This year, recently, the classic and einsteinian book turned thirty. The book which I am talking about is ‘The Selfish Gene’ by Richard Dawkins. The reason why I call the book einsteinian is because it redefined not just the evolutionary biology but brought a paradigm shift in the field of biology. Now, postulating hypotheses and thinking widely were not only restricted to physics or philosophy. The book pulled biology from being purely factual to being greatly philosophical.
I have read the book and I must say that it is one of my favorites. Excitement and anticipation fills every page of the book. So radical are the ideas of Dawkins that people still now object certain parts of the book. And the best thing, the can’t explain their reason for objection; it doesn’t just feels right for them.
The book proudly proved that there is no meaning in life. I knew that, but I particularly liked the point in the book that life is just because it is. DNA replicates because if it weren’t it won’t replicate. Evolution is because it is. I can’t write this in words, it has to be felt. If something X happens because it has to happen then you can’t give a reason why X happened.
The X here is evolution. The book tells that the basic unit of evolution and the gene is not just a piece of DNA. It is that entity which is chosen as a unit of evolution. Sort of self-sustaing definition, isn’t it?
I still don’t comprehend how people can deny Evolution. It just is.
The Selfish Gene truly explains the most beautiful facts of life in a simple yet impactful language. If you haven’t read it, you have missed a lot in life.
Read the transcript of the meet which was held to celebrate 30th B’Day of the book.