A review by drew1013
The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilson
4.0
“Humanity today is like a walking dreamer, caught between the fantasies of sleep and the chaos of the real world. The mind seeks but cannot find the precise place and hour. We have created a Star Wars civilization, with Stone Age emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology. We thrash about. We are terribly confused by the mere fact of our existence, and a danger to ourselves and to the rest of life.”
Edward O Wilson frames his book around three questions found in script at the top left of Gaugin’s Tahitian painting: Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? More precisely, how and why did social behavior evolve?
His answer is compelling, as are some of his arguments around the origin of art and religion. He walks you through the evolution of Homo sapiens and how individual adaptations have lead directly to current behaviors and psychological schisms.
It’s hard to talk about this book without coming right out and listing his thoughts. I’ll just say that if the above sounds at all interesting to you, you’ll like this book.
Edward O Wilson frames his book around three questions found in script at the top left of Gaugin’s Tahitian painting: Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? More precisely, how and why did social behavior evolve?
His answer is compelling, as are some of his arguments around the origin of art and religion. He walks you through the evolution of Homo sapiens and how individual adaptations have lead directly to current behaviors and psychological schisms.
It’s hard to talk about this book without coming right out and listing his thoughts. I’ll just say that if the above sounds at all interesting to you, you’ll like this book.