The proper conclusion from that is that the book is bad. If you are reading fourth similar book and all sux proper conclusion is that I need to select books differently. Or read to learn differently. (Because most reading is not to learn).

If we were in situation where many people rarely learn from books then conclusion would make sense. But authors examples are all fairly in same category - pop famous edutainment. Maybe selfish gene sux at teaching. But it is apparently good entertainment and did a lot to popularize that part of biology and evolution. It worked in that sense for many people.