Popular Science – 330 pages – my copy (2006 edition paperback) borrowed from the Dawkins loving Jamie
- 4 nods out of 5 -
Ever since its first print run in the mid 1970s, The Selfish Gene has proved to be a popular, influential book: it set Dawkins up on a stellar career that he has enjoyed over three decades, whilst bringing the ideas of evolution to a mass audience. Some of this attention has been, admits Dawkins, quite controversial. The scientist has been keen to dispel the notion of endorsing a selfish ‘Me-Me-Me’ society, even going as far as adding a new chapter – ‘Nice Guys Finish First’ in newer editions.
Dawkins’ central argument is how we, chiefly human beings, are ‘survival machines’ for our genes: as the world became more complicated, the machines have become all the more diverse to succeed in replicating for future generations. ‘Individuals are not stable things, they are fleeting,’ says Dawkins, while ‘genes, like diamonds, are forever’ (p.35).
He scoffs at the notion that our genes fight for the good of the species, instead emphasising that they look out for number one: if helping out number one involves giving assistance to number two, then it is carried out – but the sole aim remains the same. This hypothesis is tested throughout the book in a wide range of chapters, extending from relationships between sexes and generations.
The book becomes most absorbing when Dawkins suggests that people have ‘the power to rebel against the dictates of the genes’ (p.59-60): our use of contraception is a particular case in point. And while the book is filled with the animal world, Dawkins admits that ‘man is a very special case’ (p.60). He takes this matter further in the chapter on Memes (a Dawkins’ coined term) which he deems ‘the new replicators’. It is a pity this idea is crammed into one sole chapter only.
Yet, if this is all good news for bookish readers, just what is the bad? A chief gripe is Dawkins’ writing style: simply put, he is a mediocre author. He babbles and repeats himself, whilst his analogies become wearying as the book continues. The oarsmen in the boat-race makes rational sense, yet his description of the plot of the 1970s film A for Andromeda is pointless and a waste of space (see p.53). At worst, Dawkins sounds patronizing, condescending his "laymen" audience: never a trait to aspire to when reaching out for the mass market.
He repeatedly takes his hypothesis to its furthest limits in each of the chapters, draining the conversational tea-bag of all its worth, thus sucking out the excitement he initially creates when introducing each topic. Meanwhile, the new chapters added for newer editions are distinctly light-weight: the second one serves the primary function as an advertisement for another book (The Extended Phenotype). Furthermore, the work of Trivers, Maynard Smith and Hamilton are constantly referred to; this heavy weight of citing is so dense that the Worm suspects the young Dawkins of pandering to his elders and his peers.
One certain Book Worm fan has grave doubts about my assessment of Dawkins; perhaps even going as far as to state that the Worm has a vendetta against him. But this, quite simply, is not true. The Selfish Gene is an intriguing book, a book which this review recommends to all of those not yet acquainted with Dawkins. He succeeds in bringing his subject – with all its complexity – to the wider world. For that, the Worm applauds his efforts; and likewise, will continue in reading the Dawkins back catalogue in search of that golden 5 nodder.
