The Moral Animal
#700 of 2,654 all-time
The Moral Animal
Robert Wright
9 people recommended it in 8 threads, 2008–2022.
What people on Hacker News said
It looks at how natural selection applies to human cultures.
Made me consider how much of human behavior can be explained through evolutionary biology.
The basic thesis is that we evolved to deceive ourselves in evolutionary helpful ways as if you say 'I'm great, I should be the leader' and are lying people will see through it but if you say that and really believe it, even if it's factually incorrect, then it has a better chance of working.
Also, in 2021 I read _The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are_ and it was the best book I've read in years.
"a 1994 book by Robert Wright, in which the author explores many aspects of everyday life through evolutionary biology"
Evolutionary Psychology overview - will change your view on life
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect? 2018 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading, since when? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What was a book that changed your life? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Books That Changed My Life 2008 · 1 recommendation