
The Blind Watchmaker
Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design
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Narrated by:
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Richard Dawkins
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Lalla Ward
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By:
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Richard Dawkins
About this listen
The Blind Watchmaker, knowledgably narrated by author Richard Dawkins, is as prescient and timely a book as ever. The watchmaker belongs to the 18th-century theologian William Paley, who argued that just as a watch is too complicated and functional to have sprung into existence by accident, so too must all living things, with their far greater complexity, be purposefully designed. Charles Darwin's brilliant discovery challenged the creationist arguments; but only Richard Dawkins could have written this elegant riposte. Natural selection - the unconscious, automatic, blind, yet essentially nonrandom process Darwin discovered - is the blind watchmaker in nature.
©1986, 1987, 1996 Richard Dawkins (P)2011 Audible, Inc.Editor reviews
Richard Dawkins and his wife, actor Lalla Ward, give a highly entertaining read of Dawkins's 1986 critique of creationism, The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design. The audiobook follows an updated edition of the book from 2006 and provides intricate explanations, by way of witty examples, of why random, infinitesimal gene changes over millions of years have produced us and the world we live in. Dawkins's writing contains a self-deprecating, dry sense of humor that comes to life as he reads his best-selling book. Alternating voices between Dawkins and Lalla Ward provides nice listening contrast while also setting apart examples, clarifications, and segments of greater detail. Dawkins and his wife live in a world that is perhaps more scientific on a daily basis than ours so the book takes great care to vary the delivery of information for greater emphasis and easy understanding.
Dawkins's goal in The Blind Watchmaker is to "remove by explaining" any doubt that anything but scientific fact is behind the origin of the universe. Just because something — like human beings or the universe — is complex does not mean that it cannot be explained. Dawkins works hard to help listeners understand the smaller-than-microscopic changes that evolved through staggering amounts of time, changes humans have a hard time intuitively comprehending. To paraphrase the author, do not draw conclusions from your own inability to understand something. The truth of Darwinism comes in its acceptance of physics, probability, and the unending march of time. Dawkins helps listeners out by using examples that are easier to grasp: for example, the evolution from wolves to domesticated dogs. Or how echo location in bats clearly shows the evolution of a trait necessary for survival of a species.
The Blind Watchmaker, read by the author and by Lalla Ward, is an example of an audiobook best listened to while not driving or operating anything requiring devoted attention. Dawkins calls upon us to think about complex concepts that are not necessarily part of daily life. Led by the author, The Blind Watchmkaer is a lively, humorous explanation of the seemingly mystical yet ultimately understandable maze of evolution that is our world. Along the way it is nice to know that a scientist such as Dawkins can, like us, forget to save information on his computer. Re-creation of his data simply leads to another example of probability and complexity that makes, as Dawkins reiterates, the circumstances of any of us being here surprisingly unique, but scientifically not unusual. —Carole Chouinard
Critic reviews
Dry but good overview of evolution
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Insightful
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The truth
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Superb
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He conveys concepts that I wouldn't have the words to express myself.
brilliant
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Complex life on earth - the how and why.
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I expected it to be far harder going than it is – there were few places that I had to go over twice, but generally, extremely complex theories are brilliantly explained in almost layman’s terms.
Highly, highly recommended and well worth the effort
Hard work in places but not THAT bad…
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The criticism of other scientists and their opinions was a tad childish and arrogant, but is not uncommon in this area of science. It is a pity we as a species have not evolved beyond the possibility that whilst other views may be considered viable, the whole application of diverse views offers much to the mixing pot and should be welcomed. A lot of what we know now is based on individual interpretation of science as the research in the field of Darwin, natural selection and associated fields of research. The power, status and influence of historical scholars has greatly influenced our views as there were few the challenge their interpretations and findings, but if considered against today's social media input, would their voice have the same impact?
I'm keen to read Richard's other books and have put them on my wish list, though will retain a open mind - not hemed in by individual opinions.
A fascinating subject which held my attention throughout my long daily drives to and from work.
Thoroughly recommended.
Thank you.
Highly educational with flaws
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makes one think. even asthiesst. keyboar
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Another fantastic Dawkins book
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