I vehemently agree with the theme of your message, and of course the fine quote at the end. But I have a non-trivial quibble -- please don't be too quick to di

I vehemently agree with the theme of your message, and of course the fine quote at the end. But I have a non-trivial quibble -- please don't be too quick to dismiss Richard Dawkins' science writing. Keeping comparisons with the giant, i.e. Darwin, aside, Dawkins is one of the most eloquent science writers. On par with the inimitable Carl Sagan, dare I say. A year or so ago I've read The Blind Watchmaker by Dawkins (which, I gather, touches the same ideas from The Selfish Gene). He writes extremely poignantly about "cumulative selection", the "immortal gene", "adaptive complexity" (the particular property of living things that is replicable only by Darwinian selection) and many other riveting topics. Not to mention lots of fun and meaningful analogies related to various computer-related concepts (if you enjoy that sort of thing) and to the natural world, to explain DNA and related ideas (refer to "The Power of Archives" chapter). Also, have a gander at Science in the Soul, also by Dawkins, a collection of essays; FWIW, very much recommend it. Some fine writing in there. (Note to self: Resume reading On the Origin of Species again.)