The blind watchmaker
By Richard Dawkins and Lalla ward
Rating 4/5
Audiobook
Non fiction genre
This is an old book written by Richard Dawkins and the audio is a new version since been recorded fairly recently so the book starts with the preface to old edition and also starts with introduction to the Audible or audiobook.
The premise of this novel like most of his other ones is to give evidence of evolution.
Every novel of his is an extension or answer to a question posed by either a critic or colleague or creationist is my personal opinion!
So while the selfish gene was an introduction to and an ode to Darwin, the God delusion set out to conquer theism, while then greatest show on Earth was the reply to the miracles in Bible and other books and this one is a premise that if evolution is a fact then it is like telling that a blind man made a very intricate working watch!
He actually starts the book with an ode to a creationist book who had done extensive research with examples all over the world to prove creation! Taking a leaf or page out of that book, Richard gives this one a similar treatment! Since It was an audiobook I got the name of that Creationist as Reverend Paily but it may not be the exact name!
He talks about how bat is an ecological Marvel and tells about how their echolocation is an evolutionary marvel. The whole idea of putting the echolocation of bats was to actually discuss whether it is an intelligent design or it is a matter of evolution. Richard here tries to elaborate on this point that it is not an intelligent design but an evolution.
Since the time period is limited for us to understand evolution and it is in the terms of millions he tries to get it in certain analogy suggest how a small difference in a fly is about 2 km while the whole evolution it is like travelling from Iraq to London.
Like almost all his other books this is also an ode to Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution.
In fact this and the other novels such as the greatest show on earth and the selfish Gene and all seem like an extension of each other and have facts which crossover with each other.
It is easy to get confused between this and the other books but this one is an extension of this previous book called the greatest show on Earth Which itself seems to be an extension of the selfish Gene which is an extension of his other books.
He talks about how he is a biologist and he looks at the problem or the whole problem of evolution in the viewpoint of a biologist and not like a physicist.
In between the narration is by his wife and in the same way as the other books it once you get used to the narration there is hardly any difference it is just like a routine audiobook
Then he talks about lungs and fishes and He talks about a computer simulation of evolution
He talks about the complexity of eyes and how even half eye or five percent eye is better than no eye! The same with wings with so many examples thrown around and how when you Look at the cloud and see that it resembles your deity or Jesus but while actually it is just clouds.
Of course each and every one of his books seems like an attempt to counteract the statements given by the creationists in support of their theory in the same way his books are and his points are a supporting block for supporting his theory of evolution.
Since this is a never-ending debate I am sure that there will be more books from Richard in such a way that when more points are raised he will come up with another book to contract those points.
Keeping up with the present or modern times since this was an audible which I heard the whole text which has been written in the review above which is written by me has been done by dictation! Of course some errors are bound to happen but it is fairly accurate and I had to just go through some errors otherwise it was a simple and smooth experience!
Like every other book this one also is laced with scientific facts and with his own experiences as a biologist and I am sure more of the other books will be in the same lines. It starts slowly but builds up a pace like every other book and when you finally get to the end of it you realise that it was not that long even at close to eleven to twelve hours of listening!
So keep keep your mind occupied is no small feat indeed in fact there are some sections in this book and in the other book of Richard where he explicitly mention is that if you are listening to this book at the end of the day and you are really tired then give it a rest and start again the next day so that you can understand what he is trying to convey better!
Read it for completion and you can expect more books of similar versions from Richard!
Have fun!
ramadocblog 