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. The title of this 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.
Every page rings of truth. It is one of the best science books-one of the best any books-I have ever read.
Lee Dembart, Los Angeles Times
'This entertaining and thought-provoking book is an excellent illustration of why the study of evolution is in such an exciting ferment these days.' Science 'The Extended Phenotype is a sequel to The Selfish Gene . . . he writes so clearly it could be understood by anyone prepared to make the effort' John Maynard Smith,
London Review of Books 'Dawkins is quite incapable of being boring this characteristically brilliant and stimulating book is original and provocative throughout, and immensely enjoyable.'
G. A. Parker, Heredity 'The extended phenotype is certainly a big idea and it is pressed hard in dramatic language.' Sydney Brenner, Nature 'Richard Dawkins, our most radical Darwinian thinker, is also our best science writer.'
Douglas Adams 'Dawkins is a superb communicator. His books are some of the best books ever written on science.' Megan Tressider, Guardian 'Dawkins is a genius of science popularization.'
Mark Ridley, The Times
Influential work of popular science written and read by one of the world's leading scientists and science writers.
In this
audio book based on his number one bestselling book, Dawkins presents a closely argued and intellectually exhilarating case for his radical Darwinian view of life on Earth and the place of human beings on it. Those who know his earlier works will find much additional material to savour here; those who have not yet discovered Dawkins passion for science will find this an ideal introduction to his work. 2007-08-14
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Steven Poole THE GUARDIAN : 'there is a lovely tribute to Dawkins's friend Douglas Adams, some interesting speculations on the next few decades of genetic engineering, an explanation of what crystals really are, and some heartfelt reminiscences of Africa. Patrick Nees THE DAILY TELEGRAPH : 'his arguments sing with clear-eyed passion and conviction' Travis Elborough THE SUNDAY TIMES : 'this erudite collection...... where Dawkins assesses the work of his late rival Stephen Jay Gould is essential reading.' SUNDAY HERALD : 'His passion collapses the notion that scientists are lab-coated androids.' NEW SCIENTIST : "A rare treat and it comes in seven servings, each essay will grip you at once." THE HERALD : "A must-read for fans and non-fans alike and for people of an independent mind everywhere."
The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Life — “One of Dawkins's best: a big, almost encyclopedic compendium bursting with information and ideas. Dawkins ... the consummate zoologist ... leads a grand tour of all surviving 'pilgrims' to a 'Canterbury' representing the very origin of life--and what a fantastic trip it is...The panorama is splendid but it's the details...that delight, and also exhibit some of Dawkins's best writing.”
Kirkus
“Dawkins's new book, which is fabulous in many more ways than one, is a picaresque account of evolution running in reverse as a series of wondrous tales of explanation.” John Cornwell, The Sunday Times “In The Ancestor’s Tale Dawkins traces back human ancestry 4bn years to the dawn of life on Earth. The result is one of the richest accounts of evolution ever written.
Influential work of popular science written and read by one of the world's leading scientists and science writers. 
