Darwin's Dangerous IdeaDarwin's Dangerous Idea
Score Modern
What it's about
The philosopher Daniel Dennett argues that Darwin's idea of evolution by natural selection is the most powerful idea anyone has ever had, a mindless process that can explain the design of every living thing. He calls it a 'universal acid' that eats through traditional ideas about meaning, purpose, the mind and morality, and he shows why it doesn't leave the world meaningless.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. It's a bold, playful and demanding book of ideas.
You'll love it if you liked
The Selfish Gene
On the Origin of Species
The Structure of Scientific RevolutionsGood to know
It's long and challenging, and spends a lot of time arguing with other scientists, especially Stephen Jay Gould.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller9 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #647 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1224 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
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Quick answers
Is Darwin's Dangerous Idea worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. It ranks #1,224 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Darwin's Dangerous Idea about?
The philosopher Daniel Dennett argues that Darwin's idea of evolution by natural selection is the most powerful idea anyone has ever had, a mindless process that can explain the design of every living thing. He calls it a 'universal acid' that eats through traditional ideas about meaning, purpose, the mind and morality, and he shows why it doesn't leave the world meaningless.
How long does it take to read Darwin's Dangerous Idea?
About 15 hours (600 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Darwin's Dangerous Idea?
If you liked it, try The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin or The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn.