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Richard Dawkins

River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life Paperback – Aug. 23 1996

by Richard Dawkins (Author)

4.4 629 ratings

Part of: Science Masters (14 books)

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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.

Part of series

Science Masters
Print length

192 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Basic Books
Publication date

Aug. 23 1996
Dimensions

13.02 x 1.27 x 20.64 cm
ISBN-10

1857994051
ISBN-13

978-1857994056
Lexile measure

1220L
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Nearly a century and a half after Charles Darwin formulated it, the theory of evolution is still the subject of considerable debate. Oxford scientist Richard Dawkins is among Darwin's chief defenders, and an able one indeed-- witty, literate, capable of turning a beautiful phrase. In River Out of Eden he introduces general readers to some fairly abstract problems in evolutionary biology, gently guiding us through the tangles of mitochondrial DNA and the survival-of-the- fittest ethos. (Superheroes need not apply: Dawkins writes, "The genes that survive . . . will be the ones that are good at surviving in the average environment of the species.") Dawkins argues for the essential unity of humanity, noting that "we are much closer cousins of one another than we normally realize, and we have many fewer ancestors than simple calculations suggest."

Review

"An excellent introduction to many important evolutionary ideas." -- --Nature

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0465069908
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; Reprint edition (Aug. 23 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1857994051
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1857994056
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 170 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.02 x 1.27 x 20.64 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #151,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #111 in Genetics (Books)
- #305 in Evolution in Professional Science
- #1,407 in Mathematics (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 629 ratings

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Richard Dawkins

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Richard Dawkins taught zoology at the University of California at Berkeley and at Oxford University and is now the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, a position he has held since 1995. Among his previous books are The Ancestor's Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, and A Devil's Chaplain. Dawkins lives in Oxford with his wife, the actress and artist Lalla Ward.

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Nikki

Just as Described!

Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2020

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Great purchase, book in condition just as described! Couldn't be happier, I can't wait to read it.

Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2019

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Complex concepts are explained in an easy to read manner.

Helpful

The Great Reductionist?

Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2001

In my Navy days, The Landing Force Manual was the guidebook for transforming sailors into combat soldiers. It was a catalogue of techniques teaching bivouacking, patrolling, land occupation and defense. Richard Dawkins has unabashedly given us a similar primer useful in learning to deal with those still resisting Darwin's concept of evolution by natural selection. Like The Landing Force Manual, River Out of Eden is an arsenal of topics that, once learned, may be applied in conversational combat with those still resisting the idea that evolution is the way life works. With thorough knowledge and captivating style, Dawkins gives us illuminating examples of how life has achieved what appear to be miracles.
Dawkins re-initiated the debate over evolution's mechanics with The Selfish Gene. For his lucid explanation of the gene as the foundation for life's workings, he was dubbed The Great Reductionist by those uncomfortable with the concept that genes tend to override the treasured idea of "free will" overriding Nature. With River Out of Eden, Dawkins proves his ability by presenting an even more comprehensible account of how DNA is the foundation for life's mechanics.
He begins with the idea that all life had ancestors - all of which succeeded in producing offspring. Their success at reproducing overshadows the fact that most life forms ultimately went extinct over the vast span of Earth's time. Extinction is due to failure to produce offspring that survived to further reproduce new generations. The reasons for this failure are uncountable and obscure, but the issue remains success or failure. Tracing the ancestral line allows us to envision rivers of life. The rivers aren't composed of water, but of DNA. DNA over time, acts as a "digital river" with sections turning on or off in the process of making proteins. And proteins are the bricks that build organisms and all their parts.
From an almost purely descriptive beginning, Dawkins moves on to demonstrate how many of those "parts" could evolve over the many millennia available to them. Among the favourite organs used to oppose natural selection is "the eye". How could such a complex part of life work half complete? Well, for starters, better than 49% complete. A statement that can be applied to all the body parts in various organisms when viewed over the long stretch of years available to change gradually. Wings, finding mates, locating food sources, all the "complex functions" we see in today's life came from earlier, simpler beginnings. Dawkins' chapter "God's Utility Function" is a must read and understand for anyone wishing to comprehend how many of these features came into existence. They didn't all arrive in a finished state.
Dawkins is adept at illustrating his points. Among his more clever tricks is the portrayal of a sentence reading clearly even with different typefaces for each word. You can still read and understand the meaning. But the appearance differs in each case. He also gives an excellent account of how genes govern energy expenditure for various types of creatures. Each has its own variant, but an "audit" of how the genes benefit from the arrangement reveals why it's a successful strategy.
The key to all these patterns is the idea that somehow, somewhen, a molecule that later became DNA learned to replicate. He posits Graham Cairns Smith's suggestion that DNA, or more likely its precursor, RNA, learned the trick from clay crystals. This remains the most likely explanation for life's origins, but requires the reader to recognize that the replicating molecule preceded any discernible organism. Cairns Smith's concept removes forever the idea that life's driving force occurred by chance. It was a relatively simple chemical and physical process. It may not appear elegant, but the mechanism has the elegance of plausibility.
This whole book carries the argument against "creation by design" into the camp of Darwin's enemies. Dawkins lists the contentions of the "creationists", then adroitly unravels them through pure logic and good science. Those who feel daunted by arcane biological treatises on life need only take up this excellent summation of why Darwin was right. Those who quail at the idea DNA drives our existence can take heart. It's all part of what's required in achieving a better idea of who we are. A major step in that understanding is in this book.

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Bigduggieface

Great Introductory Dawkins

Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2008

Just finished reading the book today. I'm happy to say that as of today I've now read all of Dawkins' books.

If you haven't read any of his stuff before, personally I would recommend this one as an introduction to his work. It's his shortest book, and it touches on all of the classic Dawkins subjects. Cell biology, zoology, creationist arguments, evolution theory, and more. It goes into less depth than most of his other works, but it makes for a quick, entertaining read.

I've read a few explanations of Mitochondrial Eve before, but this one seemed much more understandable, and he spent half the amount of pages attempting to convey the idea.

In one of the most entertaining chapters on evolution I've ever read, he briefly illustrates some of the gradual evolutionary changes that led to insects and flowering plants evolving together while being completely and unwittingly dependent on one another for each other's survival.

Great book. His other books are far more substantial in detail, but you won't regret spending some time with this one. And you'll learn a thing or two!

Since you're still reading this, I might as well recommend Bill Bryson's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything'. It's the best science book ever written by a non-scientist.

4 people found this helpful

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S. Park

An unrelenting case for evolution

Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2004

This short (172 pages in total) volume is to briefly describe some ingredients of evolution theory and to quench the creationist agenda. It is unique in its unapologetic tone -- while other books on evolution attempt persuasion, this one bluntly dismisses alternative explanations on basis of logic. As such it is not difficult to imagine many becoming irritated by this book. However there are too many fine points to be missed if one chooses to ignore it altogether.
The river Dawkins speaks of is the river of DNA. Precisely because the information a gene passes on from one generation to another is digital (A, T, C, G) they are preserved well generation after generation. Using a surprisingly simple mathematical argument (Dawkins terms such arguments as "armchair" arguments) he demonstrates that everyone we encounter when we travel "sufficiently" back in time is either an ancestor of all of us or of none of us. Citing a computer simulation result built upon proven properties (for e.g. celibacy of mitochondrial DNA) and reasonable assumptions, he informs us that our most recent ancestor in the purely female line lived in Africa between 1.5*10^5 and 2.5*10^5 years ago. He shows by examples that the process of evolution is gradual, and asserts that nature seeks to maximize DNA survival (in Dawkins' jargon: DNA survival is "God's utility function").
The succinct and clear exposition of the book appealed to me. Its fine balance between armchair theories and real examples, together with its accessibility (it does not require prior knowledge) made the book a very intriguing read.

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Top reviews from other countries

Quai Chang Cain

An introduction to Dawkins' vision of evolution

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2014

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This is my 6th Dawkins book. I think it would have made a better 1st. It weaves together some of the ideas of The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker with only the tiniest smattering of Extended Phenotype in a light introduction to the way Dawkins thinks about evolution. (I don't mean to draw a sharp distinction between Dawkins' view and the broader consensus of biologists - just that he has a particular way of talking about the subject.)

Dawkins is an ethologist, meaning much of his own research/training is focused on animal behavior, and I think the best parts of this book reflect that specialty. For example, my favorite part of the book was a fascinating discussion about exactly how honeybees dance to reveal the direction and distance of pollen, along with some experiments conducted to get a feel for how that dance might have evolved.

If I had a quibble with this book, it is that I thought the chapter on God's Utility Function was strange. The chapter invited the audience to consider the very line of thinking that Dawkins has argued against in The Blind Watchmaker: to see if we can determine what purpose a Designer would have by contemplating how nature functions. But what follows isn't any sort of slam-dunk rebuttal of that way of thinking. In fact, one could imagine this exercise as a success and decide that the Designer is most concerned about DNA spreading, so we should absolutely legislate against birth control and abortion because the will of the Designer is that we breed and breed abundantly. Further, we could conclude that the Designer wants us to compete for limited resources so that evolution continues, so we shouldn't worry about maintaining biodiversity or over population or rapid consumption of natural resources. Maybe my quibble is showing that 'natural theology' can lead to something every bit as bad as (indeed, indistinguishable from) a society built purely on Darwinian principles (something Dawkins has argued against), but I guess my point is that I don't think Dawkins made his point very strongly in this chapter (which nevertheless had some astute observations).

I think there is a definite place in Dawkins' stable of writings for a simple book that just outlines, clearly, 'what evolution is', without focusing on lists of evidence (Greatest Show on Earth? haven't read that yet. Jerry Coyne's 'Why Evolution is True' falls in this category), overcoming objections (Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable) or advocating particular mechanical details (Selfish Gene, Extended Phenotype). But I'm not quite sure this book fills that slot. Nevertheless, it was a good read and I enjoyed many of the examples.

Notes on the Kindle edition:

The Kindle edition lacks a table of contents, even though the print edition has one. It would be nice if the responsible party would add that back in.

The images at the start of each chapter are included at the end of the previous chapter, with the footnotes for that chapter appearing after the image for the next chapter. Seems like there must be some way to keep each chapter's illustration at the start of that chapter.

When I finished reading this, Kindle recommended The Ancestor's Tale, which is by far my favorite Dawkins book. But it turns out, they would only let me download a sample or add the book to my wish list; I could not buy a copy. I hope Amazon or the publisher will sort things out so that this book is available to US Kindle customers (UK readers can already get it), as it was, I just felt taunted.

8 people found this helpful

Dyan Machan

Interesting Introduction to Dawkins

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2011

Verified Purchase

Upon researching possible biology related books for this review, I kept on finding books written by the author/scholar Richard Dawkins, and I decided that I wanted to know more. After scanning over a few dozen customer reviews on Amazon, I found out that Richard Dawkins is a major proponent of the workings and social implications of Darwinian Evolution, specializing in genetics, and anti-theism. I also found many citations of this man being immensely pompous and arrogant genius, due to his intellectual capacities and convictions. This sounded interesting enough, and I was eager to make up my own mind about his work. My next step was to find a book of his that was a manageable read, that would be a suitable introduction into his writing style and intellectual identity. Passing over his more famous books such as "The Selfish Gene" and the "The God Delusion", I decided on his most concise book titled: "River out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life".
In this short read, Dawkins manages to cram an unbelievable amount of insight and information into 5 distinct chapters. With Each chapter, he delves deeper and deeper into the arguments and theories that describe a "Darwinian View of Life", which is far more complex than I ever anticipated. While reading this book, one feels as though Dawkins is whole-heartedly trying to make you understand what seems so simple in his mind (while what is simple for him to understand, would require years of study for an individual of normal IQ). The evidence of this disconnect in level of comprehension is evident in phrases such as "knowing this, one would obviously make the assumption", and "this is a conclusion derived from simple, arm-chair logic" (both phrases relating to concepts of genetic mathematics that flew way over my head). However, while his narration is somewhat difficult to follow at times, his ample and ingenious use of analogies, examples and metaphors result in chapters that ultimately convey their points to even the least scientific of minds (such as mine). For example, Dawkins explains the course that natural selection plays on the height of trees in a forest, by relating it to people shouting above one another at a cocktail party (something we have all experienced).
Through the course of this book, he does a beautiful job of deconstructing the illusion of intelligent design, by going back to the very root of all genetic life, demonstrating along the way how many arguments that theists use can be shattered with relatively simple scientific evidence and concepts. He also breaks down the mystery of the foundation of life, by explaining our (probable) natural history in purely genetic, indifferent terms (devoid of human egoism).
Prior to reading this book, I considered myself an open-minded person. However, this book showed me just how deep the rabbit hole goes, and I feel more intelligent as a result. All things considered, this book is very difficult to explain in a short review, so you will just have to go ahead and read it yourself.

5 people found this helpful

SocialBookshelves.com

I think it’s particularly interesting how Dawkins’ explanation of the development of life on our planet is even more beautiful a

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2014

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Dawkins is one of those writers who expands your mind every time you read his work, and this book is no different – in it, he expands on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to investigate how a river of D.N.A. has flowed through time to branch out in to the diverse range of species that cover the surface of our planet.

It’s stunningly simple whilst being simultaneously in-depth and educational, and I learned stuff here that I never thought I’d understand. Of course, Dawkins being Dawkins, he also has some messages for the creationists and religious folks who believe that an eye could never evolve through a slow process of evolution – if you agree with them, I suggest you give Dawkins a chance.

I think it’s particularly interesting how Dawkins’ explanation of the development of life on our planet is even more beautiful and even more poetic than the fairytales that religion has to offer – who needs religion when science can be even more beautiful? Knowledge will beat ignorance in any circumstance – be inspired.

5 people found this helpful

Yash

It has been life-changing

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

I picked this book up BY ACCIDENT as it was part of the list recommended by Ray Dalio and I wanted to finish the list. There are some ideas that you don't quite fully appreciate until they sit in the mind for a while. Darwinism is one of them. This was my introduction to Darwin (yes, I curse my high school for keeping me totally ignorant of what is the greatest idea anyone ever had, 'survival of the fittest' and 'man from apes' my foot). At first read (on a 14 hour flight), I found a sense of thrill at it's mechanism and the way Dawkins explains it. I was at that point already inclined towards naturalism although I didn't know that's what it was called. As I mulled over it the next few months, I started to realize it's mind-boggling implications. It really changes everything. A universal acid that dissolves every other philosophical speculation. I have probably read a dozen books on the subject since but this book sparked the initial thrill. I remember scribbling on the last page 'the theory is beautiful'. Some people start with the Selfish Gene but I find it too long when you're looking for an introduction. This delivers the poetry of Darwinism quickly.

PS - It doesn't address the idea of no progress in evolution which is a major theme. You have to read Gould for that.

17 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

worth it to Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2022

Verified Purchase

Light read, some great explanations about evolution, author knows how to keep the reader attention, even though im not familiar with the topic.

One person found this helpful

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