The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology
by Robert Wright
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert WrightEdition: Paperback
Published: 1995-08-29
ISBN: 0679763996
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Vintage
Book Reviews of The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology
Book Review: A Seminal Popularization of Evolutionary Psychology
Summary: 5 Stars
I recommend this book wholeheartedly and would give it ten stars if I could. It was one of the first accounts I ever read concerning evolutionary psychology. Once I opened it I found that I couldn't put it down. Like Matt Ridley, Robert Wright is a magnificent populizer of the discipline and his narrative will appeal to both laypersons and those in the field. The text is erudite but lively. Further, its 400 pages (about) are cogent and concise. As far as political slant goes I couldn't detect one. Like Dr. Buss, Wright puts science first and foremost which is all conservatives can ask for nowadays. The Introduction and First chapter provide an excellent summary of Darwin and the movement that followed him. Interestingly enough, while consumers spend millions on "self-help" publications, Wright's chapters "Male and Female," "Men and Women," "The Marriage Market," and "The Darwinian Plan for Marital Bliss" tell us far more about dating and relationships than anything you'll see on Oprah or read at the major media outlets. Two other sections I greatly enjoyed concerned Darwinian and Freudian Cynicism and Evolutionary Ethics where Wright displayed keen insight in regards to the perspectives of our modern age. His quote "Ironic self-consciousness is the order of the day" is one I'll never forget.
Summary of The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology
An accessible introduction to the science of evolutionary psychology and how it explains many aspects of human nature. Unlike many books on the topic,which focus on abstractions like kin selection, this book focuses on Darwinian explanations of why we are the way we are--emotionally and morally. Wright deals particularly well with explaining the reasons for the stereotypical dynamics of the three big "S's:" sex, siblings, and society.Are men literally born to cheat? Does monogamy actually serve women's interests? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animal one of the most provocative science books in recent years. Wright unveils the genetic strategies behind everything from our sexual preferences to our office politics--as well as their implications for our moral codes and public policies. Illustrations.
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