THE SELFISH GENE (First edition - second printing)

Richard Dawkins

ISBN 10: 019857519X / ISBN 13: 9780198575191

Published by Oxford University Press (OUP), Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, 1976

About this Item

A second printing of the first edition - reprinted with corrections in 1976. The book was first published in 1976. ***Very good in black cloth-covered boards, with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. The boards are clean and unmarked. Head and tail of spine just slightly creased. No bumps or tears to the cloth. Corners sharp. The page block edges don't have the usual foxing, but there is a small area of light staining to the bottom of the fore-edge - not affecting the interior pages. Internally the book is near fine with no inscriptions or other annotations. Pages clean. No creases or tears. There is a very slight reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. ***In a very good dustwrapper, with the fabulous wraparound surrealistic illustration taken from the painting 'The Expectant Valley' by Desmond Morris. The dustwrapper has been neatly square price-clipped, but is otherwise complete, with some creasing and rubbing at the edges, particularly at the top of the spine, which also has a couple of small areas of loss to the surface colour (please see scans). No chips or tears, and there is hardly any of the usual fading to the colour on the spine. Dustwrapper bright and clean. ***224 pages including a Bibliography, Index and Key to bibliography at the back of the book. 222mm x 140mm. ***'Richard Dawkins first came to prominence with his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene", which popularised the gene-centred view of evolution and introduced the term meme. With his book "The Extended Phenotype" (1982), he introduced into evolutionary biology the influential concept that the phenotypic effects of a gene are not necessarily limited to an organism's body, but can stretch far into the environment. In 2006, he founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. "The Selfish Gene" is a 1976 book on evolution by the ethologist Richard Dawkins, in which the author builds upon the principal theory of George C. Williams's "Adaptation and Natural Selection" (1966). Dawkins uses the term "selfish gene" as a way of expressing the gene-centred view of evolution (as opposed to the views focused on the organism and the group), popularising ideas developed during the 1960s by W. D. Hamilton and others. From the gene-centred view, it follows that the more two individuals are genetically related, the more sense (at the level of the genes) it makes for them to behave cooperatively with each other.' (Wiki) ***'Four thousand million years ago molecules with the power to make copies of themselves first appeared in the sea. What was the fate of these ancient replicators? They did not die out: they are masters of the survival arts. But do not look for them floating loose in the sea; they gave up that cavalier freedom long ago. Now they swarm in huge colonies, safe inside gigantic lumbering robots, manipulating the outside world by remote control. They are in all of us; they created us, body and mind; and their preservation is the sole reason for our existence. They have come a long way, those replicators. Now they go by the name of genes, and we are their survival machines.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A second printing of Richard Dawkins' first published book, published with corrections - probably the most famous work of genetic science - in very nice condition. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 8399x

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE SELFISH GENE (First edition - second printing)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP), Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP
• Publication Date: 1976
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019857519X
• ISBN 13: 9780198575191
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Desmond Morris (Jacket design)
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions
  • Science

About this title

Synopsis

This book tells of the selfish gene. A world of savage competition, ruthless exploitation, and deceit. But what of the acts of apparent altruism in nature the bees who commit suicide when they sting to protect the hive, for example? Professor Dawkins holds out the hope that our species has the power to rebel against the designs of the selfish gene.