Itemize Books Toward Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
| Original Title: | Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives |
| ISBN: | 0385340214 (ISBN13: 9780385340212) |
| Edition Language: | English |
David Sloan Wilson
Hardcover | Pages: 400 pages Rating: 3.93 | 776 Users | 70 Reviews
Identify About Books Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
| Title | : | Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives |
| Author | : | David Sloan Wilson |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 400 pages |
| Published | : | March 27th 2007 by Delacorte Press (first published 2007) |
| Categories | : | Science. Biology. Evolution. Nonfiction. Psychology. Anthropology. Philosophy |
Relation Supposing Books Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
What is the biological reason for gossip?For laughter? For the creation of art?
Why do dogs have curly tails?
What can microbes tell us about morality?
These and many other questions are tackled by renowned evolutionist David Sloan Wilson in this witty and groundbreaking new book. With stories that entertain as much as they inform, Wilson outlines the basic principles of evolution and shows how, properly understood, they can illuminate the length and breadth of creation, from the origin of life to the nature of religion. Now everyone can move beyond the sterile debates about creationism and intelligent design to share Darwin’s panoramic view of animal and human life, seamlessly connected to each other.
Evolution, as Wilson explains, is not just about dinosaurs and human origins, but about why all species behave as they do—from beetles that devour their own young, to bees that function as a collective brain, to dogs that are smarter in some respects than our closest ape relatives. And basic evolutionary principles are also the foundation for humanity’s capacity for symbolic thought, culture, and morality.
In example after example, Wilson sheds new light on Darwin’s grand theory and how it can be applied to daily life. By turns thoughtful, provocative, and daringly funny, Evolution for Everyone addresses some of the deepest philosophical and social issues of this or any age. In helping us come to a deeper understanding of human beings and our place in the world, it might also help us to improve that world.
Rating About Books Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
Ratings: 3.93 From 776 Users | 70 ReviewsAssess About Books Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
it was ok, but it took me forever to read so whenever he kept referring back to little stories or chapters from before I had already forgotten what the hell he was talking about. .. some of the comparative stories were helpful in understanding where he was coming from, but I just felt like his ideas never really became fully formed. he was dancing around topics a lot. nevertheless, this book was a jumping point for many new perspectives for me and I thank Wilson for writing it. maybe I'll readEvolution provides a framework for thinking about all aspects of the human condition. A significant teaching for me is the distinction between the proximate and ultimate cause of an adaptive change. The proximate cause is an immediate response to something in the environment that turns out to be useful for survival. Kids may gather to play because it's fun (the proximate cause), but it makes them safer to be in a group, so the behavior is reinforced (the ultimate cause).It was surprising to find
How discovered/stumbled upon? Twitter (@dkorten) recommendation from author David KortenWhat media type? Read on my Kindle, but to my chagrin, noted that it is also available on the shelf of the local library down the street!What is the book about? Evolution, not so much in hard core science sense, although there are some chapters devoted to such experiments, but jargon is toned down for a universal audience, and appeal is made that evolution should be broadly applied, and not just confined to
Great book for a non-scientists like meThis book and enlightened me in many ways. It allowed me to understand reasoning behind evolution theory and put it into my own words so I can explain it to myself clearly In simple language.It helped me develop an evolutionary perspective when observing human condition.It helped me see religions in better light and from the vantage point of evolutionary theory.
Evolution for Everyone" includes a fine enough and simple description of natural selection early in the book, but it becomes increasingly laden with ideology after the first few chapters. The author clearly has a socio-political point that he's trying to advance, which would be fine if he had openly disclosed that. As is, the title and description of the book are quite misleading. He should have titled it something like "How the Theory of Natural Selection Can Be Used to Advance My Ideology.
I am writing this review while I am approximately halfway through Evolution for Everyone. Dr. Wilson has written an extremely compelling book about evolution. There are two aspects I find especially endearing: 1) Wilson does not use the standard, now-hackneyed strategy of writing a book on evolution that simply breaks up chapters into such topics as "why do we laugh?", "why do we blush?" "how is a bee colony an organism in its own right?" Instead, he begins with an overview of how evolutionary
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