Books do Furnish a Life

The selfish gene. "Esli [chitatel'], podobno mne, stremitsja k sozdaniju obshhestva, chleny kotorogo velikodushno i samootverzhenno sotrudnichajut vo imja obshhego blaga, emu nechego rasschityvat' na pomoshh' so storony biologicheskoj prirody cheloveka... ibo my rozhdaemsja jegoistami" - preduprezhdaet anglijskij naturalist i filosof. "Jegoistichnyj gen" - blestjashhaja pervaja kniga (1976) Richarda Dokinza - do sih por ostaetsja samym izvestnym ego trudom. Jetot proverennyj vremenem shedevr nauchno-populjarnoj literatury i klassicheskij trud po biologii, ne ustarevshij i sejchas, izdan bolee chem na dvadcati jazykah."Jegoistichnyj gen" - nauchno-populjarnaja rabota ob jevoljucii, napisannaja Richardom Dokinzom v 1976 godu. V nej cherez analiz jevoljucionnyh i povedencheskih processov vsego zhivotnogo mira, ot nasekomyh do cheloveka, raskryvaetsja vzgljad Dokinza na strategii jevoljucii. Dokinz provodit paralleli takzhe s "kul'turnoj jevoljuciej": razvitiem v obshhestve idej, tehnologij, religij i dr. Kniga mozhet byt' polezna ne tol'ko specialistam po sociobiologii, no i vsem, kto interesuetsja mestom cheloveka vo Vselennoj.

Richard Dawkins tritt den Beweis an, dass die Evolutionstheorie keine bloße Hypothese oder gar Glaubenssache ist, sondern dass sie schlicht und ergreifend stimmt. Überzeugend, lebendig und leicht nachvollziehbar legt er dar, was Darwins Theorie wirklich besagt und wie sie begründet ist. Er erklärt, worauf Fossilien hindeuten, warum Rehpinscher und Rosenkohl Belege für experimentelle Evolution sind und warum Wale Hinterbeine haben. Mit Brillanz und Präzision pariert Dawkins alle Angriffe gegen die Evolutionstheorie. Streitbar, fundiert, mit Leidenschaft und Humor belegt der Bestsellerautor, warum Darwin Recht hat.

Magic takes many forms. The ancient Egyptians explained the night by suggesting that the goddess Nut swallowed the sun. The Vikings believed a rainbow was the gods' bridge to earth. These are magical, extraordinary tales. But there is another kind of magic, and it lies in the exhilaration of discovering the real answers to these questions. It is the magic of reality - science.<BR><BR>Packed with inspiring explanations of space, time and evolution, laced with humour and clever thought experiments, The Magic of Reality explores a stunningly wide range of natural phenomena. What is stuff made of? How old is the universe? What causes tsunamis? Who was the first man, or woman? This is a page-turning, inspirational detective story that not only mines all the sciences for its clues but primes the reader to think like a scientist too.<BR><BR>Richard Dawkins elucidates the wonders of the natural world to all ages with his inimitable clarity and exuberance in a text that will enlighten and inform for generations to come.

Should we believe in God? In this new book, written for a new generation, the brilliant science writer and author of The God Delusion, explains why we shouldn't.<BR><BR>Should we believe in God? Do we need God in order to explain the existence of the universe? Do we need God in order to be good? In twelve chapters that address some of the most profound questions human beings confront, Dawkins marshals science, philosophy and comparative religion to interrogate the hypocrisies of all the religious systems and explain to readers of all ages how life emerged without a Creator, how evolution works and how our world came into being.<BR><BR>For anyone hoping to grapple with the meaning of life and what to believe, Outgrowing God is a challenging, thrilling and revelatory read.<BR><BR>--------------------------------

THE FOUR MILLION COPY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERThe brilliantly argued and impassioned classic polemic from the world's best-known atheist. Sensationally incisive and perennially timely, this is required reading for everyone.'A resounding trumpet blast for truth' Matt Ridley'[The God Delusion] deserves multiple readings; not just as an important work of science, but as a great work of literature' Steven Weinberg, Nobel Laureate, Times Literary Supplement'If its merciless rationalism doesn't enrage you at some point, you probably aren't alive' Julian Barnes'Entertaining, wildly informative, splendidly written' Rod Liddle, Sunday Times'There is not a dull page . . . a book that makes me want to cheer its clarity, intelligence and truth-telling' Claire Tomalin'My favourite book of all time . . . a heroic and life-changing work' Derren Brown'Spirited and exhilarating . . . Dawkins comes roaring forth in the full vigour of his powerful arguments' Joan Bakewell, Guardian'At last, Richard Dawkins, one of the best non-fiction writers alive today, has assembled his thoughts on religion into a characteristically elegant book' Steven Pinker'The world needs passionate rationalists unafraid to challenge long accepted beliefs. Richard Dawkins so stands out through the cutting intelligence of e God Delusion' James D. Watson, Nobel Laureate and co-discoverer of DNA----------The God Delusion caused a sensation when it was published in 2006. Within weeks it became the most hotly debated topic, with Dawkins himself branded as either saint or sinner for presenting his hard-hitting, impassioned rebuttal of religion of all types.His argument could hardly be more topical. While Europe is becoming increasingly secularized, the rise of religious fundamentalism, whether in the Middle East or Middle America, is dramatically and dangerously dividing opinion around the world. In America, and elsewhere, a vigorous dispute between 'intelligent design' and Darwinism is seriously undermining and restricting the teaching of science. In many countries religious dogma from medieval times still serves to abuse basic human rights such as women's and gay rights. And all from a belief in a God whose existence lacks evidence of any kind.Dawkins attacks God in all his forms. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry and abuses children.The God Delusion is a brilliantly argued, fascinating polemic: required reading for anyone interested in this most emotional and important subject.