An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist in Science and Inquiry

Oct 12, 2013 David Rubenstein rated it really liked it

Shelves: biology, memoirs, audiobook, evolution, biography

In this short autobiography, Richard Dawkins covers the first half of his life. The book ends with the publication of his first book, The Selfish Gene. The book is filled with short anecdotes about Dawkins' life growing up, from the youngest age.

The first half of the book covers his childhood; in this section Dawkins frequently wonders why he did so many "unthinking" things, often devoid of curiosity. He wonders how he was influenced to become a biologist; and both his parents were interested i In this short autobiography, Richard Dawkins covers the first half of his life. The book ends with the publication of his first book, The Selfish Gene. The book is filled with short anecdotes about Dawkins' life growing up, from the youngest age.

The first half of the book covers his childhood; in this section Dawkins frequently wonders why he did so many "unthinking" things, often devoid of curiosity. He wonders how he was influenced to become a biologist; and both his parents were interested in the natural sciences. His father, especially, had a strong influence on his early life.

Dawkins' life in a boarding school is interesting. He writes about how bullying was a big element in the school. He wanted very strongly to see evidence in favor of religion. During his early teenage years he felt pleasure in religious observances. However, he later saw hypocrisy in the religious aspects of his school, and noted that even some of the faculty did not relish the religious observances.

My favorite anecdote in the book occurs while Dawkins is a young boy in East Africa. His parents learn about a "lion kill" nearby, so the entire household is loaded up into the family car, and they ride off to see a lion devouring its prey. All the adults are spellbound by the sight. But Richard ignores the lion. Instead, he sits on the floor of the car playing with toy cars ("vroom, vroom").

The second half of the book describes his science education and his early career. He relished computer programming, and developed a number of programs aimed at modeling biological behaviors. Throughout the book, Dawkins writes as a humble person, with none of the arrogance that some people see in him. The only downside to the book is that he writes too much in the beginning about his ancestors--this was somewhat boring. But overall, this is a charming book, about a leading biologist of our age. I listened to this book as an audiobook; Dawkins is the narrator, and his pleasant voice makes listening a delight. ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2018 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1audio, 2non-fiction, biography

He's best known for The Selfish Gene & an outspoken atheist. He also spent the early part of his life in Africa, so I expected to like this more than I did. It wasn't bad, but amazingly pedestrian. Overall, it was interesting, especially when he discussed his experiments & early computer programming.

Some of the great names he rubbed elbows with were fun to see in another light, too. It was also nice to know that the great man wasn't a child prodigy & he regrets many of the opportunities he let ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Sep 20, 2014 Hollis Williams rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography

I noticed that many reviewers complained about the 'self-absorption' of this book. It was self-indulgent but then again every other book I have read in this genre has been the same and I feel that many of Dawkins' other writings are marred by his self-indulgence so I expected it here. The sections about his early life in Africa are genuinely fascinating. I know that public school and Oxbridge are the Ying and Yang of any respectable English intellectual but I couldn't interest myself in these se ...more

Like · see review

Feb 12, 2014 Patricrk patrick rated it really liked it

Shelves: science

Enjoyed this book. It is interesting to see the influences that made him who he is. First book in a two book autobiography. Ends with the publication of the Selfish Gene.

Like · see review