(posted on my blog: davenichols.net)

Richard Dawkins is always on the top of his game when his is explaining science to a popular audience, and River Out of Eden is no exception. This slim book is a concise look at several interesting aspects of evolution, including mitochondrial DNA, the dances of bees, and the chemistry of genetics.

The chapters 'Do Good By Stealth' and 'The Replication Bomb' were my favorites, and in Dawkins's characteristic manner, took a unique look at bee dances and chemical genetics. These subjects are fascinating to me personally, and I was really glad to hear about these subjects in Dawkins's narrative.

While much of this book's contents have been covered in many other books, including by Dawkins himself, the concise nature of River makes this a perfect read for anyone wanting to learn more about evolution and genetics, or for any experienced reader who just wants to brush up on some of the amazing science behind the scenes. Dawkins is a fantastic writer and conveys a wonderment of science unmatched by many. Four stars. ( )

A concise and brilliant explanation of the forces of evolution. A good introduction for people with little or no science background. ( )

Dawkins polemic on the "Darwinian view of life" while frustratingly dismissive of religious belief provides convincing counter-arguments to Creationist "got ya" points.

These include that things such as the eye do function beneficially when only partially evolved, in fact nothing is "fully evolved" as everything is constantly adapting and selecting through the generations.

"Science shares with religion the claim that it answers deep questions about origins, the nature of life, and the cosmos. But there the resemblance ends. Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and get results. Myths and faiths are not and do not." - p. 33

"Sex is an archivist's nightmare. Instead of leaving ancestral texts intact but for an occasional inevitable error, sex wantonly wades in and destroys the evidence. No bull ever abused a china shop as sex abuses the DNA archives." - p. 39-40 ( )

Life

Superb! I will be reading this again very soon. ( )