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    River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life
    River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life
    River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life
    Audiobook5 hours

    River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life

    Written by Richard Dawkins

    Narrated by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 13, 2018
    ISBN9781501996092
    River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life
    Author

    Richard Dawkins

    RICHARD DAWKINS is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008. He is the author of 15 books includingUnweaving the Rainbow, A Devil’s Chaplain, and The God Delusion.Dawkins lives in Oxford.,

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    Reviews for River Out of Eden

    4/5

    405 ratings16 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Lucidly explained concepts & concise rendering makes this book a great one.
    • 4/5
      I never imagined reading a book on evolutionary biology, however, I am glad to have read this one. Richard Dawkins has done a fantastic job of educating a high school understanding evolution into a much more advanced and elegant explanation. The concept of gene pools and rivers of Genes, biological time, geological time, mitochondrial eve, or African eve are very clear. This book does an excellent job of breaking the creation-myths and clears misconceptions and simplifications of creator myth. Evolutionary studies are inspiring and informative. The ideas in biology are easily replicable in modern machine learning and AI - all entrepreneurs in these fields should consider this book for ideas and inspiration. I also took away the idea of the utility function, evolutionary intelligence, and how teams of intelligence can flow through time and build an intelligent self-learning system.
    • 5/5
      A great book about our origins, by the superbly talented Mr Dawkins. Really enjoyed it, was vastly informative. I thank him for taking the time to write this book.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      Detailed exposition of the process of evolution, including some intriguing speculations.
    • 4/5
      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 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).
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      A concise and brilliant explanation of the forces of evolution. A good introduction for people with little or no science background.
    • 5/5
      Superb! I will be reading this again very soon.
    • 3/5
      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 for a biology exam should take the time to enjoy Darwin’s rottweiler in his natural setting, unchained.
    • 5/5
      "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."
    • 4/5
      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 will look at bees with much more wonder in future.Read all his books - now.
    • 5/5
      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.