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bootman's review against another edition
5.0
Whenever I grab a book on a topic that I’ve already read dozens of books on, I’m concerned it’ll be just like all the others with no new information. Nichola Raihani managed to write a book that provides so much new information, that I couldn’t stop reading it. Sometimes, I also worry that books about cooperation and human interaction will be all of the benefits and come off too self-helpish without discussing the dark sides of us, but Raihani had a great blend. The author wrote on so many interesting and important topics from how we signal to others, how we fight for status, motives behind our altruism, and so much more. I also really enjoyed that Nichola and her colleagues have done their own studies that were really unique and had extremely interesting results. Even when some familiar studies or topics were covered, the author managed to make them feel fresh and offered a unique perspective about what we can learn from them.
I’ll be honest, the first section of the book took me a long time to read, and this is no fault of the author. I learned a ton, but this part had a lot to do with biology, and that’s just a topic that’s very difficult for me to get engaged in. Once the author started writing about some of the evolutionary psychology of all this, I couldn’t stop reading it. The book is phenomenal and I really hope with it’s US release that it gets as much attention and praise as it deserves.
I’ll be honest, the first section of the book took me a long time to read, and this is no fault of the author. I learned a ton, but this part had a lot to do with biology, and that’s just a topic that’s very difficult for me to get engaged in. Once the author started writing about some of the evolutionary psychology of all this, I couldn’t stop reading it. The book is phenomenal and I really hope with it’s US release that it gets as much attention and praise as it deserves.
gasoline_allie's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable with many fascinating ideas. I enjoyed the "inside out" structure of the text, starting with cooperation within the genome and building to cooperation within societies. The one thing I disliked was the overuse of personification--ascribing needs, wants, intention, and decision-making skills where there aren't any, such as within a cell. The author even acknowledges it was a writing choice to help clarify ideas. I just thought it was overdone.
annegoodreads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
book_cwtch's review against another edition
This is a scientific look at the ways animals work together as a precursor to the ways humans can and should work together. This is science heavy and very in depth. I am glad I did it on audio I likely couldn't have finished the paperback.