Nature Via Nurture
by
Matt Ridley
Following his highly praised and bestselling book "Genome: The Autobiography of a Species" in 23 Chapters, Matt Ridley has written a brilliant and profound book about the roots of human behavior. "Nature via Nurture" explores the complex and endlessly intriguing question of what makes us who we are.
In February 2001 it was announced that the human genome contains not 100,00...more
In February 2001 it was announced that the human genome contains not 100,00...more
Paperback, 328 pages
Published
May 4th 2004
by HarperPerennial
(first published January 1st 2003)
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Ahh damn. I have now read all three of Matt Ridley's major publications. I have an overall mixed feeling about him, he seems to represent some of the worst aspects of pop science and yet he is at least good at making the things he talks about entertaining. The problem is he relies on theories and ideas that are highly speculative at best or outright false at worst.
Lets take the chapter which starts off about gender differences, since it is something that I know a bit about. He says what the aud...more
Lets take the chapter which starts off about gender differences, since it is something that I know a bit about. He says what the aud...more
My other favorite writer, next to Pinker. Ridley sets out to tear down the wall that has divided the "Nature vs Nurture" debate for centuries. Readable (as always from Ridley) and engrossing, this explains how environment can trigger genes, and how genes often determine which environments we choose.
If you entertain any notion that humans are unique, this book will seek to change your minds. By far my favorite parts are in his descriptions of Bonobos, Gorillas, and chimps.
If you entertain any notion that humans are unique, this book will seek to change your minds. By far my favorite parts are in his descriptions of Bonobos, Gorillas, and chimps.
The Agile Gene is book from Matt Ridley about genetics, evolution and how people are people. It starts form really early in first studies about human and behaviors. It tells a full journey to the latest genetics researches.
The main question in the book is the long lasting debate on nature, meaning the DNA and inherited things and nurture, the things that environment effects on people. It goes trough studies from both sides and digs deep in to the main pillars of the both explanations.
One by one...more
The main question in the book is the long lasting debate on nature, meaning the DNA and inherited things and nurture, the things that environment effects on people. It goes trough studies from both sides and digs deep in to the main pillars of the both explanations.
One by one...more
A detailed, readable and witty treatise on how life is controlled by genes (nature) and how life controls genes (nurture). The research, the ideas, the roots of various theories of understanding from 100 years or more to studies that are quite current are all layed out.
I've listened to audio tapes of the book for a couple of years, and am now going carefully through the book, to locate and home in on specific details that I need to study to fully grasp.
The book is a marvelously readable compendi...more
I've listened to audio tapes of the book for a couple of years, and am now going carefully through the book, to locate and home in on specific details that I need to study to fully grasp.
The book is a marvelously readable compendi...more
I've accepted the fact that nature combines with nurture to shape most things that constitute life. Matt repeats this like a communist parole in this book. Ok, i got that. But he has filled me up with so much information that i feel that i should read this book again and write down the essential stuff and then look at the extract and try to figure out the rules. Although i learned a lot from this book, i don't know much more about how nurture influences nature than i knew before i started readin...more
I love this author. He is direct with his examples, moves quickly and yet you never feel like you miss a step. It's always very fluid and easy with Ridley. I preferred both the Genome and the Red Queen to this however, if you have yet to read much on the subject of genetics those would be a better start. Not because anything in this one is incomprehensible in the least bit without any other knowledge, but more just because if you had to pick any one of these awesome texts those would be a better...more
Basic question - were you born with your personality/talents, or are you the product of the environment in which you were raised? The author argues it's not a nature or nurture debate, but a combination. The book is a great refresher course on many classic experiments (Pavlov's dog, teaching fear in animals, imprinting parents onto newborns, etc). I found the chapters on human instincts, and whether they are taught or innate, the most fascinating.
I found the theme of the book best expressed by...more
I found the theme of the book best expressed by...more
I feel bad giving this book a rating, since it has been one of those rare ones that I decided to stop reading despite having only managed a few chapters. I did skim through a fair bit of the rest, and saw that the interesting facts and historical figures associated with the nurture-nature debate persist throughout the book. Those were the bits that made it informative and interesting. But I had some serious issues with some of Ridley's opinions disguised as fact, as well as some technical choice...more
Excellent book. I paid 75 cents for a book that gives me unlimited knowledge. I'm extremely satisfied, and I'm craving to find more books like this.I would recommend it to anyone interested in biology, or simply just intrigued in the argument nature vs nurture. I was absolutely thrilled to find Ridley taking neither side (such a petty argument). But what I loved most about this book is the fact ANYONE could pick it up and understand.
I'm excited to pick up more of his books, and find authors simi...more
I'm excited to pick up more of his books, and find authors simi...more
Ridley is quickly becoming one of my favorite science writers yet. The Agile Gene was a nice follow up to Genome, exploring the nature-nurture link more in depth. He does a wonderful job summarizing the latest (and not so latest) research findings in the field and painting a pretty accurate picture for the layman with great analogies.
He gives a summary of the major 20th century trends in psychology: including the usual (mostly deserved) jabs at Freud (he also gives Freud credit for his emphasis...more
He gives a summary of the major 20th century trends in psychology: including the usual (mostly deserved) jabs at Freud (he also gives Freud credit for his emphasis...more
Our genes and the promoters that switch them are what determine many of our decisions and physical outcomes. The dominant theme of Ridley's book is that the human genome is not simply a blueprint that will determine what an animal ends up physically, but rather, a flexible entity that also affects the processes of daily life and choices. He argues that environment also plays a role, and the nature v. nurture debate is a ridiculous one, once one sees this. When one studies the effects of genes, p...more
GREAT BOOK - lots of science and even though it was published before the Human Genome project was finished, we (my book discussion group) could find nothing out of date about the data - basic premise: that Genes are not static but are an active and varying and incredibly wondrous part of the development of homo sapiens from conception to death. Many genes change sometimes as often as every second and sometimes as often as once in a lifetime and sometimes never depending on DNA switches that resp...more
The best book I have ever read on the nature-nurture debate. Ridley is an engaging author who weaves a tapestry of science, politics, history and anecdote. The binding thread are famous scientists and philosophers who have framed the nature-nurture debate over the past few hundred years. All of them have introduced profound insights, and if you were to put them all in a room together, then surely their bushy beards would all get tangled up.
Apart from the human and political element, I loved Ridl...more
Apart from the human and political element, I loved Ridl...more
This book is a great introduction to modern genetics. It's an easy read, which covers a great breadth of topics, while going into detail only when needed. Using examples seen in nature (mostly from various scientific studies), this book explores how genes are affected by the environment and how the genetic machinery works in general. This book is defiantly worth reading if you are interested in genetics
Fabulous look into the relationship between genes and environment. Though it's left me more confused than ever. Though more informed than ever too. In summary, and as the title of the book sums up very neatly, there is no "versus" in the nature v. nurture debate. Great writer - the amount of information is enormous but the text is eminently readable all the same.
I read this on the beach a few years ago. While baking my skin cells in the sun wasnt highly conducive to my brain cells retaining statistical information and theories on genetics, one theory did manage to lodge itself in my toasted brain- the argument for biological gay-ness, which I still cite today when embattled with homophobes.
More in-depth than other Ridley books I've read (and that makes it more satisfying somehow).
In a nutshell, Ridley is discussing the nature vs. nurture argument: are organisms the product of their genes? or their upbringing?
He spends a chapter examining the history of the argument from Plato through Darwin... then the rest of the book on the pendulum swings since Darwin.
In short, he holds that the answer is "Yes." Genes help determine development, but are affected by events and chance.
Lots of t...more
In a nutshell, Ridley is discussing the nature vs. nurture argument: are organisms the product of their genes? or their upbringing?
He spends a chapter examining the history of the argument from Plato through Darwin... then the rest of the book on the pendulum swings since Darwin.
In short, he holds that the answer is "Yes." Genes help determine development, but are affected by events and chance.
Lots of t...more
To me this book felt like a padded out version of Genome, incidentally an excellent book. If you have read Genome recently, then you will notice many, many facts being repeated here almost verbatim. On it's own, this book is probably great, but it is a lousy read if Genome is still fresh in your memory.
La eterna polémica entre los que afirman que son los genes los que dirigen el desarrollo de un organismo y lo que afirman que es el entorno. El autor nos presenta un esquema en el que ambos elementos establecen un diálogo constructivo que determina el camino que sigue el desarrollo de los organismos.
El título en castellano es "Qué nos hace humanos". Es un libro que analiza de dónde viene el comportamiento del hombre, si es genético o sólo depende del ambiente. Para ello, habla de diferentes tesis. Está muy bien porque justifica que todas las teorías tienen parte de razón: no somos totalmente genéticos en ese aspecto ni dependemos totalmente del entorno. Tiene algunos párrafos realmente buenos. Muy recomendable.
This really should be 3.5 stars, but I'll round up. Some of it was too technical (aka boring) for me so I skipped over, but it did include many interesting studies. I read the entire book and STILL have no idea what the point of writing it was except to give the reader a lot of seemingly unconnected information. But it was written simply enough that a non-science person could mostly understand.
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The Hon. Matthew White Ridley (born 7 February 1958, in Northumberland) is an English science writer, businessman and aristocrat. Ridley was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford where he received a doctorate in zoology before commencing a career in journalism. Ridley worked as the science editor of The Economist from 1984 to 1987 and was then its Washington correspondent from 1987 to 1989...more
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