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Richard Dawkins' Memoirs

This memoir series chronicles the life journey of one of the most influential scientists and thinkers of our time. Explore his childhood in colonial Africa, intellectual awakening at Oxford University, and the path to writing a revolutionary work on evolutionary biology. The series offers an intimate look into the formation of his radical skepticism and his pivotal contributions to modern thought, including the concept of memes. It's a fascinating exploration of a mind that reshaped our understanding of life and culture.

Una luz fugaz en la oscuridad: Recuerdos de una vida dedicada a la ciencia
Brief candle in the dark : my life in science
An appetite for wonder : the making of a scientist

Recommended Reading Order

  1. 1

    Born to parents who were enthusiastic naturalists, and linked through his wider family to a clutch of accomplished scientists, Richard Dawkins was bound to have biology in his genes. But what were the influences that shaped his life? And who inspired him to become the pioneering scientist and public thinker now famous (and infamous to some) around the world? In An Appetite for Wonder we join him on a personal journey from an enchanting childhood in colonial Africa, through the eccentricities of boarding school in England, to his studies at the University of Oxfordâe(tm)s dynamic Zoology Department, which sparked his radical new vision of Darwinism, The Selfish Gene. Through Dawkinsâe(tm)s honest self-reflection, touching reminiscences and witty anecdotes, we are finally able to understand the private influences that shaped the public man who, more than anyone else in his generation, explained our own origins.

    An appetite for wonder : the making of a scientist
  2. 2

    In this continuation of his autobiography, Richard Dawkins explores the second half of his life, highlighting key individuals, institutions, and ideas that have inspired him. He vividly recounts his twenty-five years teaching at Oxford, blending wit, anecdotes, and digressions. Dawkins pays tribute to colleagues and students, capturing the quirks of an ancient establishment while respecting its dedication to learning and discovery. He shares experiences as a traveling scientist, from fieldwork on the Panama Canal to prestigious conferences with notable scientific figures, both prominent and eccentric. Dawkins also reflects on his interactions with publishers, television producers, and debate partners, particularly during the period following the release of The God Delusion in 2006, which established him as a leading voice in atheism. Most importantly, he revisits his evolving ideas about science throughout his distinguished career as a thinker, teacher, and writer. This narrative invites readers into a stimulating world of discovery, featuring a captivating cast of characters, all brought to life by Dawkins's exceptional storytelling.

    Brief candle in the dark : my life in science