This book comes in two parts, the first part is more philosophy based, and the second part is largely a mathematical treatment of genetics.
The main thesis of the book is that complexity arises within an individual in response to a complex environment, as an adaptation to it. This idea is traced back to Herbert Spencer, who is discussed in comparison with Dewey; both of whom had an externalist view of biology to some degree. Externalism in this case meaning that an organism is shaped by its environment, by the action of natural selection on its ancestors, and Internalism in this setting meaning the extent to which the individual shapes itself. It is an externalist mechanism that plays the greater role in evolution, and the emergence of mind is explained in part as a way an organism evolves to be able to intelligently react to a large number of different situations, due to the increase in fitness gained by being able to perceive the environment, spot patterns, and react accordingly. This is stated to be only possible in environments that contain a mixture of predictability and unpredictability. A completely predictable environment would not favour mind, as simple algorithmic behaviour would suffice. A completely random environment would also be useless, as there must be some patterns in external events for the mind to be of use.
The second part of the book shows using statistics and game theory, the advantages of flexible behaviour of organisms over fixed behaviours, in certain situations, and how this can lead to complexity on the group level, and on the individual level. Sometimes a fixed response is preferable (hence there are organisms without mind), and sometimes it is best to track the environment and alter behaviour.
I found the first part of the book more stimulating, and the second part seemed to be something of a waste of time. Anyone who has studied genetics would probably be bored reading it, as it is mainly just mathematical examples proving concepts that are intuitive and very obvious. The book also seems to spend most of the time skirting around the concept of mind, with a lot of in-depth discussion of concepts, albeit important concepts, that bear on the issue of Mind's place in nature only indirectly.
Mind is a difficult topic though, one of those about which scientists and philosophers cannot agree, either with each other or with themselves. The book does a good job of clearing up a lot of auxiliary concerns, and is thorough and academic in its treatment of the topics raised. The first half of the book will probably be of more interest to the biologist, who doesn't want to be retaught his genetics, and everyone else should find the book fairly good as a whole, if they are interested in understanding the mechanisms behind the emergence and survival of organic complexity between the teeth of the second law of thermodynamics. ( )

http://bactra.org/weblog/algae-2014-12.html#godfrey-smith ( )