Review by Booklist Review
Russell defines evolutionary psychology for the lay reader in his opening chapter so that he can pursue his complicated analysis of how human behavior has evolved from primitive ancestors (and how it has not). The focus of his investigation is "how human societies are organized according to ancient gender differences in social behavior." He contends that "the most revolutionary change in social organization occurred not when speaking humans became distinct from grunting protohumans, but when apes evolved male-dominated societies from the female-dominated lemur societies that preceded them." The author further asserts that ancient behavioral motives have been obfuscated, not clarified, by humankind's language development. Controversial stuff nicely delivered for a man who disdains "words sprayed on paper [as] far too rigid" and yearns for the day when we are all linked by microprocessors so conversations can flourish. ~--Denise Perry Donavin
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The roots of human romance lie in the consort bond introduced by our primate cousin, the lemur, more than 40 million years ago, asserts naturalist Russell. Lemurs originated the habit of treating a mate as an exclusive possession. The legacy of this behavior, he claims, is human monogamy, ``a grand biological and cultural illusion of faithfulness'' which produces offspring with the least social disruption. Female dominance, prevalent in lemur troops, gave way to male dominance among apes. Like chimpanzees, writes Russell, human males wage war or fight in order to redirect aggression outside the group; females seldom engage in physical violence, but when they do, it is mainly to protect their resources. This intriguing study of the nascent science of ``evolutionary psychology'' seeks to explain such human characteristics and behaviors as romantic love, rape, gender roles and social organization with recourse to the direct observation of nonhuman primates. Illustrations. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
As an unabashed evolutionary psychologist committed to science, reason, and a multidisciplinary approach, Russell has written a frank but disconcerting introduction to the emergence of human behavior that stresses the indispensable paradigm of organic history. Russell argues that the brain biochemistry and behavioral patterns of our own species can only be correctly interpreted within the perspectives of primate evolution and biological determinism. As such, he surveys the fascinating social relationships in mouse lemurs, both dryopithecine and living apes, fossil hominids, and Homo sapiens of today. Special attention is focused on the crucial shift from solitary males and bachelor groups in female-dominated prosimian societies to dominant and promiscuous hominoid male subgroups exhibiting ritualized aggression in hunting and warfare. Other topics include language, free will, human gender differences, cultural values, ecology, and extinction. A provocative work of ideas, this book is essential reading for students, scientists, and philosophers. Highly recommended for all libraries.-- H. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A brief for a new discipline known as ``evolutionary psychology''--as well as a pessimistic assessment of the human condition, based on the alleged biological sources of social customs in lemurs and other primates. Russell (an independent scientific researcher specializing in lemurs) traces human mating and aggressive behavior from their roots in the earliest primates. In lemurs, he sees the origin of the mother-daughter bond and a pattern of stable female groups and bands of roving males; the beginning of the consort bond--which is, he says, the source of human romantic love; and the often observed conflict between male and female reproductive strategies: Males perpetuate their genes best by spreading them furthest, females by establishing monogamous bonds. In chimpanzees, Russell notes male bonding in the act of making war, and he asserts that war's primary function in humans is to displace aggression. In humans, he sees language mostly as a means of deception, a way to trick ourselves into belief in love and loyalty. Child abuse and abandonment, incest and infanticide--all are long-established and widespread evolutionary traits, unlikely to be abolished. Fatherhood is a recent development, with which we're still uncomfortable; equality for women causes impotence in men; feeding the starving worsens our population problems; and we can say goodbye to free will. While evolutionary psychology may be a valid concept, Russell's particular assertions seem no more conclusive than those of, say, Desmond Morris or Havelock Ellis. Brain candy, then, and none too convincing.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review
