Q10.1: Suitable background reading for beginners?

These books give a "flavor" of what the subject is about.

Dawkins, R. (1976, 1989 2nd ed) "The Selfish Gene", Oxford: Oxford University Press. [The 2nd edition includes two new chapters]

Dawkins, R. (1982) "The Extended Phenotype: The Gene as a Unit of Selection", Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dawkins, R. (1986) "The Blind Watchmaker", New York: W.W. Norton.

Fogel, D. (1998) "Evolutionary Computation: The Fossil Record," IEEE Press. Chronicles the history of simulated evolution from the early 1950s. http://www.natural- selection.com/people/dbf.html

Gonick, L. (1983) "The Cartoon Guide to Computer Science", New York: Barnes & Noble. [eds note: features an interesting chapter on Charles Babbage in conjunction with "horse racing forecasting", if you want to use EAs to fullfill this task, better read this section first]

Gonick, L. (1983) "The Cartoon Guide to Genetics", New York: Barnes & Noble.

Regis, E. (1987) "Who got Einstein's Office? Eccentricity and Genius at the Institute for Advanced Study", Reading, MA: Addison Wesley [eds note: chapters 5, 10 and 12]

Levy, S. (1992) "Artificial Life: The Quest for a new Creation", New York, NY: Pantheon. [LEVY92]: [eds note: read this and you will have the urge to work in this field]

Sigmund, K. (1993) "Games of Life: Explorations in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour", Oxford: Univ. Press. 252 pp. Hard/Softcover avail.