Is monogamy natural for men? For women? Where does sibling rivalry come from? Why do parents favor some children over others? What evolutionary advantages might come from having low self-esteem? What are the biological roots of self-deception? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animal one of the most provocative science books in recent years, as well as one of the most genuinely important.
As he presents the latest findings in the emerging field of evolutionary psychology—which views human behavior in light of Darwinian theory—Robert Wright unveils the unconscious strategies that shape our romantic choices, familial feelings, friendships, and office politics. And on a deeper level, this book compels us to rethink our most basic moral assumptions, with lasting implications for our public policy as well as for our intimate daily actions.
Editorial Reviews
"This clever and stimulating book is destined to become a classic...Like Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene, it could well change the way people think and feel about their lives--perhaps even how they behave...It is, into the bargain, an intellectual entertainment argued with wit and style." --The Economist
"A brilliant and troubling attempt to look into who we really are...Wright's book constantly goads the reader to introspection, to fresh perspectives about one's choices and place in society...A subtle and stimulating interpretation that deserves wide debate." --Boston Globe
"Fiercely intelligent, beautifully written and engrossingly original.… A feast of great thinking and writing about the most profound issues there are, and a treat for any thinking person.… Lucidly explains our understanding of the evolution of human moral sentiments and draws out provocative implications for sexual, family, office and societal politics.… Mr. Wright writes with a consistent, irreverent wit that does not hide a heartfelt seriousness of purpose." --Steven Pinker, The New York Times Book Review
"The new field of evolutionary psychology—which seeks to explain human behavior, thought and emotions in terms of Darwinian evolution—finds its most articulate exponent in Robert Wright. In attempting to unravel the evolutionary logic behind friendship, romance, xenophobia, racism, sibling rivalry, and so forth, Wright leavens his presentation with wit and humor, interlacing a biographical profile of Charles Darwin, whose marriage, sex life, personal tragedies and travels in turns are thrust in a neo-Darwinian light.… The most sophisticated in-depth exploration to date of the new Darwinian thinking." --Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Robert Wright is the bestselling author of Three Scientists and Their Gods, The Moral Animal, Nonzero, and, most recently, The Evolution of God, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and his awards include the National Magazine Award for Essay and Criticism. A contributing editor for The New Republic, Wright has also written for The Atlantic Monthly, the New Yorker, Time, and Slate.com. He is a senior fellow at the New America Foundation and editor in chief of the website Bloggingheads.tv. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife and their two daughters.
