Customer Reviews
A terrific book on a 'science' in decline - By: Karel Bata, 18 Oct 2007 
It is a shame that just as usage of the word 'meme' is becoming commonplace, the 'science' of Memetics is fallling out of favour. This is largely due to its inability to actuallly predict anything. For a science to be accepted as such it has to be testable - so it has to be predictive. Memetics (so far) doesn't do that. All it does is offer explanations of things that have already happened, & so many of its enthusiastic early converts have since gone in other directions. This is a shame, because to anyone new to it Memetics does offer the most stunning of explanations & insights.
Anyway, back in 2000, while everyone else dithered, Susan Blackmore nailed her colours to the mast & wrote this brilliant book full of insight & daring conjecture. You might disagree with a lot of what she says - it might even annoy you - but you will find it a fascinating read, & the best book (yet) on the subject.
Great theory, let's apply it. - By: Stephen Parry, 30 Jun 2007 
I found this book both thought provoking & slightly disturbing. The arguments are well constructed & make perfect sense. The implications of the meme 'mind virus' are far reaching, I guess intuitively we alll know this happens but now have a theory about the mechanism (like natural selection for genes) that illuminates the process. I am now wondering how this might help in my work in the area of organisational change...? I have a lot of thinking to do, perhaps create a meme or two.
Great Book.
Dont read this if your depressed - By: , 01 Nov 2005 Seriously, dont read this if your depressed, it will push you over the edge..wherever that may be. A friend of mine gave me this to read, thinking i would enjoy it, & so i read it...over breakfast, on the train to work, at work & on the train home. By midnight of that day i was in bed & half way through the book & i couldn't believe what i was reading. Not only is the concept of memes mind blowing, i couldn't believe that i had never heard of it before. To say it shook my world is an understatement bigger than barbara streisands nose. It's utterly thought provoking, but too much thought into it will lead you down some dark places. And you cant just shake it off & go for a night out...the ideas in the book will follow you there, into pubs, cinemas, infact everytime your in a social environment. People who have read this book will understand. It caused me so much anguish that i had to pass it on to others to read, & watching their reaction was my therapy. Once you've read it, the world suddenly seems so different, but not in a good way. I know im building this book up like its the blair witch project but frankly it struck a bolt of reality into my soul & my fluffy dream of an afterlife evaporated. If it doesnt strike the fear of 'God' into you, then you dont have a pulse. Forget horror films, there is no need for pretend make believe, bad acting horror, this tiny book packs a punch to knockout stephen king. And that last page, more precisely, that last paragraph...sobered me up when i was half drunk. My next book is by someone callled david icke, ive heard some rumours about it, & my initial feeling is that i made need a brandy on hand, but thats for another review. Good luck reading this one.
The Book of Common Sense - By: Stephen A. Haines, 21 Feb 2005 It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the term 'meme' to surpass the lexicon of phrases previously used to convey cultural ideas. "Shibboleth" is, of course, too 'foreign' for the WASP mind to grasp intuitively. "Myth" is nice & brief, but again has been relegated to minor considerations. It's something 'pagan' or out of time. "Cultural icon" conjures up images of rock stars or charismatic politicians. "Meme" has the advantages of universality; it's easy to remember, & isn't carrying any prior cultural overtones. In an age of fast moving technologies, 'meme' is timely - after alll, how many readers here haven't heard something about genetic research. It's only shortcoming is the hesitation one hears when others are trying to say it: is it 'meem' or 'meemee'. The former is correct, of course, but you might have to have read Dawkins first to pick up on that.
Alien abductions & Near Death Experiences as expressions of memeplexes, complex, irrational memes. In 'Religions As Memeplexes' Blackmore explains how memes modify the genetic mechanism for altruism among kin by extending benificence to those who are 'like us'. This give great strength to religious memes, extending their influence over disparate groups. Religious memes did not set out to be successful, they have no more ability to foresee the future than do genes. Religious memes flourish in a given environment, with group selection rising above selection of individuals. The link of memetics to genetics & the reinforcing feedback loop of their interaction is the basis for successful religions.
It's a useful exercise to read this book in company with Richard Brodie's VIRUS OF THE MIND. Where Blackmore takes Dawkins' idea & fleshes it out with additional background information, Brodie applies practical applications of how memes impact our lives, & what, if anything, the reader might wish to do about that.
Memes have a lot to answer for. - By: R. Britain, 22 May 2004 The concept & idea of memes is such a simple, but extraordinary idea, originallly hatched by Dawkins. The cultural Gene is expanded on, & explained to make an interesting & provoking subject by Blackmore. Full of strong arguments for memes as an evolutionary component & force to the increase in brain development, & therefore of consciousness. Weather the meme played such a role is hard to say, but undoubtable the meme presented as successful ideas, evolving through people & cultures certainly exists, & it is very interesting to consider the effects they have & which become successful & which don't & how they have, & continue to shape humanity. The beauty of the book is that fundamentallly the meme is a simple concept to grasp & to follow & to understand how Blackmore reached her conclusions. An intelligently written & enjoyable book to read.
