In his internationally bestselling, now classic volume, The Selfish Gene, Dawkins explains how the selfish gene can in addition be a subtle gene. The world of the selfish gene revolves all-around savage competition, ruthless exploitation, and deceit, and yet, Dawkins argues, acts of apparent altruism do exist in nature. Bees, for example, will commit suicide when they sting to protect the hive, and birds will risk their lives to warn the flock of an approaching hawk.
This revised edition of Dawkins' fascinating book contains two new chapters. One, entitled "Nice Guys Finish First," demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world. The other new chapter, entitled "The Long Reach of the Gene," which reflects the arguments presented in Dawkins' The Expanded Phenotype, clarifies the startling view this genes may reach outside the bodies in which they dwell and manipulate other individuals and even the world at large. Containing a wealth of remarkable new insights into the biological world, the second edition one time again drives home the fact this truth is stranger than fiction.
Why are there miles and miles of "unused" DNA inside every of our bodies? Why should a bee provide up its own chance to reproduce to help raise her sisters and brothers? Together with a prophet's clarity, Dawkins told us the answers from the perspective of molecules competing for limited space and resources to produce extra of their own kind. Drawing fascinating examples from each field of biology, he paved the way for a serious re-evaluation of evolution. He in addition introduced the concept of self-reproducing ideas, or memes, which (seemingly) use humans exclusively for their propagation. If we are puppets, he says, at least we can try to comprehend our strings. --Rob Lightner