be a very good choice.
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LibraryThing member dickmanikowski
Detailed exposition of the process of evolution, including some intriguing speculations.
LibraryThing member Razinha
Wonderful little book - I like Dawkins best when he doesn't write for academia. Excellent overview for Darwinian evolution...simple, logical explanations that should serve most receptive readers, and really dispels the "not possible for an intermediate stage" arguments. There are nice turns of
[...]
...but at the very least, you have no right to assume that the "Why?" question deserves an answer when posed about a boulder, a misfortune, Mt. Everest or the universe."
Well worth the read, and likely a re-read.
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phrase throughout (I especially liked "embryological origami"). And he points out an outstanding counter to the "you can't answer 'why' questions": The mere fact that it is possible to frame a question does not make it legitimate or sensible to do so.[...]
...but at the very least, you have no right to assume that the "Why?" question deserves an answer when posed about a boulder, a misfortune, Mt. Everest or the universe."
Well worth the read, and likely a re-read.
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LibraryThing member jonfaith
A scientist told me to read this and I did; it is poetry, an insight into a world largely incomprehensible. Facing such as a layman reader with an impoverished grammar, Dawkins illuminates.
LibraryThing member kapheine
I just love his books. He's a really sharp guy, but explains things really well. Most importantly, he keeps the topic interesting throughout his books. Read 'The Blind Watchmaker' if you haven't already, but this is a good second choice.
Awards
Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize (Shortlist — 1996)
Просветитель.Перевод (Shortlist — 2021)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1995
ISBN
1857994051 / 9781857994056