The Selfish Gene cover art

The Selfish Gene

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Selfish Gene

By: Richard Dawkins
Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

About this listen

Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.

In his internationally best-selling, now classic, volume, The Selfish Gene, Dawkins explains how the selfish gene can also be a subtle gene. The world of the selfish gene revolves 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.

©1989 Richard Dawkins (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Genetics Science

Critic Reviews

"Dawkins first book, The Selfish Gene, was a smash hit.... Best of all, Dawkins laid out this biology - some of it truly subtle - in stunningly lucid prose. (It is, in my view, the best work of popular science ever written.)" (H. Allen Orr, Professor of Biology, University of Rochester, in The New York Review of Books)
All stars
Most relevant  
This is like a text book and maybe not the most suitable type of book for listening but to hear Dawkins personally bring his anecdotes and humour to life is invaluable. Nearly 50 years since first published, the end notes are a history of Dawkins change in views throughout his lifetime. It has fired up a great interest in evolutionary biology for me.

Astounding body of work

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Although outdated and superceded now this classic was a great way to pass a few idle hours. It was interesting to see that a few concepts we take for granted now were so muddled such a short time ago. worth every second spent.

Narated by the man himself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good concept but occasionally waffles on. Would have been nice to see the author back up the selfish gene theroy against harder opponents like religious extremism and sacrifice.

Good ideas

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Any additional comments?

Dawkin's 'Selfish Gene' is of course one of the great science publications of the decade. But it is surprisingly easy to listen to. Dawkins has a passionate and articulate voice, as does Lala Ward, though the constant changing between the 2 voices can be distracting. At the end of the book, Dawkins refers to his favourite publication 'The Extended Phenotype' which I discovered is accessible freely online as pdf (hope this is legitimate). A must read!

Great book, great listening experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
"Survival Machines" - what an amazingly unique perspective! I found this book incredibly interesting and informative!

Wonderfully thought-provoking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An absolutely amazing lecture told with wit and intelligence. A really worthwhile listen on a fascinating subject

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Sometimes the exposition is long winded but you can really understand quite tricky concepts by the end of the book. Amazing opens your eyes to a whole other way of looking at the world. Unfortunately another book I read of his didn’t have the same fire but I have listened to this book 2-3 times whereas usually I only finish one in 10 books and usually give up after half an hour or so.

Best non fiction book I’ve read so far

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is one of the books I have read which have permanently changed the way I think .
We all have read about evolution in high school but somewhere in the mind (at least to me ) it seemed like post rationalisation . This book will make you realise the slow glacial grind of evolution .
The only grip I have is the Author's obsession with Naming and shaming people who have disagreed with him .

This book will change the way you think.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Intriguing ideas on the evolutionary driver well presented with colorful anecdotes. Narration is easy to listen to. Highly recommend in print or audio format.

Highly Recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
i felt at times we were expected to believe in the atom again . Interesting that Richard doesnt believe in a god, yet has so much godlike faith in his own ideas. that said, very interesting

very interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.