A Devil's Chaplain: Selected Writings

Description

Richard Dawkins is one of the finest minds in science, and in this superb collection of essays and letters, he demonstrates the depth of his knowledge and the rich variety of his interests. Whether he is examining postmodernism or the Human Genome Project, penning a letter to his daughter, or writing a moving eulogy to Douglas Adams and Stephen Jay Gould, Dawkins writes with an intellectual vigour and grace that is second to none. This is a very human collection that shows not only the acuity of Dawkins' scientific mind, but also his sense of humour and the warmth of his relationships with friends and family.

Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist renowned throughout the world. He was educated at Oxford and taught zoology before becoming the first holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, in 1995. His previous books rank among the most influential intellectual works of our time., They include The Selfish Gene (1976), River Out of Eden (1995), and Unweaving the Rainbow (1999).

'there is a lovely tribute to Dawkins's friend Douglas Adams, some interesting speculations on the next few decades of genetic engineering, an explanation of what crystals really are, and some heartfelt reminiscences of Africa.' -- Steven Poole THE GUARDIAN 'his arguments sing with clear-eyed passion and conviction' -- Patrick Nees THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 'this erudite collection... where Dawkins assesses the work of his late rival Stephen Jay Gould is essential reading.' -- Travis Elborough THE SUNDAY TIMES 'His passion collapses the notion that scientists are lab-coated androids.' SUNDAY HERALD "A rare treat and it comes in seven servings, each essay will grip you at once." NEW SCIENTIST "A must-read for fans and non-fans alike and for people of an independent mind everywhere." THE HERALD