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The Blind Watchmaker
- Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins
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Publisher's Summary
The Blind Watchmaker, knowledgably narrated by author Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward, 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.
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- Langer MD
- 2020-02-23
Excellent Discussion
Evolution occurs. To deny it is ridiculous. If you're looking for more of a primer, "The Selfish Gene" is an excellent discussion of Evolutionary Biology...and more introductory.
This book is better at discussing the controversies in Evolution scholarship...a strong foundation in genetics and biology isn't necessary, but surely helps.
"The Blind Watchmaker" is well-written, clear, and absent of dogmatic assertions. Dawkins backs his arguments with plenty of striking examples.
It has 4 drawbacks:
1. The timbre is elitist. He doesn't contradict those that don't agree with him...he ridicules them. Dawkins uses sarcasm to insinuate that he is "right" and contrary evolutionary biologists are wrong. Creationists are "obviously deluded." I appreciate the attempt to inject some humor into a dry subject, but it comes across as snark.
2. His thesis pays lip service to alternative mechanisms to explain evolution, but he quickly returns to his own ideas. Dawkins comes across as dismissive of other ideas.
3. Dawkins insists on stochastic accumulative gradualism, and appropriately disregards saltatory evolution, but glosses over inconsistencies in the fossil record - like speciation events (the Cambrian Explosion and others).
4. Asserting that evolution occurs DOES NOT lead to the conclusion "Therefore, there is no God". At one point he angrily chastises taxonomists who say that evolution isn't required to explain the diversity of life: "Just because it's not needed doesn't mean it does not occur!!"he rages.
How is that different from saying 'Just because a creator isn't needed doesn't mean He doesn't exist."?
Having two narrators is a double-edged sword. Dawkins uses direct quotes and hypothetical conversations liberally. Having a second narrator allows for a distinction between the author's voice and that of whom he is quoting.
Throughout the text, however, he takes the author's voice, and then surrenders it to Lalla Ward, taking on the second voice...then going back again. It's pretty confusing. Thankfully he didn't select another male speaker.
I give this book a solid 8 out of 10 stars.
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- Mathieu
- 2018-09-17
Worth a Second Listen
So easily I'm swept away listening, I must return to take notes in the future. #Audible1
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3 people found this helpful
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- Robert
- 2023-03-31
very disappointing
If you are buying this book to find out how life could arise from non-life, don’t. It has nothing to do with that. Furthermore, there is nothing about how complexity could emerge. It deals exclusively with evolutionary pressures on fully developed organisms.
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- Jason L
- 2019-11-18
Amazing revelations
This is the book that made me an atheist. Dr Dawkins presents evolution in a manner that destroys the arguments from creationists. Read this book if you are interested in truth over mythology.
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- Lexloco
- 2023-11-05
Brilliant!
Dawkins is brilliant and, in this book, he carefully addresses all arguments in favour of and opposing evolution. Alas, he appeals to reason, logic, and the scientific method, so those indoctrinated in religion will simply ignore it, as they do all things contrary to their particular fairy tales.
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- Alex
- 2020-08-28
As bowring as listening to a 90 y.o. professor.
I love Richard Dawkins Live when he speaks off the cuff and debate but boy, listening to him read a book is dreadful!
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- Aaron Gemmell
- 2020-07-13
Enlightening
Explains a complex idea of evolution by breaking it down piece by piece and explaining each step. The arguments in the book will cement evolutionists views. Definitely worth the buy.
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