Review of Chapter 7 (One star deducted because the full text unavailable for review.)

Richard Dawkins describes genetic inheritance as like a palimpsest — that is, an original document that has new writing added to its pages in a continuous process that records an organism's environment and experiences. He summarises thus:

"The main thesis of this book is that the animal can be read as a description of much older, ancestral environments. This chapter has shown how further details are added, on top of the ancestral palimpsest scripts. Earlier chapters invoked a future scientist… presented with an animal and challenged to read its body and reconstruct the environments that shaped it. There, we spoke only of ancestral environments, described in the genomic database and its phenotypic manifestations. In this chapter we’ve seen how [that scientist] could supplement her reading of ancestral environments, by additional readings of the more recent past, including the other two great databases that supplement the genes, namely the brain and the immune system."

Chapter 7 covers genetic records of learning through reward and punishment. This might be physical, or, in sophisticated animals at least, by the ability to imagine good or bad outcomes to an action: another feedback loop that leads to more powerful brains. Dawkins' writing style is sometimes repetitive, but always clear and incisive. I would enjoy reading the complete book to (I hope) discover more details of how 'overwriting' of the palimpsest takes place during a creature's lifetime.

Richard Dawkins, one of the most influential science writers of our time, returns with The Genetic Book of the Dead, a fascinating exploration of how DNA can serve as a portal to our evolutionary past. Building on the ideas he popularized in The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker, Dawkins pushes the boundaries of our understanding of evolution by presenting a compelling and imaginative vision of how genetic information might allow us to “read” the lives of our ancestors and the environments they once inhabited.

In The Genetic Book of the Dead, Dawkins proposes that DNA, beyond its role in shaping organisms, functions as a historical record, encoding the solutions that life forms have developed to survive in various environments. Chapter 7, “In Living Memory,” which was made available in this exclusive extract, delves into this concept with engaging clarity and intellectual ambition. Dawkins argues that with advancing technology, we may soon be able to reconstruct a vivid picture of the evolutionary pressures and ecological conditions that shaped species over millions of years, based solely on the information encoded in their genes.

The book is full of compelling thought experiments, such as how a future zoologist could examine an unknown animal and decipher not only its immediate ancestry but also the environment and challenges its predecessors faced. The notion of a “book of the dead” is both poetic and revolutionary, suggesting that every living organism carries within its genetic makeup a kind of memoir of its evolutionary journey.

Dawkins excels at making complex scientific concepts accessible without sacrificing intellectual rigor. His writing is as clear and captivating as ever, filled with vivid metaphors and engaging explanations of genetics and natural selection. He presents evolution not as a cold, mechanical process but as a rich tapestry woven over time, full of adaptation, convergence, and innovation. This gives the reader a sense of awe at the resilience and creativity of life, as well as a deeper appreciation for the intricate ways in which species have evolved.

While The Genetic Book of the Dead is primarily focused on evolutionary biology, it also touches on philosophical questions about the nature of knowledge and memory. By thinking of genes as records of the past, Dawkins invites readers to reflect on how much we can truly know about life on Earth and how much is still hidden in the genetic code waiting to be uncovered.

One of the book’s most striking contributions is its challenge to traditional methods of studying history through fossils and artifacts. Dawkins makes a persuasive case that DNA may provide us with a more precise and complete narrative of the past than bones ever could. This revolutionary approach has profound implications for fields like paleontology, anthropology, and even conservation biology, where understanding the past is key to protecting species in the future.

The illustrations and diagrams throughout the book help bring the science to life, making it accessible to readers who may not be familiar with genetics or evolutionary theory. However, this is not just a book for scientists—it’s for anyone with a curiosity about life on Earth and how we came to be. Dawkins’ ability to explain the awe-inspiring complexity of nature in an engaging and understandable way makes this book a rewarding read for laypersons and experts alike.

In conclusion, The Genetic Book of the Dead is a remarkable and thought-provoking work that challenges us to rethink how we approach the study of evolution and the history of life. Dawkins’ imaginative and insightful exploration of DNA as a “book” that records the trials and triumphs of species across time offers a new lens through which to view the natural world. For anyone interested in the wonders of evolutionary biology, this book is a must-read, as it opens the door to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of life and the stories our genes have to tell.

An extract of the full book provided by Netgalley (Ch 7).
This was an interesting and accessible read from Richard Dawkins newest book which explores how the genes of a species can be read as a book of its hereditary life lessons for survival. Chapter 7 'In Living Memory' looks at how lessons are learned through reward and pain, amongst other means. While none of the information is likely to be new to anyone with an interest in the field, it is a thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of writing. It references many famous experiments throughout and is peppered with dashes of wit and precise commentary. Dawkins makes a complex topic engaging for a mass audience.
Thoroughly recommended.

Dawkins’ upcoming title The Genetic Book of the Dead is divided into 13th chapters, and this extract is the 7th chapter with its end notes included.
As with his other work, Dawkins manages to strike the right balance between modern scientific writing and storytelling, and makes his research and analyses equally interesting and accessible.
I was not a fan of all the images (both illustrations and photos), and wondered if some of them could be more relevant or better quality.
I will surely read the full book based on this extract that goes into Skinner’s work, and contains Dawkins interesting analogies. It was informative.

Although the ARC only includes chapter 7, I found it fascinating and couldn't stop reading about natural selection. I was so engrossed that I felt disappointed when it suddenly ended. I was a bit frustrated because there was a reference to chapter 2, which I couldn't access. However, I am impressed by how this ARC offers an engaging and clear explanation of how we carry the genetic legacy of our ancestors while continually updating our molecular features. I love how it smoothly presents and explores the connections between humans and animals in an easily understandable way.