Who wrote the book "The Blind Watchmaker"?

"The Blind Watchmaker", first published in 1986, is a work by the eminent British biologist, Richard Dawkins (born 1941).

Dawkins is a sometimes controversial figure, noted for his militant atheism, but few would question his scientific prowess. This book, propounding the Darwinian Theory of Evolution, takes its title from a quote by a 19th century scientist named William Paley who, whilst in some ways precursing Darwin's ideas, maintained that some divine or intelligent hand must have played a role in creation, or otherwise it would be as unlikely as a blind person being able to assemble the intricate mechanisms of a watch.

Dawkins, however, maintains that natural selection can explain the development of complex and intelligent life. Perhaps ironically, one of his most telling examples concerns the development of the human eye. He also draws analogies to computer programmes.

Though, inevitably, attracting criticism, even Dawkins' opponents generally acknowledge the work to be erudite and a classic of modern scientific writing.

Readers may be interested to know that the kinetic sculptures known as "Strandbeests" were partly inspired by their creator Theo Jansen's reading of "The Blind Watchmaker".