Dawkins is well-known as a strong advocate of Darwinism, and “The Blind Watchmaker” is no exception to his arguments in favor of natural selection, evolutionary processes, and Darwinian concepts. The book is filled with various analogies and examples that every reader would be able to relate to: from biological references to computer science programs, political enquiries to geographical diagrams, Dawkins’ makes his arguments accessible to all levels of readers with various academic backgrounds. The book moves through the various facets of evolutionary thinking- natural selection, sexual selection, theories of what caused the first spark of life, the beauty and the inherent complexity of life forms, genetic “arms races” and the role of genes in furthering evolutionary processes. While Dawkins does touch on the most commonly believed theses in regards to the above topics, he also takes on the task of explaining some of the lesser known or recognized theories that have sprung onto the scientific scene in the last few decades. While at points, the reader might want to have more information solely on the most accepted theories, Dawkins does challenge his readers to put on their mental “hiking boots” and follow him on some of the wilder theories. With his easy to grasp analogies and sense of humor, it’s not too mentally painful to forge through his tightly researched and thoroughly informative book that highlights the role of the “blind watchmaker” in creating the complexities of life.
Kaitlyn
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