The Selfish Gene

You will see life differently :)

3 books have affected me on a visceral level. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma, Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins and now.......The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins!

Called the most influential science book and in its 40th edition, The Selfish Gene has changed my perspective on life and the innate vastness of this Universe is greater than ever.

Humans took some three thousand million years to form, and narcissistic as we may be, the star organisms we are not! Genes, which first started out as crystal and rock are the rockstars. Gene after gene, in varying units (cistron) and in fighting off rival genes (alleles) for survival, went on through natural selection and evolution to form the world as we see it today. Much like plants and animals, humans are but mere “survival machines” (vehicles) for genes whose overarching goal is to COPY and REPLICATE.

Scientist and zoologist Dawkins gave many examples of the sophisticated behaviours of animals and insects, many of which may share similar genes with us. Is it not fascinating that the elephant seal mother favours the male child over the female? The reason is not immediately sexist. The male child will potentially win a harem of females for the family, a leg up for the family, in a kingdom where the female is prized for her reproduction while the male is considered expandable.

Or philandering genes in birds? Are the males to be blamed? Because philanderer genes only spread like wildfire when female birds copulate fast. Easy in other words. Don’t shoot the messenger. I hope my more conventional female brethen will self reflect and stop throwing shade at males.

Or status? Did you know that even among mammals, insects and sea anemones, males who win territory win the license to breed with a female. The end result is always the propagation of the gene even if the reason has  been distorted to be materialistic in the human realm.

Why did I read this book?

Because I was frustrated at the selfishness of society. I picked up this book in hopes of allaying my disappointment. And? While many readers have reported feeling pessimistic and some to the extreme of depressed after this book, I feel the opposite.

While nature will not create more selfless genes, humans can change selfishness consciously. I am therefore a “rebel” gene who has beat out my more mass selfish genes, no easy feat in an environment where selfish genes are favoured, century over century. The only way to create more copies of myself is to reproduce. But that of course is a giant problem, seeing that my gene for wanting to reproduce is somewhat unenthusiastic.

I must thank my friend Swee Kheng who was the catalyst in my reading this book. After a very enlightening conversation with him, my mission was to read this book. I must also thank my friend Livingeshan for giving me a copy of this book and providing me hours of mind blown wonder.

I wonder of the impact of a “displaced” gene like me, if I may find other genes/ cistrons/ alleles and how we may thrive and evolve and create something for tomorrow. Or will I be short lived due to my inability to get along with other genes?

The Selfish Gene. Not an easy book to read for some of its complexity but hugely interesting. I highly recommend this book.

In a world where reading has become uncool and dated, I’d like to quote my friend Swee Kheng who inspired me to read harder books. He mentioned a Lao Tzu quote which has since stayed and this I am paraphrasing. “That conversation becomes flavourless after three days of not reading.”

I couldn’t agree more :)