Behave
The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
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4.5 • 121 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestseller • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize • One of the Washington Post's 10 Best Books of the Year
“It’s no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read.” —David P. Barash, The Wall Street Journal
"It has my vote for science book of the year.” —Parul Sehgal, The New York Times
"Immensely readable, often hilarious...Hands-down one of the best books I’ve read in years. I loved it." —Dina Temple-Raston, The Washington Post
From the bestselling author of A Primate's Memoir and Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will comes a landmark, genre-defining examination of human behavior and an answer to the question: Why do we do the things we do?
Behave is one of the most dazzling tours d’horizon of the science of human behavior ever attempted. Moving across a range of disciplines, Sapolsky—a neuroscientist and primatologist—uncovers the hidden story of our actions. Undertaking some of our thorniest questions relating to tribalism and xenophobia, hierarchy and competition, and war and peace, Behave is a towering achievement—a majestic synthesis of cutting-edge research and a heroic exploration of why we ultimately do the things we do . . . for good and for ill.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sapolsky (Monkeyluv), professor of biology at Stanford, looks at human behavior from myriad interrelated perspectives, endeavoring to explain humans strange and often contradictory behavior. He predominantly focuses on exploring the biology of violence, aggression, and competition through the lenses of neuroscience, anthropology, psychology, genetics, evolutionary biology, political science, and communication theory. Sapolsky takes complex ideas from the scientific literature, including his own research, and attempts to balance the pros and cons of every conclusion. He weaves science storytelling with humor to keep readers engaged while advancing his main point about the complexity and interconnectedness of all aspects of behavior. For Sapolsky, context is everything. For example, in discussing genetics he urges readers to repeat the mantra: don t ask what a gene does; ask what it does in a particular context. Understanding such complexity can potentially lead toward a more just and peaceful society, Sapolsky says. He recognizes that this ambition may seem hopeless but argues that it is essential. Finally, he contends and demonstrates that you don t have to choose between being scientific and being compassionate. Sapolsky s big ideas deserve a wide audience and will likely shape thinking for some time.
Customer Reviews
Life-changing
The best book I have ever consumed. Biological context for some of the worlds most contentious issues. Every opinion I may have had about the world has changed. Extremely understandable. Will be listening to the full 26 hours again, and again… and again.
Illumination and evolution with taste
Excellent writing to let us mortals understand how we are this whole mess of a universal history while instilling indestructible hope for humanity, as long as we are willing to learn. Live evolution. Must must read.
“It’s complicated”
Absolutely fascinating explanation of the neurobiological and psychological reasoning for our worst and best behaviors. Interesting argument against “free will”