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River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life (1995)

by Richard Dawkins

Other authors: Lalla Ward (Illustrator)

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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2,133247,438 (3.91)16
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.… (more)
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» See also 16 mentions

English (23)  German (1)  All languages (24)
Showing 1-5 of 23 (next | show all)
As always extremely clear. Especially interesting were various naive fallacies when thinking about evolution: "Eve", number of ancestors, etc. I also liked the extension to "replicators" and information expanding through the galaxy. Richard Dawkins himself narrates most of the book. ( )
  Castinet | Dec 11, 2022 |
Another lovely book by Dawkins. Brilliant river analogy describing how genes flow through bodies, and an interesting idea comparing an information explosion to a supernova. Great section on the bee dance and how it plausibly could have evolved. ( )
  jvgravy | May 9, 2021 |
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. ( )
  kapheine | Apr 6, 2021 |
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. ( )
  jonfaith | Feb 22, 2019 |
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 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. ( )
  Razinha | May 23, 2017 |
Showing 1-5 of 23 (next | show all)
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 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.
 

» Add other authors (14 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Richard Dawkinsprimary authorall editionscalculated
Ward, LallaIllustratorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Montixi Comoglio, LauraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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During the minute it takes me to compose this sentence, thousands of animals are being eaten alive; others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear; others are being slowly devoured from within by rasping parasites; thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst and disease. It must be so. If there is ever a time of plenty, this very fact will automatically lead to an increase in population until the natural state of starvation and misery is restored.
Nature is not cruel, only pitilessly indifferent
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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.

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