|
|
|
|
Homo Mysterious
Evolutionary Puzzles of Human Nature
David P. Barash
384 pages
|
234x156mm
978-0-19-975194-5
|
Hardback
|
27 September 2012
|
|
|
|
|
- Invites the reader to explore the exciting boundaries of science
- Provides an energetic romp through some of the most fascinating problems in evolutionary biology and psychology
- Addresses questions such as why religion is a cross-cultural universal and why do humans love the arts? Why do men have shorter lifespans, and why do women have orgasms?
For all that science knows about the living world, there are even more things that we don't know, genuine evolutionary mysteries that perplex the best minds in biology. And paradoxically, many of these mysteries are very close to home: They involve some of the most personal aspects of being human, including such unresolved questions as why do women experience orgasm, menstruation and menopause, why do men have a shorter lifespan than women, and why does homosexuality exist? Ditto for other evolutionary mysteries of our own species: Why is religion a
"cross-cultural universal," along with a fondness for the arts? Why do we have such large brains, and why does consciousness exist? Homo Mysterious examines these and other evolutionary mysteries, exploring things that we don't (yet) know about ourselves, laying out the best current hypotheses and pointing toward insights that scientists are just beginning to glimpse. Readers are invited to share the thrill of science at its exploratory margins, where we know what we don't know, and, moreover, we know enough to come up with some compelling and seductive explanations.
Homo Mysterious is a guide to creative thought and future explorations, based on the most current thinking of evolutionary scientists. For those who are interested in stretching their scientific
imaginations, this book will expose the lure of the not yet known.Readership: Anyone interested in the evolution of human biology and behavior; scientists; psychologists; students
|
|
|
David P. Barash, Professor of Psychology and Biology, University of Washington David P. Barash is Professor of Psychology and Biology at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, and author or coauthor of 26 books, including Payback, Madame Bovary's Ovaries: A Darwinian Look at Literature, The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People, and Natural Selections: Selfish Altruists, Honest Liars, and Other Realities of Evolution.
|
|
|
Chapter One. In Praise of Mystery: "That's how the light gets in"
Chapter Two. Sexual Mysteries: I. Menstruation, Concealed Ovulation, and Breasts
Chapter Three. Sexual Mysteries: II. Female Orgasm, Menopause, and Men
Chapter Four. Sexual Mysteries: III. Homosexuality
Chapter Five. Art: I. Cheesecake, Byproducts, and Groups
Chapter Six. Art: II. Play, Practice, and Sex (again)
Chapter Seven. Religion: I. Genes, Memes, Minds, and Motives
Chapter Eight. Religion: II. Social Bonding and Morality
Chapter Nine. On the Matter of Mind
Chapter Ten. Digging for Treasure
|
|
|
|
The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.
|
|
