What books does Richard Dawkins recommend?
Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins redefined natural selection in The Selfish Gene and became a leading voice for scientific reason, and his book recommendations pair rigorous science with an unabashed love of literature. This collection assembles 26 titles from his verified Twitter account, reviews and forewords he has written, and a feature naming his five favorite books, weighted toward science, philosophy, and history, with cherished fiction alongside. His top pick is Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World, of which he offers the highest compliment: I wish I had written The Demon-Haunted World. He also credits Sam Harris's The Moral Landscape with changing his mind about whether science can speak to morality, and among fiction he rereads Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour again and again, mesmerized by the chiseled craftsmanship of every sentence. Evolution, rationalism, and fine prose thread through his choices.
Last updated March 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Demon-Haunted World
Science as a Candle in the Dark
byCarl Sagan
1997480 Pages“I wish I had written The Demon-Haunted World.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Review in The Times (London), 1996
Read by Richard Dawkins
The Moral Landscape
How Science Can Determine Human Values
bySam Harris
2010320 Pages“I was one of those who had unthinkingly bought into the hectoring myth that science can say nothing about morals. To my surprise, The Moral Landscape has changed all that for me. ... It will turn their world exhilaratingly upside down.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Blurb / Book Cover
Read by Richard Dawkins
byEvelyn Waugh
1965736 Pages“I re-read Waugh's books again and again, mesmerized by the chiseled craftsmanship of every sentence.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: The Week, 'Richard Dawkins' 5 favorite books'
Read by Richard Dawkins
byDaniel F. Galouye
2022174 Pages“The people of this sci-fi novel live underground in darkness. ... they worship Light... and their theology includes demonic figures... called Strontium, Cobalt, and the arch-devil, 'Hydrogen Himself.'”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: The Week, 'Richard Dawkins' 5 favorite books'
Read by Richard Dawkins
byElspeth Huxley
1939406 Pages“This epic saga sweeping through four generations of life among Kenya's Kikuyu tribe is a novel of Steinbeckian stature neglected by literary connoisseurs.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: The Week, 'Richard Dawkins' 5 favorite books'
Read by Richard Dawkins
byP.G. Wodehouse
1939288 Pages“P.G. Wodehouse is my escape from the sleep-disturbing.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: The Week, 'Richard Dawkins' 5 favorite books'
Read by Richard Dawkins
Pluto's Republic
Incorporating The Art of the Soluble and Induction and Intuition in Scientific Thought
byPeter Medawar
1982351 Pages“His prose is so scintillating that it almost doesn't matter what he is writing about.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: The Week, 'Richard Dawkins' 5 favorite books'
A Universe from Nothing
Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing
byLawrence M. Krauss
2012224 Pages(30,760)
“A game-changing look at the most basic underpinning of existence and a powerful antidote to outmoded philosophical, religious, and scientific thinking.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Afterword to the book
Read by Richard Dawkins
Human Universe
Celebrating Humanity's Extraordinary Journey from Dust to the Stars
byBrian Cox, Andrew Cohen
2014288 Pages“Beautifully & intelligently written... A book that fills one with admiration for science as perhaps humanity's most sublime achievement.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
Read by Richard Dawkins
Starry Messenger
Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization
byNeil deGrasse Tyson
2022288 Pages“Just read Neil Tyson's latest book... Every page lit up by an original poetic imagination but bearing the unmistakable stamp of a rational mind.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
Read by Richard Dawkins
Blueprint
The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society
byNicholas A. Christakis
2019544 Pages“Now greatly enjoying Blueprint by Nicholas Christakis. So far, fascinating natural history of humans in small groups.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
The Big Picture
On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself
bySean Carroll
2016480 Pages“Finished Sean Carroll's The Big Picture. Superb (mostly because written by scientist) intro to philosophy.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
Read by Michael Bloomberg, Bryan Johnson, Charlie Kirk and 4 others
The Coddling of the American Mind
How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
byGreg Lukianoff, Jonathan Haidt
2018352 Pages“Superb book, deeply important. Please read it. If you are a student, read it. If you are a parent of a future student, read it.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
The Escape Artist
The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
byJonathan Freedland
2022416 Pages“Freed to move on to a genuinely great book, The Escape Artist, brilliantly written & narrated by Jonathan Freedland.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
Read by Richard Dawkins
Niko's Nature: The Life of Niko Tinbergen and His Science of Animal Behaviour
The Life of Niko Tinbergen and His Science of Animal Behaviour
byHans Kruuk
2003406 Pages“Just read, straight through for the 2nd time... Highly intelligent, perceptive assessment of the Maestro.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
Read by Richard Dawkins
Portuguese Irregular Verbs
A Professor Dr. von Igelfeld Entertainment
byAlexander McCall Smith
2004128 Pages“For the good of your soul, listen to 'Portuguese Irregular Verbs', 'The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs', et seq. Laugh till you cry with delight.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Verified Twitter @RichardDawkins
Read by Richard Dawkins
Adaptation and Natural Selection
A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought
byGeorge C. Williams
2018336 Pages“This is one of the most important books in evolutionary biology published in the twentieth century.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Foreword to the 30th Anniversary Edition
Read by Karl Marx, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Paul Graham and 1 others
On the Origin of Species
By Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
byCharles Darwin
2009576 Pages(275,000)
Source: Introduction to the Everyman's Library edition
Read by Richard Dawkins
The Unnatural Nature of Science
Why Science Does Not Make (Common) Sense
byLewis Wolpert
1992191 PagesSource: Anthologized in 'The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing'
God Is Not Great
How Religion Poisons Everything
byChristopher Hitchens
2007307 Pages(112,916)
“If you are a religious apologist, Hitchens is your worst nightmare... read this book.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Public Tribute / Interview
Read by Richard Dawkins
byJerry A. Coyne
2009304 Pages“I wish I could say that any book of mine was as good as this.”
— Richard Dawkins
Source: Blurb / Official Review
The Language Instinct
How the Mind Creates Language
bySteven Pinker
2007576 PagesSource: Anthologized in 'The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing'
Read by Richard Dawkins
Darwin's Dangerous Idea
Evolution and the Meanings of Life
byDaniel Dennett
1996592 PagesSource: Anthologized in 'The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing'
Read by Richard Dawkins
The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee
How Our Animal Heritage Affects the Way We Live
byJared Diamond
1991368 PagesSource: Anthologized in 'The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing'
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Richard Dawkins recommend?
His 26 picks include The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan, The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris, Sword of Honour by Evelyn Waugh, Dark Universe by Daniel F. Galouye, and Red Strangers by Elspeth Huxley.
What is Richard Dawkins's most recommended book?
His top pick is The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan, Sagan’s defense of scientific skepticism against superstition and pseudoscience. Dawkins pays it the ultimate compliment, writing in his 1996 review, "I wish I had written The Demon-Haunted World."
Where do Richard Dawkins's book recommendations come from?
They are drawn from his verified Twitter account, reviews and forewords he has written, and a feature listing his five favorite books, along with introductions to anthologies such as The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing.
Has Richard Dawkins written any books?
Yes. He has authored 17 books listed here, including The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, The Extended Phenotype, The Ancestor's Tale, and The Greatest Show on Earth.
What subjects does Richard Dawkins read most?
His recommendations center on science and technology and philosophy, with a strong history thread and a notable love of fiction. Alongside works by Sagan, Darwin, and Pinker, he rereads the prose of P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh.
All 26 Books Richard Dawkins Has Recommended
- The Demon-Haunted World · Carl Sagan
- The Moral Landscape · Sam Harris
- Sword of Honour · Evelyn Waugh
- Dark Universe · Daniel F. Galouye
- Red Strangers · Elspeth Huxley
- Uncle Fred in the Springtime · P.G. Wodehouse
- Pluto's Republic · Peter Medawar
- A Universe from Nothing · Lawrence M. Krauss
- Human Universe · Brian Cox
- Starry Messenger · Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Blueprint · Nicholas A. Christakis
- The Big Picture · Sean Carroll
- The Coddling of the American Mind · Greg Lukianoff
- The Escape Artist · Jonathan Freedland
- Niko's Nature: The Life of Niko Tinbergen and His Science of Animal Behaviour · Hans Kruuk
- Portuguese Irregular Verbs · Alexander McCall Smith
- Adaptation and Natural Selection · George C. Williams
- On the Origin of Species · Charles Darwin
- The Unnatural Nature of Science · Lewis Wolpert
- God Is Not Great · Christopher Hitchens
- Why Evolution Is True · Jerry A. Coyne
- The Language Instinct · Steven Pinker
- Darwin's Dangerous Idea · Daniel Dennett
- The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee · Jared Diamond
- The War on the West · Douglas Murray
- What Is Life? · Erwin Schrödinger