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An Appetite For Wonder: The Making of a Scientist Paperback – 1 May 2014

by Richard Dawkins (Author)

4.1 551 ratings

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An early memoir from the world's most famous atheist, and scientist.

Born to parents who were enthusiastic naturalists, and linked through his wider family to a clutch of accomplished scientists, Richard Dawkins was bound to have biology in his genes. But what were the influences that shaped his life? And who inspired him to become the pioneering scientist and public thinker now famous (and infamous to some) around the world?

In An Appetite for Wonder we join him on a personal journey from an enchanting childhood in colonial Africa, through the eccentricities of boarding school in England, to his studies at the University of Oxford's dynamic Zoology Department, which sparked his radical new vision of Darwinism, The Selfish Gene. Through Dawkins's honest self-reflection, touching reminiscences and witty anecdotes, we are finally able to understand the private influences that shaped the public man who, more than anyone else in his generation, explained our own origins.

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Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

BLACK SWAN
Publication date

1 May 2014
Dimensions

12.7 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm
ISBN-10

0552779059
ISBN-13

978-0552779050
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Review

Most geeks cannot write; this one can... Equipped with an undoubted gift for expression, Dawkins the writer comes with a unique pedigree -- Richard Fortey ― Guardian Published On: 2013-09-11

This eloquent, witty and instructive book reveals the true Richard Dawkins. It's a great read. ― A.C. Grayling

Throughout and as usual, Dawkins's writing is graceful, sparkling with anecdotes and wit ― Eugenie Scott, Nature

Dawkins is a fascinating man and as a writer he is nothing less than essential... he is a man who has influenced or changed the way people think. His story needs to be read. ― Simon Barnes, The Times

Richard Dawkins's memoirs are, like their author, honest, perceptive, sometimes ingenuous, always rational and deeply humane. ― Matt Ridley

Book Description

An early memoir from the world's most famous atheist, and scientist.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ BLACK SWAN; 1st edition (1 May 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0552779059
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0552779050
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 309,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 155 in Agnosticism (Books)
- 285 in Atheism (Books)
- 435 in Genetics (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 551 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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Katie LeClare

Amazing to get a glimpse of the early life of ...

Reviewed in Canada on 27 June 2017

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Amazing to get a glimpse of the early life of someone who has gone on to do so much for the science community and the all people of the world

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in India on 18 November 2016

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My daughter of twelve year age is glued to the book. I am sure it is interesting

!M

Autobiography, non the best Dawkins

Reviewed in Italy on 1 June 2016

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As an autobiography I found difficult to get involved with the reading. I won't buy the second book. Any other book from Richard Dawkins is more intriguing than this autobiography.

LIBERTAD GONZALEZ LUNA

Interesante

Reviewed in Spain on 26 August 2015

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Ha sido interesante saber más sobre la vida de Richard Dawkings, aunque el libro se para justo cuando empieza lo más interesante (la publicación de The Selfish Gene). Espero con ganas la segunda parte de la biografía.

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Amazon Customer

Engaging and beautifully written book changed my opinion on Dawkins

Reviewed in the United States on 4 November 2013

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I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of Dawkins - the only book I've read of his in full has been The God Delusion, and although I've read the beginning of most of his books since I'm sad to say that none of them captured my interest long enough for me to finish them. The only knowledge I had of "The Selfish Gene" was gained from watching his 1991 Christmas Lectures which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I admire the way he succinctly and poetically writes his arguments, I had recently become a little bit put off by the dismissive and sometimes aggressive way he argues with religious representatives. His latest book, however, has completely reversed this negative perception I had of him.

Although I personally found the beginning to be a little slow, in time it reveals itself to be a wonderful account of his life. In particular I loved the amount of detail he puts into his childhood days and the reflective style of writing - he often contemplates his reasons for acting the way he did, sometimes citing experts' research on the subject in question. This made it a very engaging read, one that made me contemplate my own past and present behaviours. For example, he discusses the bullying nature of children and reflects on how he, despite being an empathetic boy, never did anything to stop bullies from targeting a defenseless victim. He then goes on to discuss whether we are the same 'person' now as we were as a child - even though we are literally made up of different material than that of our younger selves the continuity of memory makes it feel as though our identity is the same. This was a point that I discussed with people for many days after reading about it.

This engaging form of writing made me think (more than I ever have) like a scientist - wondering about things I'd never contemplated before, becoming enthused (rather than put off) by scientific explanations for behaviour and realizing more than ever how much there is to discover (and being thrilled by the concept). I am not a very educated person - a 21-year-old working in retail, having had a year of university experience before it became too hard for me - and Dawkins' book has re-awakened the part of me that inspired me to go to university in the first place.

The content itself is fascinating - his transitions from one part of his life to the next are well explained and his obsession with programming and scientific ideas are awe-inspiring and left me to perceive him as nothing short of a genius.

All in all, from someone who's not very well-read or well-educated, this book was incredibly valuable and inspiring. Although a few parts went over my head (despite re-reading certain paragraphs several times!), the vast majority was a pleasure to read. I feel like I understand Dawkins and his 'appetite for wonder' much better than before, and I've never been more eager to read all of his books to completion.

The only downside is that it only covers his life up to the release of his first book - I cannot wait to read the second half!

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