Altruism vs. Selfishness

Richard Dawkins, in the first chapter of The Selfish Gene, tells us that what separates us from the animals is that we aren't really controlled by our selfish genes. Animals, throughout all time, have really been controlled by their genes and not by the individual. Whether altruistic or selfish, Dawkins says that every animal really has selfish intentions at the roots because they are at the mercy of their genes. Our minds are advanced enough that we really aren't controlled by our genes, as demonstrated by the invention of several things such as the contraceptive pill.
I really like that Dawkins knows every counter-argument that could be made against him and knows how to beat it. He frequently says that his book is not this or that but rather something else.