Guide · Reading time
How long does it take to read The Selfish Gene?
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins has 497 pages in the edition we track. At the median Readaily pace of about 28 pages an hour, it takes about 17 h 34 min to read: 36 days at 30 minutes a day, or 71 days at 15 minutes a day.
| Author | Richard Dawkins |
|---|---|
| Pages | 497 |
| Published | 2016 |
| Genre | Mathematics |
Reading time by pace
These paces come from 1,033 timed reading sessions by 104 Readaily readers (October 2026).
| Pace | Pages an hour | Time to read |
|---|---|---|
| Relaxed (slower quarter of sessions) | 23 | 21 h 14 min |
| Median reader | 28 | 17 h 34 min |
| Brisk (faster quarter of sessions) | 45 | 11 h 6 min |
A daily plan to finish it
| Reading a day | Days to finish | Finished in |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min a day | 71 days | about 10 weeks |
| 30 min a day | 36 days | about 5 weeks |
| 60 min a day | 18 days | about 3 weeks |
Page counts change between editions, formats and languages. Large print, illustrated and pocket editions can differ by a hundred pages or more, so treat this as a good estimate, not a promise.
Your own pace is the number that matters. Readaily times your sessions and works out your pages per hour for each book. Try the reading time calculator with your own numbers.
Questions
How many pages is The Selfish Gene?
The edition we track has 497 pages. Other editions may be longer or shorter.
How many hours does it take to read The Selfish Gene?
About 17 h 34 min at the median pace measured in Readaily (about 28 pages an hour).
Can I finish The Selfish Gene reading 15 minutes a day?
Yes: at the median pace, 15 minutes a day gets you through it in about 71 days.
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