The Genial Gene

In The Genial Gene, Joan Roughgarden challenges the prevailing concepts of selfishness and individuality in biological evolution, asserting that these ideas misrepresent the complexities of animal behavior. Building on her earlier work, she critiques the theory of sexual selection and proposes a new framework called social selection, which emphasizes cooperation and the multifaceted nature of evolutionary success. Roughgarden's scientifically rigorous approach redefines key tenets of Darwinism, offering a fresh perspective on the dynamics of gene pools and animal social systems.