The Selfish Ape: Human Nature and Our Path to Extinction

Description

Weaving together stories of science and sociology, The Selfish Ape offers a refreshing response to common fantasies about the ascent of humanity. Rather than imagining modern humans as a species with godlike powers, or Homo deus, Nicholas P. Money recasts us as Homo narcissus—paragons of self-absorption. This exhilarating story offers an immense sweep of modern biology, leading readers from earth’s unexceptional location in the cosmos to the story of our microbial origins and the innerworkings of the human body. It explores human genetics, reproduction, brain function, and aging, creating an enlightened view of man as a brilliantly inventive, yet self-destructive animal. The Selfish Ape is a book about human biology, the intertwined characteristics of our greatness and failure, and the way that we have plundered the biosphere. Written in a highly accessible style, it is a perfect read for those interested in science, human history, sociology, and the environment. Cover Title Page Imprint Page Contents Preface 1: GLOBE: How Life Lends Itself to Earth 2: GENESIS: How We Arrived 3: GUTS: How Our Bodies Work 4: GENES: How We Are Programmed 5: GESTATION: How We Are Born 6: GENIUS: How We Think 7: GRAVES: How We Die 8: GREATNESS: How We Make Things Better 9: GREENHOUSE: How We Make Things Worse 10: GRACE: How We Should Leave References Acknowledgements Index