Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Secular Elation · 01-19-2002, 03:06 PM

I was at Barnes & Noble earlier today and I purchased this book. It'll be the first that I've read of Dawkins, and since everyone lauds his writing, I am excited to begin reading. In fact, it'll be the first nonfiction book I've read on biology and evolution.

There was a problem, though. The store had both Climing Mount Improbable and The Blind Watchmaker. Was it ok for me to select the former?

The reason I bought CMI was because of my parents. They always examine everything I buy. When I got home, they read the cover of the books. CMI has nothing suspicious to them on the cover, but TBW has the words "how the evidence of evolution shows a universe without design." If my parents read this, they would probably get the hint that I was reading "heathen" material.

[ January 19, 2002: Message edited by: Secular Elation ]</p>

cricket · 01-19-2002, 03:58 PM

I loved The Blind Watchmaker; haven't read CMI yet but it's on my list.

Look down towards the bottom of the page; there's a topic named "Dawkins"' and CMI was discussed in that thread. The last post on that topic was 3 days ago.

Enjoy!

cricket · 01-19-2002, 04:02 PM

LeftCoast · 01-19-2002, 09:59 PM

CMI is the only Dawkins book I've read to date, and while he does make several references to BW I never felt like I had really missed something by not reading that first.

liquid · 01-20-2002, 05:22 AM

It stands alone pretty well, despite referring to past examples - in fact, it is almost like a simplified version of the blind watchmaker.

Ms. Siv · 01-20-2002, 06:24 PM

I would suggest (I suppose it is too late already!) that you start with "The Selfish Gene" and then move on to other books.
I've read all his books myself.

BTW there is a suggested reading order at world-of-dawkins.com

- Sivakami.

Bill · 01-20-2002, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sivakami S:
<strong>BTW there is a suggested reading order at world-of-dawkins.com</strong>

Yes, and it is catagorized by what your intent is. Unfortunately, the suggestions aren't even close to the choice of reading Climbing Mount Improbable first. The closest is if you are debating creationists, in which CMI comes second after the Blind Watchmaker.

Anyway, read it all for yourself, <a href="http://www.world-of-dawkins.com/Catalano/readlist.htm" target="_blank">HERE</a>

== Bill

Late_Cretaceous · 01-21-2002, 08:52 AM

CMI is a great book. I hope you can stomach reading a lot about wasp larvae inhabiting figs (I was reminded of CMI in an episode of Survivor-the Australian Outback when one guy tried to eat a wild fig and found it crawling with the little citters).

01-19-2002, 03:06 PM	#1
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	"Climbing Mount Improbable" by Richard Dawkins I was at Barnes & Noble earlier today and I purchased this book. It'll be the first that I've read of Dawkins, and since everyone lauds his writing, I am excited to begin reading. In fact, it'll be the first nonfiction book I've read on biology and evolution. There was a problem, though. The store had both Climing Mount Improbable and The Blind Watchmaker. Was it ok for me to select the former? The reason I bought CMI was because of my parents. They always examine everything I buy. When I got home, they read the cover of the books. CMI has nothing suspicious to them on the cover, but TBW has the words "how the evidence of evolution shows a universe without design." If my parents read this, they would probably get the hint that I was reading "heathen" material. [ January 19, 2002: Message edited by: Secular Elation ]</p>

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01-19-2002, 03:58 PM	#2
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	I loved The Blind Watchmaker; haven't read CMI yet but it's on my list. Look down towards the bottom of the page; there's a topic named "Dawkins"' and CMI was discussed in that thread. The last post on that topic was 3 days ago. Enjoy!

01-19-2002, 04:02 PM	#3
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=57&t=000003" target="_blank">here 'tis...</a>

01-19-2002, 09:59 PM	#4
LeftCoast Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 913	CMI is the only Dawkins book I've read to date, and while he does make several references to BW I never felt like I had really missed something by not reading that first.

01-20-2002, 05:22 AM	#5
liquid Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: UK Posts: 1,440	It stands alone pretty well, despite referring to past examples - in fact, it is almost like a simplified version of the blind watchmaker.

01-20-2002, 06:24 PM	#6
Ms. Siv Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: India Posts: 2,340	I would suggest (I suppose it is too late already!) that you start with "The Selfish Gene" and then move on to other books. I've read all his books myself. BTW there is a suggested reading order at world-of-dawkins.com - Sivakami.

01-21-2002, 08:52 AM	#8
Late_Cretaceous Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,049	CMI is a great book. I hope you can stomach reading a lot about wasp larvae inhabiting figs (I was reminded of CMI in an episode of Survivor-the Australian Outback when one guy tried to eat a wild fig and found it crawling with the little citters).

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