W.D. Hamilton (1936-2000) was responsible for a revolution in thinking about evolutionary biology
- a revolution that changed our understanding of life itself. He played a central role in the realization that what matters in evolution is not the survival of the individual but of the survival of its genes. This provided the solution to the long standing problem of animal altruism that vexed even Darwin himself & in due course resulted in terms like selfish genes kin selection & sociobiology becoming familiar to a wider public. Hamilton went on to solve many more major problems & open up ever new fields
- he shaped much of our current understanding of central problems including the evolution of sexual reproduction & ageing. He became world famous & garnered international prizes. But this is all in hindsight. In fact Hamiltons recognition came late
- his career is a classic case of misunderstood genius. In this illuminating & moving biography Ullica Segerstrale documents Hamiltons extraordinary life & work revealing a man of immense intellectual curiosity an uncompromising truth-seeker a naturalist & jungle explorer a risk-taker an unconventional scientist with a poets soul & a deep concern for life on earth & mankinds future.