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21st out of 693 books
—
1,351 voters
The Blind Watchmaker
by
Richard Dawkins (Goodreads Author)
Patiently and lucidly, this Los Angeles Times Book Award and Royal Society of Literature Heinemann Prize winner identifies the aspects of the theory of evolution that people find hard to believe and removes the barriers to credibility one by one. "As readable and vigorous a defense of Darwinism as has been published since 1859".--The Economist.
Paperback, 340 pages
Published
2006
by Penguin
(first published 1986)
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I should explain the point about the watchmaker.
A SMALL ROCK
If you’re walking along in the countryside and you come across a rock, you don’t say, well, where the hell did that come from and who made it? It’s a rock. No one cares. There’s no notices stuck on trees or printed in local free newspapers anywhere saying “have you seen this rock? Description – roughly three inches by four by three; last seen in the Dorchester area; undistinctive grey colouring; answers to the name of “rock”; reward –...more
A SMALL ROCK
If you’re walking along in the countryside and you come across a rock, you don’t say, well, where the hell did that come from and who made it? It’s a rock. No one cares. There’s no notices stuck on trees or printed in local free newspapers anywhere saying “have you seen this rock? Description – roughly three inches by four by three; last seen in the Dorchester area; undistinctive grey colouring; answers to the name of “rock”; reward –...more
A minha saga darwinista contínua!
Sim, o Dawkings gosta muito de enxovalhar toda e qualquer espécie de fé! Sim, ele usa uns bons 5% do livrito para lavar roupa suja! Mas quem não gosta destas duas atividades que mande a primeira pedra... e a ele pagam-lhe para isso!
Quanto ao livro, fiquei satisfeito por saber que o ensino português de biologia confere com as ideias expostas. É de 84, o que pelas minhas contas é ser velhinho, pelo menos em livros de divulgação científica.
Ah, e ao contrário do prim...more
Sim, o Dawkings gosta muito de enxovalhar toda e qualquer espécie de fé! Sim, ele usa uns bons 5% do livrito para lavar roupa suja! Mas quem não gosta destas duas atividades que mande a primeira pedra... e a ele pagam-lhe para isso!
Quanto ao livro, fiquei satisfeito por saber que o ensino português de biologia confere com as ideias expostas. É de 84, o que pelas minhas contas é ser velhinho, pelo menos em livros de divulgação científica.
Ah, e ao contrário do prim...more
wow and double wow. i read this through and turned back to p.1 to read it again.
blind watchmaker has been amazingly influential in the way i think about just about everything- the world, existence, life forms, physics- down to the micro, myself and my craft. it's sent chills down my spine, made me euphoric and angry. the first for finally addressing questions that have long been in my mind (but receive no echo in society as i've known it), the second for the willful repression of information an...more
blind watchmaker has been amazingly influential in the way i think about just about everything- the world, existence, life forms, physics- down to the micro, myself and my craft. it's sent chills down my spine, made me euphoric and angry. the first for finally addressing questions that have long been in my mind (but receive no echo in society as i've known it), the second for the willful repression of information an...more
13 likes · like · see review
Enchantingly beautiful fiction, 23 Mar 2007
Musings of a fideist (a materialistic fideist).
Richard Dawkins has a breathtaking gift for expressive, catchy writing. His handling of illustration and narrative flow like silk. Yet he reminds me of an eloquent 19th century clergyman. His persistent dedication to the high altar of gradualistic explanation, however incredibly improbable, stretches credulity to breaking point. Take for example his extraordinary leap on p.134, para 1, where self-replicat...more
Musings of a fideist (a materialistic fideist).
Richard Dawkins has a breathtaking gift for expressive, catchy writing. His handling of illustration and narrative flow like silk. Yet he reminds me of an eloquent 19th century clergyman. His persistent dedication to the high altar of gradualistic explanation, however incredibly improbable, stretches credulity to breaking point. Take for example his extraordinary leap on p.134, para 1, where self-replicat...more
4 likes · like · see review
This book was okay, but since I already am convinced evolution occurs by natural selection, I felt like he was not preaching to the choir, but trying to convince the choir. Of course, I got tired of it after a while (but I had to keep going, because I had to read it for a class). He comes up with many different arguments/theories for how evolution/natural selection could occur, many of which are interesting, but I would just rather read a science book rather than a philosophical book on evolutio...more
Dawkins is one of my top picks for the most articulate, engaging and proficient scientists I've read to date. The Blind Watchmaker turned out to be a very prolific piece. I was baffled by his logical analogies, most excellent examples and extremely engaging vernacular.
In this work, one learns much about the evolutionary adaptations of numerous species, of which the sonar technology of baths, dolphins and other mammals seemed most shocking.
His reasoning of what constitutes miracles, probability...more
In this work, one learns much about the evolutionary adaptations of numerous species, of which the sonar technology of baths, dolphins and other mammals seemed most shocking.
His reasoning of what constitutes miracles, probability...more
I enjoyed this book very much, despite the difficulty of reading the very small typeface. Dawkins' style is almost folksy, and not at all the arrogant, condescending style that some reviewers mention. The first chapter, about echolocation in bats, is fascinating. I also enjoyed reading about the different philosophies involved in taxonomy, the classification of species. Some reviewers mention that Dawkins' explanations are "old hat", and that the computer simulations are primitive; but they do n...more
This was a good book for fleshing out the finer points of why evolution is a process & isn't guided by anything supernatural or otherwise. It is fairly well written & my only gripes are the introductions of certain concepts that are swiftly labeled as out of the scope of a particular chapter or the book. Other than that, overall, I think the book accomplishes the task of fleshing out some things that might be misunderstood by someone attempting to learn about the subject of evolution. Ri...more
This book was a real eye opener for me. I couldn't understood what the evolution was and was finding it non-sense. When they say: 'the nature designed this creature like this.', 'it gave them wings' etc. etc. I was thinking: 'how non-sense this is that the nature designed them, it is not possible, the nature is not a smart thing to do that'.
But, I was all wrong.
Because, the nature doesn't have to be smart to design such creatures. It even doesn't need to design. They don't emerges by luck or ch...more
But, I was all wrong.
Because, the nature doesn't have to be smart to design such creatures. It even doesn't need to design. They don't emerges by luck or ch...more
Μπορεί η ζωή στον πλανήτη Γη να είναι αποτέλεσμα καθαρά τύχης; Ποιες είναι οι πιθανότητες ένας ανεμοστρόβιλος να «κατασκευάσει» ένα αεροπλάνο, σηκώνοντας και στροβιλίζοντας τα κομμάτια που το αποτελούν; Μπορεί από τύχη να φυτρώσει μια προβοσκίδα ελέφαντα σε ένα χταπόδι;
Σε αυτό το βιβλίο ο Richard Dawkins εξηγεί κάτι που στον πολύ κόσμο είναι δυσνόητο: την έννοια της πιθανότητας και πώς μπορεί ένας τυφλός ωρολογοποιός (η φυσική επιλογή) να φτάσει σε τόσο υψηλό επίπεδο πολυπλοκότητας της έμβιας ύλ...more
Σε αυτό το βιβλίο ο Richard Dawkins εξηγεί κάτι που στον πολύ κόσμο είναι δυσνόητο: την έννοια της πιθανότητας και πώς μπορεί ένας τυφλός ωρολογοποιός (η φυσική επιλογή) να φτάσει σε τόσο υψηλό επίπεδο πολυπλοκότητας της έμβιας ύλ...more
In The Blind Watchmaker Richard Dawkins succeeds admirably in showing how natural selection enabled scientists to do away with heavily religion based theories such as purpose and design and does so in a way which is informative and accessible for the layman.
Dawkins has taken Darwin’s theory of evolution and explained it in a clearer way than even the original text managed. He demonstrates how the idea of natural selection not only explains conclusively the development of all life on Earth but al...more
Dawkins has taken Darwin’s theory of evolution and explained it in a clearer way than even the original text managed. He demonstrates how the idea of natural selection not only explains conclusively the development of all life on Earth but al...more
Evolution is not for everyone. In a way, it is also faith and Dawkins is an ardent preacher.
He makes excellent arguments on how evolution works on well-hidden axioms. Some of the concepts described in the book are astounding - like the concepts of cumulative selection or the vastness of time. The lucidity with which the basic message is hammered repeatedly, along with diversity of examples and interspersing of tales from other fields make the book a truly magnificent read. Even the ardent evolu...more
He makes excellent arguments on how evolution works on well-hidden axioms. Some of the concepts described in the book are astounding - like the concepts of cumulative selection or the vastness of time. The lucidity with which the basic message is hammered repeatedly, along with diversity of examples and interspersing of tales from other fields make the book a truly magnificent read. Even the ardent evolu...more
An easy read this is not. Not for someone looking for an introduction to evolutionary theory.
By comparison, I found the "Origins of Species" by Charles Darwin (which I had finished prior to reading this book) easier to follow. Simply because Darwin's version is less saturated with modern technical details, which simply were not available in his time.
Anyone not already familiar with some basics of modern biology might have trouble following Richard Dawkins' logic.
Havins said that the mental strai...more
By comparison, I found the "Origins of Species" by Charles Darwin (which I had finished prior to reading this book) easier to follow. Simply because Darwin's version is less saturated with modern technical details, which simply were not available in his time.
Anyone not already familiar with some basics of modern biology might have trouble following Richard Dawkins' logic.
Havins said that the mental strai...more
Che delusione. Questo libro � stato una barba noiosissima, o se preferite un mattone pesantissimo, o meglio ancora, 'NA PALLA COLOSSALE!!!!!! E' il terzo libro di Dawkins che leggo (L'illusione di Dio, Il grande spettacolo della vita), entrambi molto belli, scorrevoli, davvero interessanti ed illuminanti. Questo � lento. E lento. Oh, forse non ve l'avevo ancora detto ma � un po' *lento*. Per carit�, degli spunti interessanti ci sono anche qui (l'ecolocazione dei pipistrelli, le ipotesi sull'orig...more
The Blind Watchmaker is probably one of the best introductory books on evolution.
Dawkins takes his time, explaining step by step how Darwinian evolution works.
Dawkins explains at great length, how species that look like a "complex design" evolve with accumulating small changes via natural selection, why natural selection is "blind"; ie. it lacks purpose, how random mutations combined with non-random natural selection is necessary for evolution to take place, and why a "complex design" does not n...more
Dawkins takes his time, explaining step by step how Darwinian evolution works.
Dawkins explains at great length, how species that look like a "complex design" evolve with accumulating small changes via natural selection, why natural selection is "blind"; ie. it lacks purpose, how random mutations combined with non-random natural selection is necessary for evolution to take place, and why a "complex design" does not n...more
This ws a very educational read for me. I think I'm kind of clued up on what evolution is about, stilll this book brings it to an even clear light. It is due much to Dawkins lucid writing and also that he is avoiding much of the academic terminology, even though some is still there. I'm not sure I agreed with everything, but that's another thing. Maybe I got an overall problem with people who thinks evolution is the most brilliant idea ever to have occured. I find it difficult to get away from t...more
Essential reading for anyone wanting to better understand how we got here. Dawkins does a wonderful job of explaining adaptive complexity and it becomes clear that Darwinian evolution is not only scientifically sound but also axiomatic: that which can survive does so, and that which cannot survive, does not! In the chapter entitled 'Doomed Rivals' Dawkins also discusses the scientific alternatives to Darwinian selection and demonstrates why they are flawed.
He also shows how punctuated equilibriu...more
To me this book provided the author a way to respond to what he most likely felt as an elegant and very moving argument against evolution by an 18th century theologian William Paley. That's how he derives the books title. But this book is not a tit for tat rebuttal to Paley's work. Instead the book is broken into chapters based on Dawkin's on reasoning behind why evolution is the best way to describe how we came to be here.
Unfortunately, Dawkin's has an edge. He has all the observation of the sc...more
Unfortunately, Dawkin's has an edge. He has all the observation of the sc...more
Dawkins, Richard. THE BLIND WATCHMAKER: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design. (1986). ****. If I had read this book by Dawkins when it was published, I’m sure that about 50% of it would have gone right over my head. When I read it now – twenty-four years later – only 40% of it goes over my head. This just shows what experience can do for you. Dawkins, obviously, is trying to debunk the claims of a ‘grand’ designer for the universe and bolster our knowledge and understa...more
Just finished. I'd already read "The Selfish Gene," so this covered some similar ground but in more depth. As an intelligent nonscientist, I found it a good introduction to a modern understanding of evolution, mostly accessible, though a bit dense in a few sections.
As a refutation of Creationism or "Intelligent Design", the book is pretty much overkill, since "Intelligent Design" is an obviously absurd argument that negates with it's assumed premise the very thing it sets out to prove (that anyt...more
As a refutation of Creationism or "Intelligent Design", the book is pretty much overkill, since "Intelligent Design" is an obviously absurd argument that negates with it's assumed premise the very thing it sets out to prove (that anyt...more
I'm a little disappointed here. This was my introduction to Richard Dawkins, and maybe I just picked the wrong book. I was hoping to learn more about the fascinating world of evolutionary biology, but instead got a long-winded, all-over-the-map apologetic response to Creationism and various oddities like Lamarckism and Punctuationism.
This really is an odd book, with the first hundred pages or so mostly devoted to Dawkins's own little computer programming exercise to demonstrate how cumulative se...more
This really is an odd book, with the first hundred pages or so mostly devoted to Dawkins's own little computer programming exercise to demonstrate how cumulative se...more
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2 likes · like · see review
Aug 03, 2012
Matthew
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
science buffs, general readers, semi-intelligent creationists, opponents of evolution
Richard Dawkins presents yet again a nearly flawless argument in favor of the theory of evolution. He argues against the belief that life is so complex (like a watch) it must have an intelligent "watchmaker." Natural selection, according to Dawkins, may act as the watchmaker, but one that has no purpose in mind, and is thus "blind." He uses biological and mathematical (though easy enough for a layperson to understand) reasoning to show how Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selectio...more
I know more about bats than I really need to know, but this was an interesting read. I was a fan of Stephen J. Gould and have read many of his pieces. I always enjoyed his rants which spanned a range of topics. Dawkins refers to Gould many times in this book reminding me that he was the same kind of scientist, but not the same kind of writer. While Gould would ramble into everything from the correct date of the turn of the century to the panda's thumb, Dawkins is focused on his argument and pres...more
Dec 22, 2012
Paul
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
evolutionary-biology,
non-fiction
In some respects it's a shame that a book like the Blind Watchmaker had to be written - a significant part of it is devoted to dispelling ignorant myths about Darwinian theory that have gained a foothold in the public consciousness, in the main owing to the regrettable success of religion's pro-creationist propaganda. Still, Darwinism has the curse/blessing of seeming a lot more straightforward than it actually is. Naturally, innocent misunderstandings abound. Dawkins not only answered a few que...more
Alright, I normally read books that OPPOSE my opinions because reading a book like this doesn't really do much for me. No surprise here. I am a Dawkins fan, but this is like the album of the band that came out before they got that sound that you like. There's a lot here, and the first several chapters were great. The later chapters in the book descend into criticisms of alternate theories of adaptation that are either absurdly out of date (Lamarckianism in 1986? Really?) or - as Dawkins sees it...more
"I don't agree with Dawkins much of the time (I find his atheism as fanatical as the religions he criticises), but find him an intelligent and entertaining read. He posits the other side of the coin to the argument for ""intelligent design"". Some very funny correspondence in the Guardian this month (October 2005), included one query that GWBush might be evidence against intelligent design."
The last two chapters took this text from a 4 to a 3 for me. The initial chapters provided a very good overview of how evolution works with particular emphasis on cumulative selection and mutation. The chapter on sexual selection was also quite good, although not quite as good as "The Red Queen" by Matt Ridley. It all falls apart with a dreadful discussion on Taxonomy and continues to descend with a discussion about rival theories to evolution. Taxonomy involves how animals are grouped together...more
In this classic account of evolution, Richard Dawkins systematically deconstructs all alternative hypotheses that have been served up to debunk natural selection. The book draws its title from the reference to a watchmaker by 18th-century theologian, William Paley. Paley argued that just as a watch is too complicated to have sprung up accidentally, so is the case with life and all living things - there must be a purpose to the design and an associated designer, similar to the watchmaker who made...more
The edition I read of this was the 1996 ed. I should say that a lot of it seemed like an endless ramble to me (the entire 1st chapter was totally and exclusively on the definition of complexity, and most of the other chapters seemed to ramble a lot as well), it wasn’t as hard-hitting as I expected it to be offensively or defensively (Refuting arguments like, “The Second Law of Thermodynamics contradicts evolution” or “Evolution is just a Theory,” whose use is discouraged by Answers in Genesis, d...more
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“There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point… The truly adult view, by contrast, is that our life is as meaningful, as full and as wonderful as we choose to make it.”
—
38 people liked it
“The Bishop goes on to the human eye, asking rhetorically, and with the implication that there is no answer, 'How could an organ so complex evolve?' This is not an argument, it is simply an affirmation of incredulity.”
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17 people liked it
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