The Blind Watchmaker, by Richard Dawkins (Penguin Books, £6.99 in UK)

Penguin has released a new edition of this book which was first published in 1986. Dawkins's exposition of evolution, the "blind watchmaker" of the title, has lost none of its relevance or appeal 15 years on. If anything, it is more relevant now in light of current research into the human genome, the genetic blueprint of life.

Dawkins's great talent is his ability to make the reader understand. He encourages him or her to absorb the essence of this complex subject without all the pain. You don't need a degree in biology to make sense of his prose. As ever, Dawkins makes clear the dim view he takes of alleged miracles and the supernatural, arguments which he has espoused throughout his writing career. Don't let this put you off. If his views on religion annoy you, so much the better, this book will keep you engaged on a number of levels.