The Ancestor’s Tale
Feb 22, 2010 Learning and Knowledge, Science and Technology
Before Richard Dawkins was famous for his open atheism, he was primarily known as a brilliant science writer (and still is – see our review on The Greatest Show On Earth for our take on his most recent work).
When most people picture a book on evolutionary biology, they don’t imagine an epic pilgrimage that spans the entire world and billions of years. Nor do they imagine an ever-growing cast of storytelling co-travellers, each with its own dramatic tale of a journey from the beginning of life itself into the modern world. This is what Richard Dawkins has created, and while it’s based purely on hard science, it is every bit as magical, as moving and as full of wonder as Lord of the Rings.
After reading this book, it’s hard to look at any living thing in the same way ever again, from blue whales to bacteria.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I’m about 1/3 of the way through this at the moment. Dawkins is one of the best science writers out there because, in addition to knowing the science, he also knows the other vital skill used in writing – how to actually write.