The Trouble With Testosterone: And Other Essays On The Biology Of The Human Predicament

Description

Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize From the man who Oliver Sacks hailed as “one of the best scientist/writers of our time,” a collection of sharply observed, uproariously funny essays on the biology of human culture and behavior. In the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould and Oliver Sacks, Robert Sapolsky offers a sparkling and erudite collection of essays about science, the world, and our relation to both. “The Trouble with Testosterone” explores the influence of that notorious hormone on male aggression. “Curious George’s Pharmacy” reexamines recent exciting claims that wild primates know how to medicate themselves with forest plants. “Junk Food Monkeys” relates the adventures of a troop of baboons who stumble upon a tourist garbage dump. And “Circling the Blanket for God” examines the neurobiological roots underlying religious belief. Drawing on his career as an evolutionary biologist and neurobiologist, Robert Sapolsky writes about the natural world vividly and insightfully. With candor, humor, and rich observations, these essays marry cutting-edge science with humanity, illuminating the interconnectedness of the world’s inhabitants with skill and flair. Dedication Introduction Acknowledgments 1: How Big Is Yours? 2: Primate Peekaboo 3: The Night You Ruined Your Pajamas 4: Measures of Life 5: The Young and the Reckless 6: The Solace of Patterns 7: Beelzebub’s SAT Scores 8: Poverty’s Remains 9: Junk Food Monkeys 10: The Burden of Being Burden-Free 11: The Trouble with Testosterone 12: The Graying of the Troop 13: Curious George’s Pharmacy 14: The Dangers of Fallen Soufflés in the Developing World 15: The Dissolution of Ego Boundaries and the Fit of My Father’s Shirt 16: Why You Feel Crummy When You’re Sick 17: Circling the Blanket for God About Robert M. Sapolsky Endnotes Copyright