Fascinating

Evolutionary psychology is surely a great and fascinating relatively new field of study, it's interesting.

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Interesting but a bit dry

I thought the way that Robert Wright uses Darwin himself as a case study for the behaviours discussed was very clever, although it felt in many ways to be a biography rather than an exploration of evolutionary psychology. He does however cover quite a lot of material. Whether it's "new" I'm not sure. The narrator was probably the worst part of the experience so if you don't mind him then you will likely find this interesting and Informative.

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3 people found this helpful

Yes. Get it.

nice history and story of Darwin laced with details and breakdowns of his work and evolutionary biology and even psychology. yes. if you're a beginner get it.

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1 person found this helpful

The best book I've read in a long time

The best book I've read/listened to in a long time. So many important and valid points, it's almost overwhelming.

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4 people found this helpful

A Moral Animal

An insightful book, and one definitely worth the effort to read.

It combines the contemporary sciences with Darwin's theories; it includes his personal/family and professional lives... there's so much to digest that it may well take another read (at the very least) before the information begins to settle.

Excellent.

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1 person found this helpful

Interesting listen

This is an incredible work. But a bit too technical in places for the layman.

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Enlightenment book about evolution

If you have never listened to a book about evolution this would be a good choice. It shows multiple aspects of it and gives very coherent understanding.
From disadvantages, narration could be better. Some of the chapters are also Darwin's biography, which weren't strictly necessary.

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thought provoking look at the human condition

Interesting but felt a bit long winded at times. the use of Darwin thought-out also seemed a little forced and at times irrelevant.

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1 person found this helpful

Fascinating, and Frustrating

Wright's book is essential reading on, and a monument to the aspirational leanings of early evolutionary psychology. He does an excellent job of benchmarking the scientific understanding of evolution and psychology in the waning years of the 20th century. But the book was much more a work of yearning, than one of sober scientific understanding. Wright intertwines the personal biography of Charles Darwin amidst a continuous stream of speculative theories about the purposive role of reciprocal altruism, relatedness, kin selection, and social 'fitness', in our genetic heritage, using Darwin as a kind of "patient zero" role model for these theories. The goal of all of it, as the title of the book exclaims, is to understand "why we are the way we are".

But Wright doesn't stop there. Despite numerous cautions against the urge to derive rules for living from natural purposes, even appealing directly to G. E. Moore late in the book, he still couldn't help himself but turn the book into an attempt to derive some sort of "moral of the story" from the various theories he'd sketched in the previous chapters. This, I think, was a mistake. It was as if Wright was confused about the purpose of his own book. Is it science, or philosophy?

After a long trek through the psychological and biological literature, suddenly we're thrust into a long discussion on Mill's Utilitarianism, and Darwin's particular flavor of it. And in the end, a meander into the religious tradition to ponder on questions of self-sacrifice, brotherly love, and self-denial. Ultimately, Wright ignores his own warnings, and seems to counsel for a kind of detente between the rational and the biological self, in which we seek self-awareness, but not *too much* self-awareness, and follow Darwin's role model of a psychology cynical of the self, but generous toward others.

As a founding document in the literature of evolutionary psychology, this work is definitely worth the read, but don't go into it expecting much in the way of answers. It's so early in the game, all it has to offer is a long string of questions. Maybe that's it's greatest strength, actually.

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47 people found this helpful

Brilliantly engaging book

Would you listen to Moral Animal again? Why?

Yes. So much information within this book it will defiantly be worth a second and third listen.

What did you like best about this story?

Well its not so much a story but a insightful look at how and why we do things.
Very eye opening and enlightening, helps you understand your own and others actions.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

N/A

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Staring arnold schwarzenegger as the selfish gene. No... N/A

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed listening to this and would definitely recommend it. Especially if you have any interest in psychology, evolution or anthropology.Helps to explain our own and others actions.

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2 people found this helpful