Scan barcode
kauther's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book; it is like talking to Richard Dawkins in person -which might be bad for you depending on how feel about him.
I think Richard Dawkins has a very interesting story, and I think his style in storytelling is superb. If you have some kind of prejudice against the man, do not read the book.
I think Richard Dawkins has a very interesting story, and I think his style in storytelling is superb. If you have some kind of prejudice against the man, do not read the book.
coronaurora's review against another edition
3.0
For me the best parts of these memoirs are when Dawkins elaborates in detail those first few experiments in zoology with him, his first wife and colleagues parsing the predictability in animal behaviour. I loved the geekiness of having animal behaviour boxed, quantified and algebra-fied for interpretation.
Much of the book leading upto it is oddly laced with a monotonal formalism that somehow infects all the author's candour about growing up for first seven years in colonial Africa and then surviving the eccentricity of public schooling in England before landing in Balliol college, Oxford. For some reason, whatever lived experience he elaborates on: the clinical summaries of his family tree in that awkwardly verbose first chapter to the limericks at university to the snooze-inducing penultimate chapter on the publication journey for The Selfish Gene, they failed to conjure much enthusiasm from me as a reader as Dawkins droned about names and personages. I have a distinct memory of being galvanised by his prose once upon a time in The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion. Here, for whole chapters, his writing felt detached and plodding, until he starts talking about his first research projects. He also has this curious habit to launch into little sermons, but I could stomach these as I am aligned to his rationalism and enthusiasm about biology.
In all, an admirably cool-headed and distant memoir from a self-conscious public figure that is more on point when seen as a journey of his projected self than an illuminating examination of his "appetite for wonder". In the post-script within the book, Dawkins himself feels unsure if the format of written sequential confessional captures his journey and growth as a person and a scientist. Me too.
Much of the book leading upto it is oddly laced with a monotonal formalism that somehow infects all the author's candour about growing up for first seven years in colonial Africa and then surviving the eccentricity of public schooling in England before landing in Balliol college, Oxford. For some reason, whatever lived experience he elaborates on: the clinical summaries of his family tree in that awkwardly verbose first chapter to the limericks at university to the snooze-inducing penultimate chapter on the publication journey for The Selfish Gene, they failed to conjure much enthusiasm from me as a reader as Dawkins droned about names and personages. I have a distinct memory of being galvanised by his prose once upon a time in The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion. Here, for whole chapters, his writing felt detached and plodding, until he starts talking about his first research projects. He also has this curious habit to launch into little sermons, but I could stomach these as I am aligned to his rationalism and enthusiasm about biology.
In all, an admirably cool-headed and distant memoir from a self-conscious public figure that is more on point when seen as a journey of his projected self than an illuminating examination of his "appetite for wonder". In the post-script within the book, Dawkins himself feels unsure if the format of written sequential confessional captures his journey and growth as a person and a scientist. Me too.
kirsten0929's review against another edition
3.0
A little insight into genius. Remembers his past fondly, reflects positively on his family, his schools, his social and professional circles. Nothing scandalous. Quite a bit on his research. It was a nice read.
teokajlibroj's review against another edition
3.0
A decent book, but not one where much really happens. Dawkins more or less lists off all the people he knew and places he lived as a child. Not much is said about himself, his thoughts or what he did. The last part of the book, where he describes his research is rather complex and confusing.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
A straightforward account of Dawkins' early life and his studies and work up to the time of The Selfish Gene.
I listened to the author narrating his book, and enjoyed his voice and style, it was easy to follow and a fascinating look at his young life - and also quite honest.
While some of the science is covered in more detail than I personally would delve myself, it's not overlong, and is important in his story.
Small snippets about the religious (or otherwise) ideas that will surely feature more strongly in the second part of his autobiography are there as well.
We see his childhood, schooldays, interest in biology growing, his days at university and his path into the adult world of academia and also glimpses into his private life.
This is not a long book, being only half the story, but does give useful background to a very well-known man, one that I found refreshing and illuminating. I will be looking out for part 2.
I listened to the author narrating his book, and enjoyed his voice and style, it was easy to follow and a fascinating look at his young life - and also quite honest.
While some of the science is covered in more detail than I personally would delve myself, it's not overlong, and is important in his story.
Small snippets about the religious (or otherwise) ideas that will surely feature more strongly in the second part of his autobiography are there as well.
We see his childhood, schooldays, interest in biology growing, his days at university and his path into the adult world of academia and also glimpses into his private life.
This is not a long book, being only half the story, but does give useful background to a very well-known man, one that I found refreshing and illuminating. I will be looking out for part 2.
dphillips's review against another edition
3.0
While I do not agree with his views on religion I cannot deny the man is a very interesting scientist. I really enjoyed the first half of this book & feel I would of enjoyed the second half more if it didn't read at times, while interesting, a bit tedious.
kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
4.0
"Cliché or not, 'stranger than fiction' expresses exactly how I feel about the truth. We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment. Though I have known about it for years, I never seem to get fully used to it. One of my hopes is that I may have some success in astonishing others."
In my humble estimation, Dawkins falls somewhere between Charles Darwin and Bertrand Russell, maybe even a hybrid of the two. He is as much of a philosopher as he is a biologist and sees himself, arguably so, as a champion of evolutionary science.
Ernest Becker points out in his Pulitzer Prize winning psychological study, The Denial of Death, that men who see themselves as historical figures marshal themselves toward the hard work and dedication necessary to achieve that perceived immortality. Richard Dawkins is no exception.
This is an autobiography that evolves, chapter by chapter, into an impressive multi-dimensional résumé. If you admire and respect Dawkins as much as I do, I suspect you'll find this captivating and insightful. Evangelical zealots need not bother.
In my humble estimation, Dawkins falls somewhere between Charles Darwin and Bertrand Russell, maybe even a hybrid of the two. He is as much of a philosopher as he is a biologist and sees himself, arguably so, as a champion of evolutionary science.
Ernest Becker points out in his Pulitzer Prize winning psychological study, The Denial of Death, that men who see themselves as historical figures marshal themselves toward the hard work and dedication necessary to achieve that perceived immortality. Richard Dawkins is no exception.
This is an autobiography that evolves, chapter by chapter, into an impressive multi-dimensional résumé. If you admire and respect Dawkins as much as I do, I suspect you'll find this captivating and insightful. Evangelical zealots need not bother.
yoshi5's review
3.0
Should have read the book at a library first.
For an autobiography, I found it rather impersonal, and it didn't give me much insight into the mind of Dawkins.
I found the autobiography to be a chronological, dry recount of his life, and didn't feel I understood "the making of a scientist", rather more the life events of one. I was hoping for something a bit deeper, philosophical, gripping, enthralling, an insight into the dilemmas he faced in his life, the moments of wonder and failure...
Enjoyed "Dreaming Spires" and the insight into a real education, and real learning.
For an autobiography, I found it rather impersonal, and it didn't give me much insight into the mind of Dawkins.
I found the autobiography to be a chronological, dry recount of his life, and didn't feel I understood "the making of a scientist", rather more the life events of one. I was hoping for something a bit deeper, philosophical, gripping, enthralling, an insight into the dilemmas he faced in his life, the moments of wonder and failure...
Enjoyed "Dreaming Spires" and the insight into a real education, and real learning.