The Moral Animal
The Moral Animal
Robert Wright
Ryan Holiday
The definitive beginner text on evolutionary psychology and one of the easiest to get into. - Ryan Holiday
Tom Bilyeu
Tom Bilyeu recommended this book on his website.
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The Moral Animal

The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are - The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology

Robert Wright
By
Robert Wright
4.1
700
ratings on Goodreads

In "The Moral Animal," Robert Wright embarks on a fascinating journey into the depths of human nature, exploring the evolutionary psychology behind our actions, emotions, and social structures. With a keen eye on the genetic underpinnings of our behavior, Wright delves into controversial questions, shedding light on why we do what we do—from our sexual desires to the intricacies of office politics. This groundbreaking work challenges conventional wisdom about morality, love, and the choices we make, offering a compelling argument that our moral codes and societal norms are inextricably linked to our biological heritage. Wright masterfully combines insights from science, literature, and philosophy, drawing on the work of Charles Darwin to argue that natural selection has equipped us not just with physical traits but also with psychological strategies that shape our social lives. Through a series of illustrative examples and thought-provoking analyses, "The Moral Animal" provides a lens through which to view the complex tapestry of human existence. Whether dissecting the evolutionary logic behind fidelity and infidelity or examining the roots of altruism and competition, Wright invites readers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about ethics and human behavior in this compelling and provocative read.

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Released
1994
1 Jan
Length
496
Pages

2

recommendations

recommendation

Tom Bilyeu recommended this book on his website.
The definitive beginner text on evolutionary psychology and one of the easiest to get into. - Ryan Holiday
[L]asting love is something a person has todecideto experience. Lifelong monogamous devotion is just not natural—not for women even, and emphatically not for men. It requires what, for lack of a better term, we can call an act of will. . . . This isn't to say that a young man can't hope to be seized by love. . . . But whether the sheer fury of a man's feelings accurately gauges their likely endurance is another question. The ardor will surely fade, sooner or later, and the marriage will then live or die on respect, practical compatibility, simple affection, and (these days, especially) determination. With the help of these things, something worthy of the label 'love' can last until death. But it will be a different kind of love from the kind that began the marriage. Will it be a richer love, a deeper love, a more spiritual love? Opinions vary. But it's certainly a more impressive love.
— Robert Wright, The Moral Animal

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