What is the biological reason for gossip?
For laughter? For the creation of art?
Why do dogs have curly tails?
What can microbes tell u... read full description
For laughter? For the creation of art?
Why do dogs have curly tails?
What can microbes tell u... read full description
reviews
Jan 19, 2012
Teresa
rated it: 
This book is packed full of so much information - from why dogs have floppy ears to why some people become homicidal, all approached from an evolutionary perspective. Wilson shows us that a better understanding of evolution leads us to a better understanding of every aspect of our daily lives and social interactions. His goal is to prove that science isn't something accessible only to an elite few, but instead is an exciting and rewarding field that can easily be understood by anyone. Furthermor
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Sep 14, 2011
Naum
rated it:
How discovered/stumbled upon? Twitter (@dkorten) recommendation from author David Korten…
What media type? Read on my Kindle, but to my chagrin, noted that it is also available on the shelf of the local library down the street!
What is the book about? Evolution, not so much in hard core science sense, although there are some chapters devoted to such experiments, but jargon is toned down for a universal audience, and appeal is made that evolution should be broadly applied, and n More...
What media type? Read on my Kindle, but to my chagrin, noted that it is also available on the shelf of the local library down the street!
What is the book about? Evolution, not so much in hard core science sense, although there are some chapters devoted to such experiments, but jargon is toned down for a universal audience, and appeal is made that evolution should be broadly applied, and n More...
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Feb 05, 2009
Evolution for Everyone is David Sloan Wilson's fifth book on the subject (including Darwin's Cathedral and The Literary Animal) and the most reader-friendly. Critics favorably compare the effort to Steven J. Levitt's and Stephen J. Dubner's runaway best seller Freakonomics. They claim that Wilson, professor of biology and anthropology at Britain's Binghamton University, does for evolution what those two authors did for economics__that is, draw interesting and unexpected connections between musty
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Jun 22, 2011
Keith
rated it: 
Wilson raises some interesting points about the nature of evolution and goes beyond the standard biological aspect. He examines how human behavior and tendencies, including controversial subjects like humor, morality, altruism, and yes religion, have a basis in evolutionary science. While i don't know that I agree with all his conclusions, it does provide food for thought.
I did find his tone to be rather self-congratulatory, self-serving and even a tad self-righteous. He also does a good b More...
I did find his tone to be rather self-congratulatory, self-serving and even a tad self-righteous. He also does a good b More...
Jan 09, 2010
I was struck by the non-atomicity of organisms - how a single human's immune system, senses, emotions, reasoning ability, etc. overlap in space and time, but evolved piece-by-piece and capability-by-capability rather than being a top-down design with consciousness in control. Moreover, our life functions are integrated with processes that extend beyond our bodies. My "wow" was realizing the correlation between these overlapping life functions and the concepts of trans-human psycholog
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Feb 19, 2009
An absolutely fantastic book great for anyone interested in evolution. I'm particularly interested in the evolution of cooperative behavior, and this book is the best explanation I've seen. Though I enjoy reading Dawkins, his selfish gene hypothesis has given too much support to those who believe that people are driven only by self interest. Wilson has a far more sophisticated analysis with enormous implications for the design of economic systems that will be able to confront the biophysical cr
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Dec 31, 2011
Nelson
rated it: 
I have rarely read a book more grievously mistitled. This isn't evolution for everyone. It isn't even evolution for fellow travelers otherwise well-disposed to the claims of science as explanatory for much of life. This is evolution for the very small set of people who think exactly like DSW, which is to say, those who believe with something akin to religious fervor that the theory of evolution explains literally everything. The theory may in fact do that; it would take a far more careful an
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May 28, 2008
Dia
rated it:
I was quickly won over by this excitable biologist's presentation of evolutionary theory, mainly because of the fascinating studies he describes (though I'm not sure that they necessarily support the conclusions he wants them to support) and his cheerful, sometimes even dorky, but certainly humble, story of his own development as a scientist. His special take on the meaning of evolutionary theory for us humans at this time is interesting and perhaps heartening but not all that convincing. (He t
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Jun 25, 2008
Sarah
rated it:
I was facinated by the discussion of individuals acting as collective organisms (particularly the discussion of bees) and I found the discussion of cancer in terms of selfish cells intersting as well. One of the most interesting arguments of the book is that humanity's chief adaptation is cooperation, and that we operate like a collective organism. The author presents intersting evidence supporting the fact that our eyes evolved differently from chimps to aid this adaptation and various other ex
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Mar 25, 2008
Steve
rated it:
I am writing this review while I am approximately halfway through Evolution for Everyone.
Dr. Wilson has written an extremely compelling book about evolution. There are two aspects I find especially endearing:
1) Wilson does not use the standard, now-hackneyed strategy of writing a book on evolution that simply breaks up chapters into such topics as "why do we laugh?", "why do we blush?" "how is a bee colony an organism in its own right?" More...
Dr. Wilson has written an extremely compelling book about evolution. There are two aspects I find especially endearing:
1) Wilson does not use the standard, now-hackneyed strategy of writing a book on evolution that simply breaks up chapters into such topics as "why do we laugh?", "why do we blush?" "how is a bee colony an organism in its own right?" More...
Aug 06, 2011
Very readable, presenting basic ideas clearly and slips in a few new ones at the same time. Particularly interesting is one of the most fleshed out ideas, inspired by multi level selection theory, that well organized cooperative groups, even human groups, are proto-organisms. It's the flipside of the idea that what we usually recognize as complex individual organisms are really complex groups that have very efficiently solved most of the problems that arise for cooperation.
Sep 18, 2007
Seth
rated it:
Evolution provides a framework for thinking about all aspects of the human condition. A significant teaching for me is the distinction between the proximate and ultimate cause of an adaptive change. The proximate cause is an immediate response to something in the environment that turns out to be useful for survival. Kids may gather to play because it's fun (the proximate cause), but it makes them safer to be in a group, so the behavior is reinforced (the ultimate cause).
It was surpri More...
It was surpri More...
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Jun 29, 2010
Zarah
rated it:
I read this a few years ago while traveling to Ecuador and Galapagos. The author did a good job of making some of Darwin's most famous observations relevant to modern life and used terms the average high school student could understand. A nice fluffy way to freshen up on evolution, a little bit bland for daily entertainment reading.
Jul 17, 2011
John
rated it:
Wilson write an accessible story of his efforts to expand the application of evolutionary theory in a multitude of useful applications across the entire spectrum of academia. I applaud his effort. William Meller is persuing the same efforts in medicine. Their efforts contain value beyond anyone's imagination.
Jan 05, 2010
Randy
rated it:
This was an interesting read, for as much of it as I read. The author comes off as a little on the arrogant side much of the time, but while I can't say I agree with all of his claims, he does make some good points.
Nov 22, 2010
Kilt
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Amazing book, chock-full of fascinating information! It was so good I devoured it, and then as soon as I was done, I went back and read it all the way through again. Excellent and highly reccommended!
Mar 31, 2009
This is an "orphan" book from our library shelves. It's well-reviewed but has passed much time without human companionship. I hope to be able to pay attention to it.
Jan 28, 2009
Hanje
rated it: 
Although David Sloan Wilson tries to make this book accessible to non-scientists, there were parts of the book that were over my head.
The parts that I was able to wrap my head around were interesting, and I certainly found it worth powering through, as I often do with science books that are just slightly above my level.
This is another time where I wish half stars were available. I would certainly give this 3.5 stars, but probably due to my own limitations, I don't thin More...
The parts that I was able to wrap my head around were interesting, and I certainly found it worth powering through, as I often do with science books that are just slightly above my level.
This is another time where I wish half stars were available. I would certainly give this 3.5 stars, but probably due to my own limitations, I don't thin More...
Mar 07, 2011
Charlye
rated it:
I am always hungry for anything involving evolution and this book sated the hunger. It is an easy read but full of great information.
Jul 02, 2009
Interesting little book about how to think like an evolutionist...how evolution is inherent in our every day life, etc.
Oct 07, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
Winona Ryder's Bjork says "Everything is musical." I can usually get on board with that. David Sloan Wilson says "Everything is evolution." I can get on board with that all day and all night.
Jul 26, 2011
David
rated it:
Excellent in every way. I "got it" very easily with this book, and I find myself applying it everywhere. The portrayal of "roll up your sleeves science" helped propel me to see what he was talking about. What I learned here will be useful far beyond biology.
May 20, 2009
Rochelle
rated it:
Took me longer than a thought to get through, but I think worth it in the end.
Some fascinating concepts that were new to me, but I wanted more. I think this book has inspired me to look into some other areas of life and how they relate to evolution.
It was meant to target a non-scientific audience and I think he did a decent job. He had a habit of throwing out terms that he didn't define and that made it a little difficult to read at times. Sometimes it was over my
Some fascinating concepts that were new to me, but I wanted more. I think this book has inspired me to look into some other areas of life and how they relate to evolution.
It was meant to target a non-scientific audience and I think he did a decent job. He had a habit of throwing out terms that he didn't define and that made it a little difficult to read at times. Sometimes it was over my
Jul 29, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
Would have been a great textbook, but too wordy for a bookshelf read. I kept skimming through it to pick up the main points because I didn't need all the extra comparison's and details. I would have liked for it to be more thought provoking.
Dec 14, 2011
Jeffrey
rated it:
This is a fabulous introduction, not only to evolutionary science, but to evolutionary thinking. It is no hyperbole that reading this book changed my worldview. Dr. Wilson approaches the subject with a light touch and not a hint of dogma. I highly recommend this book to evolution skeptics as well as those who just want to know what evolution is.
Jun 18, 2008
EP
rated it:
Easy to follow, enjoyable book. Author does not get into extremely deep thought / theory, just to validate their professorship - like other authors of evolutionary books. Several good chapters discussing social behavior in animals, proving there is no need for a virtuous god, just doing the right thing for the betterment of a social group.
Jan 29, 2008
Ashley
rated it: 
This book was arrogant and closed minded. Basically the premise is that literally everything human can be explained in terms of evolution, and anyone who cannot except this, is delusional. As someone who enjoys studying evolution, I felt this book went too far, and had a condescending tone.
