What do you think?
Rate this book
Living with Our Genes: The Groundbreaking Book About the Science of Personality, Behavior, and Genetic Destiny
"A lucid, thought-provoking account of the case for 'nature' as a determinant of personality."—Peter D. Kramer, Author of Listening to Prozac and Should You Leave?
Nowhere is the nature-nurture controversy being more arduously tested than in the labs of world-renowned molecular scientist Dean Hamer, whose cutting-edge research has indisputably linked specific genes to behavioral traits, such as anxiety, thrill-seeking, and homosexuality. The culmination of that research is this provocative book, Living with Our Genes . In it, Dr. Hamer reveals that much of our behavior—how much we eat and weigh, whether we drink or use drugs, how often we have sex—is heavily influenced by genes. His findings help explain why one brother becomes a Wall Street trader, while his sibling remains content as a librarian, or why some people like to bungee-jump, while others prefer Scrabble. Dr. Hamer also sheds light on some of the most compelling and vexing aspects of personality, such as shyness, aggression, depression, and intelligence.
In the tradition of the bestselling book Listening to Prozac , Living with Our Genes is the first comprehensive investigation of the crucial link between our DNA and our behavior.
"Compulsive reading, reminiscent of Jared Diamond, from a scientist who knows his stuff and communicates it well." —Kirkus Reviews
"A pioneer in the field of molecular psychology, Hamer is exploring the role genes play in governing the very core of our individuality. Accessible . . . provocative."— Time
"Absolutely terrific! I couldn't put it down."—Professor Robert Plomin, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Research Center, Institute of Psychiatry
Nowhere is the nature-nurture controversy being more arduously tested than in the labs of world-renowned molecular scientist Dean Hamer, whose cutting-edge research has indisputably linked specific genes to behavioral traits, such as anxiety, thrill-seeking, and homosexuality. The culmination of that research is this provocative book, Living with Our Genes . In it, Dr. Hamer reveals that much of our behavior—how much we eat and weigh, whether we drink or use drugs, how often we have sex—is heavily influenced by genes. His findings help explain why one brother becomes a Wall Street trader, while his sibling remains content as a librarian, or why some people like to bungee-jump, while others prefer Scrabble. Dr. Hamer also sheds light on some of the most compelling and vexing aspects of personality, such as shyness, aggression, depression, and intelligence.
In the tradition of the bestselling book Listening to Prozac , Living with Our Genes is the first comprehensive investigation of the crucial link between our DNA and our behavior.
"Compulsive reading, reminiscent of Jared Diamond, from a scientist who knows his stuff and communicates it well." —Kirkus Reviews
"A pioneer in the field of molecular psychology, Hamer is exploring the role genes play in governing the very core of our individuality. Accessible . . . provocative."— Time
"Absolutely terrific! I couldn't put it down."—Professor Robert Plomin, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Research Center, Institute of Psychiatry
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
28 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 7, 2019
Diğer insanlara karşı nasıl davrandığınız, onlarla nasıl iletişim kurduğunuz, nasıl düşündüğünüz ve duygularınızı nasıl ifade ettiğinizi belirleyen şey kişiliktir...
Mizacın olağanüstü özelliklerinden biri, hayatın meydan okuyuşlarına ve engellerine uyum sağlamamıza yardımcı olan esnekliğidir. Olgunlaşmak sadece dünyayı tanımak değil aynı zamanda kendimizle nasıl başa çıkacağımızı da öğrenmek demektir...
Kısaca, kişiliğin doğuştan gelen biyolojik boyutuna “mizaç” esnek yönüne “karakter” denir...
Erkekler, daha çok partner ve seksüel yenilik aramak için programlanmışlardır; kadınlarsa çocukların birlikte yetiştirilebilmesine olanak sağlayacak kadar uzun bir süre kendilerinin yanında kalacak partnerler arayan “seri tekeşliler”dir...
Her birimiz, dünyaya herhangi biri olarak geliriz; hayatımızın geri kalanını kim olduğumuzu bulmaya çalışarak geçiririz. Anahtar, birlikte doğduğumuz donanım ve sonradan eklediğimiz yazılım arasındaki karşılıklı etkileşimdir...
Mutluluk, bütün endişe, hüzün, korku hislerine değil, olumlu duyguların olumsuz duygulara oranına bağlıdır...
Genetik olarak aynı insanlarız; değişen şey, yaşama tarzımız ve davranışımıza hakim olma tarzımızdır. Suç, bireysel bir problem değil, sosyal bir problemdir...
İnsanların, şiddet yanlısı, saldırgan ve antisosyal olup olmayacağını belirleyen bütün bunların hepsinin en önemlisi ne genler ne de ebeveynlik stilidir. En önemli etken, bir insanın sahip olduğu, beyin çeşidi ya da çocukken suistimal edilip edilmediği de değildir. En önemli şey coğrafyadır...
Mizacın olağanüstü özelliklerinden biri, hayatın meydan okuyuşlarına ve engellerine uyum sağlamamıza yardımcı olan esnekliğidir. Olgunlaşmak sadece dünyayı tanımak değil aynı zamanda kendimizle nasıl başa çıkacağımızı da öğrenmek demektir...
Kısaca, kişiliğin doğuştan gelen biyolojik boyutuna “mizaç” esnek yönüne “karakter” denir...
Erkekler, daha çok partner ve seksüel yenilik aramak için programlanmışlardır; kadınlarsa çocukların birlikte yetiştirilebilmesine olanak sağlayacak kadar uzun bir süre kendilerinin yanında kalacak partnerler arayan “seri tekeşliler”dir...
Her birimiz, dünyaya herhangi biri olarak geliriz; hayatımızın geri kalanını kim olduğumuzu bulmaya çalışarak geçiririz. Anahtar, birlikte doğduğumuz donanım ve sonradan eklediğimiz yazılım arasındaki karşılıklı etkileşimdir...
Mutluluk, bütün endişe, hüzün, korku hislerine değil, olumlu duyguların olumsuz duygulara oranına bağlıdır...
Genetik olarak aynı insanlarız; değişen şey, yaşama tarzımız ve davranışımıza hakim olma tarzımızdır. Suç, bireysel bir problem değil, sosyal bir problemdir...
İnsanların, şiddet yanlısı, saldırgan ve antisosyal olup olmayacağını belirleyen bütün bunların hepsinin en önemlisi ne genler ne de ebeveynlik stilidir. En önemli etken, bir insanın sahip olduğu, beyin çeşidi ya da çocukken suistimal edilip edilmediği de değildir. En önemli şey coğrafyadır...
March 14, 2021
This books continues to rehash the nature-nurture debate. Though I know both play and integral part in our life span and how we make choices, I find it undersells the power of choice. Its data (though at times slanted towards authors view) provides a basis for individuals who want to see themselves as victims of their genes in the areas of anger, weight, intellectual ability, gender identity etc. I bought it years ago, and though much of it remains pertinent the advancement in gene research I am sure will yield varying results.
June 9, 2009
I had to read this for my BioPolitics class in conjunction with a law book (court cases, journal articles, etc.) and newspaper articles. It provides a really good, lay-person's explanation of the scientific perspective of how genetics influence behavior. Hamer works for the NIH as a biochemist and thus gives a very scientifically-sound description. A good read for anyone who wants to know to what extent their genes affect their anxiety, weight, personality, aging, and aggression.
June 9, 2010
I read this as part of my AP Psychology class in high school. I found it very interesting and still think about what I read, even 10 years later. I may even reread it.
September 19, 2018
I’ll try to keep this relatively short.
This book certainly contains a lot of interesting and accurate information, albeit buried amid anecdotes that don’t really prove anything.
However, I found some aspects of it to be quite misleading; in particular, a tendency to cite studies that support the authors’ view and omit all mention of other studies indicating the contrary.
Most egregious is the chapter on ‘Thinking’, which contains many straw men. A couple of examples will have to suffice:
On p. 217 we read ‘[IQ tests] are also culturally biased; even the smartest English speaker is going to fail a test in Chinese.’ But no tester would assert anything different; tests in English are designed for English-speakers, and that capacity they perform their function.
Indeed, no test can be entirely culture-free: to quote Arthur Jensen:
‘Obviously, the wider the multidimensional cultural difference, the more complex and intractable is the problem of cross-cultural testing. Constructing a single test that maintains all its essential psychometric properties when administered to Arctic Eskimos and Kalahari Bushmen may or may not be possible [...]’ (1, p.636)
On the other hand, there are culture-reduced tests, such as Raven’s Progressive Matrices, which ‘have at least shown equal average scores for groups of people of remotely different cultures and unequal scores of people of people of the same culture and high loads on a “fluid” g factor within two or more different cultures’ (ibid).
Even worse are the assertions about the 1994 book The Bell Curve by Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein. ‘They began with two facts: individual differences in IQ scores are substantially heritable and race is heritable. From there, they deduced that racial differences in IQ scores must also be genetic.’ (p.224)
This is completely false (notice that there are no quotation marks and no reference): what H. & M. actually say is:
‘The debate about whether and how much genes and environment have to do with ethnic differences remains unresolved.’ (2, p.270)
Neither do they say, as the present authors seem to imply (p.226): ‘if IQ is genetically fixed at birth, why should society bother with Head Start or other programs to help black children? If they aren't going to get smarter, why throw good money at bad genes?’. They do say:
‘[E]very serious attempt to assess the impact of Head Start on intelligence has found fade-out. [...] To this point, no lasting improvements in intelligence have ever been validated with any Head Start program. Many of the commentators who praise Head Start value its family counseling and public health benefits, while granting that it does not raise the intelligence of the children.’ (2, pp.403–404).
In short, despite the first author’s eminence, I find this book to be untrustworthy, which alone makes me disinclined to read anything else by him.
References
1) Jensen, A.R. (1980). Bias in Mental Testing. Free Press (ISBN 0-02-916430-3)
2) Herrnstein & Murray (1994). The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life. Free Press (ISBN 0-02-914673-9)
This book certainly contains a lot of interesting and accurate information, albeit buried amid anecdotes that don’t really prove anything.
However, I found some aspects of it to be quite misleading; in particular, a tendency to cite studies that support the authors’ view and omit all mention of other studies indicating the contrary.
Most egregious is the chapter on ‘Thinking’, which contains many straw men. A couple of examples will have to suffice:
On p. 217 we read ‘[IQ tests] are also culturally biased; even the smartest English speaker is going to fail a test in Chinese.’ But no tester would assert anything different; tests in English are designed for English-speakers, and that capacity they perform their function.
Indeed, no test can be entirely culture-free: to quote Arthur Jensen:
‘Obviously, the wider the multidimensional cultural difference, the more complex and intractable is the problem of cross-cultural testing. Constructing a single test that maintains all its essential psychometric properties when administered to Arctic Eskimos and Kalahari Bushmen may or may not be possible [...]’ (1, p.636)
On the other hand, there are culture-reduced tests, such as Raven’s Progressive Matrices, which ‘have at least shown equal average scores for groups of people of remotely different cultures and unequal scores of people of people of the same culture and high loads on a “fluid” g factor within two or more different cultures’ (ibid).
Even worse are the assertions about the 1994 book The Bell Curve by Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein. ‘They began with two facts: individual differences in IQ scores are substantially heritable and race is heritable. From there, they deduced that racial differences in IQ scores must also be genetic.’ (p.224)
This is completely false (notice that there are no quotation marks and no reference): what H. & M. actually say is:
‘The debate about whether and how much genes and environment have to do with ethnic differences remains unresolved.’ (2, p.270)
Neither do they say, as the present authors seem to imply (p.226): ‘if IQ is genetically fixed at birth, why should society bother with Head Start or other programs to help black children? If they aren't going to get smarter, why throw good money at bad genes?’. They do say:
‘[E]very serious attempt to assess the impact of Head Start on intelligence has found fade-out. [...] To this point, no lasting improvements in intelligence have ever been validated with any Head Start program. Many of the commentators who praise Head Start value its family counseling and public health benefits, while granting that it does not raise the intelligence of the children.’ (2, pp.403–404).
In short, despite the first author’s eminence, I find this book to be untrustworthy, which alone makes me disinclined to read anything else by him.
References
1) Jensen, A.R. (1980). Bias in Mental Testing. Free Press (ISBN 0-02-916430-3)
2) Herrnstein & Murray (1994). The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life. Free Press (ISBN 0-02-914673-9)
September 27, 2025
“each of us is born into the world as someone; we spend the rest of our lives trying to find out who”
this book was written before the human genome project was completed, but still holds so much valuable information that’s still accurate (i learned a lot of it in my bio & psych courses already). there is some use of language tht would be um not appropriate in this day and age 😀 but i’ll give the authors some grace bc it was written in 1998.
i took some notes while reading so here’s the info that caught my attention the most:
- mice engineered w/o enzyme to make dopamine = so lethargic they did nothing and died of starvation after 2 weeks, then injected with L-DOPA = became normal
- regardless of whether twins were raised together or apart, genes account for half or more of person to person variation in novelty seeking. adopted family/environment = little effect
- D4DR dopamine receptor - copy number variation of 2-11 & longer = weaker binding, ppl with 1 or 2 copies of long version (6+ repeats) = higher novelty seeking
- D4DR says something abt probability person will be high or low novelty seeker, but doesn’t solely determine
- D4DR = role in different sexual behaviour of high and low novelty seekers
- different levels of novelty seeking = frequent source of dissatisfaction in relationships/marriage, if both partners have same level of novelty seeking = satisfied (assortative mating), worst combo = high novelty seeking woman with low novelty seeking man
- right frontal lobe = negative emotions, high harm avoidance (shy children, anxious adults, depressed adults) = more right frontal lobe activation
- shier children = higher cortisol in saliva, tighter muscles esp face, greater increase in blood pressure when they stand, bigger increases in heart rate under stress (physical & mental tasks), same behaviour patterns seen as they age
serotonin - linked to harm avoidance, synthesized from tryptophan
- many dif serotonin receptors, but only one serotonin transporter from one gene; low amounts of serotonin transporter in severely depressed individuals
- 2 copies of longer serotonin transporter gene promoter = high levels of serotonin transporter; 1 or 2 copies of shorter version of gene promoter (dominant) = make less serotonin transporter, mild anxiety & depression, but also have sex more frequently than ppl with long gene = why gene passed on despite negative effect
- mice bred without 5-H1TB serotonin receptor = “converted into crazed killers” attacks 6x more often than in normal colony
children of troubled parents vs children of parents w/o those issues:
- children of normal parents = bad environment had no effect & end up normal, good environment & end up normal
- children of troubled parents; if they had a good environment = normal, if they had a bad environment = aggressive/antisocial
- aggressive/antisocial behaviour increased dramatically only in children with both “bad genes” and bad homes
- “what is being inherited is not bad behaviour or aggression, but rather a genetic sensitivity to the environment”
5-hydroxyindoleacatic acid (5-HIAAA) - breakdown product of serotonin
- low levels in broad range of violent or aggressive people
- least aggressive monkeys = most serotonin, most aggressive monkeys = least serotonin, increased norepinephrine and ACTH (markers of stress)
- changing the social position of monkey is able to change its level of serotonin; eg putting dominant monkey into new colony as a follower = decreased serotonin; “persons place in the pecking order is the cause rather than the effect of different serotonin levels”
- testosterone - human brain responds to testosterone with increased aggression, and to competition/aggression with increased testosterone; the more testosterone = the more aggressive (generally)
- military veterans in top 10% for testosterone = increased antisocial behaviour, assault, physical aggression, increased drug/alcohol abuse, more sexual partners
- nitric oxide - made by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), acts as a brake on behaviour
- mice with no NOS gene = increased fighting and killing each other, increased sex/rape, don’t recognize signals from males trying to surrender or females declining sex
monoamine oxidase A - breaks down serotonin
- inmate X, family of extremely aggressive men with low intelligence, women unaffected, X-linked absence of monoamine oxidise A enzyme = filled with natural toxic waste
- mice without monoamine oxidase A = crazed killers
- mutation in gene cannot explain all/most crime, but confirms monoamine system has a role in biological part of aggression
- high harm avoidance = high depression & anxiety = more likely to use substances to self medicate
- genes control animals reaction to a substance, how much of it an animal can tolerate, and how strong an influence it has on behaviour
- reaction to every type of abused substance has genetic influences
- biological children of alcoholics = 4x higher risk of alcoholism even though they were adopted, biological children of nonalcoholics adopted by alcoholics = no increased alcoholism
5-HT1B receptor - none = aggressive & more difficult to stop alcohol consumption, higher tolerance to alcohol
- sons of alcoholics = less likely to feel drunk, different effects on hormone production & brain waves
- as an alcoholic drinks more, dopamine cells wither and shrink, when alcohol not available person feels worse
GABA - chronic alcohol consumption alters gaba receptors & when alcohol not available they can’t inhibit brain signalling anymore -> anxiety & siezures
- mice w/ faulty gaba system = less affected by alcohol
Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors - involved in learning and memory, normally activated by acetylcholine but can be activated by nicotine causing stimulating effect
Monoamine Oxidase B - degrade monoamines, MOA-B inhibitors = antidepressant drugs
- cigarette smoke - inhibit monoamine oxidase B, causing ppl to feel less depressed; depressed ppl 4x more likely to be smokers
Sex drive is relatively stable part of persons makeup
- men with high anxiety form of serotonin transporter gene have sex more often than those with low anxiety form
D4DR gene - dopamine receptor, long = higher novelty seeking
- straight-identifying men with long form of gene were 6x more likely to have slept with another man than straight-identifying men with the short gene
- gay-identifying men with long form of gene had sex with 5x as many women as gay-identifying men with short gene
- novelty seeking is a better predictor of number of sexual partners than any other factor; higher in thrill seeking = greater extent and variety of sexual activities, more sex partners, not about sex drive bc they don’t masturbate more than low thrill seekers
- for men evolutionary optimal strategy is to make as much sex with as many dif partners are possible, for women optimal strategy is to be highly selective and only have sex with a man who will commit time and resources to children
- mens willingness to date certain women and not others was based solely on physical attractiveness, women were equaling willing to date a well dressed homely guy as an attractive guy
- women are interested if other females are interested
- men value commitment and fidelity in long-term partners but find those values a turnoff for casual sex
- when asked what mattered in a sexual partner, men were less demanding in intelligence, charm, sense of humour, and personality, and didn’t care about ignorance, low social status, drinking problems, selfishness or mental instability
- “Even homosexuals are not immune to this kind of sex difference. Here's a joke: What does a lesbian bring on the second date? A U-Haul. What does a gay man bring on the second date? What second date?” 😭😭
Vasopressin - facilitates mate pair bonding
- male prairie voles mate for life & fight intruding males, when living with female, brain produces more vasopressin
- when vasopressin blocked = promiscuous & failed to defend female
this book was written before the human genome project was completed, but still holds so much valuable information that’s still accurate (i learned a lot of it in my bio & psych courses already). there is some use of language tht would be um not appropriate in this day and age 😀 but i’ll give the authors some grace bc it was written in 1998.
i took some notes while reading so here’s the info that caught my attention the most:
- mice engineered w/o enzyme to make dopamine = so lethargic they did nothing and died of starvation after 2 weeks, then injected with L-DOPA = became normal
- regardless of whether twins were raised together or apart, genes account for half or more of person to person variation in novelty seeking. adopted family/environment = little effect
- D4DR dopamine receptor - copy number variation of 2-11 & longer = weaker binding, ppl with 1 or 2 copies of long version (6+ repeats) = higher novelty seeking
- D4DR says something abt probability person will be high or low novelty seeker, but doesn’t solely determine
- D4DR = role in different sexual behaviour of high and low novelty seekers
- different levels of novelty seeking = frequent source of dissatisfaction in relationships/marriage, if both partners have same level of novelty seeking = satisfied (assortative mating), worst combo = high novelty seeking woman with low novelty seeking man
- right frontal lobe = negative emotions, high harm avoidance (shy children, anxious adults, depressed adults) = more right frontal lobe activation
- shier children = higher cortisol in saliva, tighter muscles esp face, greater increase in blood pressure when they stand, bigger increases in heart rate under stress (physical & mental tasks), same behaviour patterns seen as they age
serotonin - linked to harm avoidance, synthesized from tryptophan
- many dif serotonin receptors, but only one serotonin transporter from one gene; low amounts of serotonin transporter in severely depressed individuals
- 2 copies of longer serotonin transporter gene promoter = high levels of serotonin transporter; 1 or 2 copies of shorter version of gene promoter (dominant) = make less serotonin transporter, mild anxiety & depression, but also have sex more frequently than ppl with long gene = why gene passed on despite negative effect
- mice bred without 5-H1TB serotonin receptor = “converted into crazed killers” attacks 6x more often than in normal colony
children of troubled parents vs children of parents w/o those issues:
- children of normal parents = bad environment had no effect & end up normal, good environment & end up normal
- children of troubled parents; if they had a good environment = normal, if they had a bad environment = aggressive/antisocial
- aggressive/antisocial behaviour increased dramatically only in children with both “bad genes” and bad homes
- “what is being inherited is not bad behaviour or aggression, but rather a genetic sensitivity to the environment”
5-hydroxyindoleacatic acid (5-HIAAA) - breakdown product of serotonin
- low levels in broad range of violent or aggressive people
- least aggressive monkeys = most serotonin, most aggressive monkeys = least serotonin, increased norepinephrine and ACTH (markers of stress)
- changing the social position of monkey is able to change its level of serotonin; eg putting dominant monkey into new colony as a follower = decreased serotonin; “persons place in the pecking order is the cause rather than the effect of different serotonin levels”
- testosterone - human brain responds to testosterone with increased aggression, and to competition/aggression with increased testosterone; the more testosterone = the more aggressive (generally)
- military veterans in top 10% for testosterone = increased antisocial behaviour, assault, physical aggression, increased drug/alcohol abuse, more sexual partners
- nitric oxide - made by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), acts as a brake on behaviour
- mice with no NOS gene = increased fighting and killing each other, increased sex/rape, don’t recognize signals from males trying to surrender or females declining sex
monoamine oxidase A - breaks down serotonin
- inmate X, family of extremely aggressive men with low intelligence, women unaffected, X-linked absence of monoamine oxidise A enzyme = filled with natural toxic waste
- mice without monoamine oxidase A = crazed killers
- mutation in gene cannot explain all/most crime, but confirms monoamine system has a role in biological part of aggression
- high harm avoidance = high depression & anxiety = more likely to use substances to self medicate
- genes control animals reaction to a substance, how much of it an animal can tolerate, and how strong an influence it has on behaviour
- reaction to every type of abused substance has genetic influences
- biological children of alcoholics = 4x higher risk of alcoholism even though they were adopted, biological children of nonalcoholics adopted by alcoholics = no increased alcoholism
5-HT1B receptor - none = aggressive & more difficult to stop alcohol consumption, higher tolerance to alcohol
- sons of alcoholics = less likely to feel drunk, different effects on hormone production & brain waves
- as an alcoholic drinks more, dopamine cells wither and shrink, when alcohol not available person feels worse
GABA - chronic alcohol consumption alters gaba receptors & when alcohol not available they can’t inhibit brain signalling anymore -> anxiety & siezures
- mice w/ faulty gaba system = less affected by alcohol
Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors - involved in learning and memory, normally activated by acetylcholine but can be activated by nicotine causing stimulating effect
Monoamine Oxidase B - degrade monoamines, MOA-B inhibitors = antidepressant drugs
- cigarette smoke - inhibit monoamine oxidase B, causing ppl to feel less depressed; depressed ppl 4x more likely to be smokers
Sex drive is relatively stable part of persons makeup
- men with high anxiety form of serotonin transporter gene have sex more often than those with low anxiety form
D4DR gene - dopamine receptor, long = higher novelty seeking
- straight-identifying men with long form of gene were 6x more likely to have slept with another man than straight-identifying men with the short gene
- gay-identifying men with long form of gene had sex with 5x as many women as gay-identifying men with short gene
- novelty seeking is a better predictor of number of sexual partners than any other factor; higher in thrill seeking = greater extent and variety of sexual activities, more sex partners, not about sex drive bc they don’t masturbate more than low thrill seekers
- for men evolutionary optimal strategy is to make as much sex with as many dif partners are possible, for women optimal strategy is to be highly selective and only have sex with a man who will commit time and resources to children
- mens willingness to date certain women and not others was based solely on physical attractiveness, women were equaling willing to date a well dressed homely guy as an attractive guy
- women are interested if other females are interested
- men value commitment and fidelity in long-term partners but find those values a turnoff for casual sex
- when asked what mattered in a sexual partner, men were less demanding in intelligence, charm, sense of humour, and personality, and didn’t care about ignorance, low social status, drinking problems, selfishness or mental instability
- “Even homosexuals are not immune to this kind of sex difference. Here's a joke: What does a lesbian bring on the second date? A U-Haul. What does a gay man bring on the second date? What second date?” 😭😭
Vasopressin - facilitates mate pair bonding
- male prairie voles mate for life & fight intruding males, when living with female, brain produces more vasopressin
- when vasopressin blocked = promiscuous & failed to defend female
August 28, 2020
I can't remember this book too well now, but I do know that I liked it.
I ended up keeping the hardback copy of this book until this day. Probably to remind me of my interest in science, psychology and human nature. Even though we are all unique, we all have certain traits about ourselves. Some that we can change, some we cannot.
I bought this book when I was about 15 years old before I started my A-levels. I had hoped that I would be studying biology, but even though I passed science, my particular school of choice wanted a higher grade. I did go on to study psychology A-level, but not any further than that.
It would be good for me to read this again, now that I'm older and wiser. When I read this, the whole universe felt like it was at my fingertips. I was at a time in my life where the wind could pull me in any which way and lead me onto a variety of paths. Now that I am older, those paths have narrowed. And even though I was so cautious in my early years about the decisions I made for myself, I lacked parental guidance and advice, therefore I feel some regret with some of those major decisions. However, I did the best with what I had and I do not regret that.
I ended up keeping the hardback copy of this book until this day. Probably to remind me of my interest in science, psychology and human nature. Even though we are all unique, we all have certain traits about ourselves. Some that we can change, some we cannot.
I bought this book when I was about 15 years old before I started my A-levels. I had hoped that I would be studying biology, but even though I passed science, my particular school of choice wanted a higher grade. I did go on to study psychology A-level, but not any further than that.
It would be good for me to read this again, now that I'm older and wiser. When I read this, the whole universe felt like it was at my fingertips. I was at a time in my life where the wind could pull me in any which way and lead me onto a variety of paths. Now that I am older, those paths have narrowed. And even though I was so cautious in my early years about the decisions I made for myself, I lacked parental guidance and advice, therefore I feel some regret with some of those major decisions. However, I did the best with what I had and I do not regret that.
August 2, 2023
Encouraged a lot of new thinking pathways for why humans act the way we do. Offered many interesting insights into my own behavior. Used past studies to defend hypotheses on a topic that is hard to study.
March 29, 2025
Fascinating read about how our genes affect not only our health but also our behavior and our personality. It validated some things and gave me much to think about. Highly recommend as a way to better understand yourself and others.
December 12, 2019
Excellent
August 14, 2021
This book takes genetic information and applies it to our daily lives. It discusses areas such as personality, sex, and aggression.
August 25, 2021
It is fun to know why I am the way I am but then it gets scary, wondering if some qualities will inherent and redeemed to the offspring 🙃
January 9, 2012
I fully believed that this book was onto something, utilizing tests between twins and adopted children. But then I went and got psychotherapy. One opinion prescribed me psychoactive medication. Another suggested social integration tactics without the drugs. I asked the latter psychologist if anxious and depressed people have more sex. This book suggested yes...she stated no...impulsive people have more sex. Compulsion seems to tie into anxiety, but it's sort of a side-effect for some and not for all. It probably factors into thrill seeking and addiction as well. So then you have to dissect anxiety/depression/ADD, and whatever else is integrated with that aspect of temperament. This book discusses temperaments and doesn't really go into personality disorders. In fact, I think in an offhand way it asserts that personality disorders aren't disorders at all...they're temperaments that have neglected character development. But does that really explain wrist slashing, bulimia, serial killing, and so on?
For me, this book just scratches the surface, and the human mind is more complex and will require supplemental reading. I wouldn't read this book an incontrovertible evidence about behavior, since behavior is so nuanced. I would really need to get a breakdown of behavioral disorder and where they fall underneath the temperament umbrella. Parts of the scientific community are at odd ends with each other, and the sociology/psychology debate continues. It felt like a relief to see how responsible neurotransmitters are for behavior, however I think willpower is underrated. Chaos theory just about renders any determinism incomplete. It seems obvious that personality traits run in families, but coping strategies are probably something learned. I still feel like a lot of people have more control over their environment than they think. Statistical analysis can only predict things. It's not necessarily a verdict. That said, this is a worthwhile, entertaining read, despite the rapid changes in science that have probably occurred since it was written.
For me, this book just scratches the surface, and the human mind is more complex and will require supplemental reading. I wouldn't read this book an incontrovertible evidence about behavior, since behavior is so nuanced. I would really need to get a breakdown of behavioral disorder and where they fall underneath the temperament umbrella. Parts of the scientific community are at odd ends with each other, and the sociology/psychology debate continues. It felt like a relief to see how responsible neurotransmitters are for behavior, however I think willpower is underrated. Chaos theory just about renders any determinism incomplete. It seems obvious that personality traits run in families, but coping strategies are probably something learned. I still feel like a lot of people have more control over their environment than they think. Statistical analysis can only predict things. It's not necessarily a verdict. That said, this is a worthwhile, entertaining read, despite the rapid changes in science that have probably occurred since it was written.
February 9, 2021
"you are born with a pen and paper in hand, but you have to write your own story".
We were reading this book with my brother and we were discussing together each chapter to understand how can two people experience same events but remember and lived it differently. I highly recommend it if you want to understand yourself and your family.
We were reading this book with my brother and we were discussing together each chapter to understand how can two people experience same events but remember and lived it differently. I highly recommend it if you want to understand yourself and your family.
December 29, 2015
An interesting read about various human "conditions" and the genes that may play a role in their occurrence. I wanted to like this book more but I found it a very uneven read. It covers the areas as Thrills, Worry, Anger, Addition, Sex, Thinking, Hunger, and Aging.
At times it felt like reading an undergraduate thesis paper. Each section would start off with a little vignette about a "condition" then proceed into varies studies about genes that may be related/the cause of the condition. This author seemed to have a love of twin studies and wanted to repetitively site numerous twins studies for every case. At times the writing was so simplistic a child could comprehend this, at other times my background in biology seemed necessary to understand it. At times I found myself glossing over parts...like wow here's another synopsis of several scientific papers just kind of mashed together in a row to make it sound more impressive than it really is.
But to be fair if one had no knowledge that genes could play a role in many aspects for the human "condition" especially things we view as emotional issues ( and frankly many people don't) than in some ways it could be a good introductory food for thought, although there are probably better written books out there.
At times it felt like reading an undergraduate thesis paper. Each section would start off with a little vignette about a "condition" then proceed into varies studies about genes that may be related/the cause of the condition. This author seemed to have a love of twin studies and wanted to repetitively site numerous twins studies for every case. At times the writing was so simplistic a child could comprehend this, at other times my background in biology seemed necessary to understand it. At times I found myself glossing over parts...like wow here's another synopsis of several scientific papers just kind of mashed together in a row to make it sound more impressive than it really is.
But to be fair if one had no knowledge that genes could play a role in many aspects for the human "condition" especially things we view as emotional issues ( and frankly many people don't) than in some ways it could be a good introductory food for thought, although there are probably better written books out there.
June 28, 2016
This book contained a great amount of new and intriguing information. I was able to skim through or pass some sections because I had already learned about them in my psychology course, so that was reassuring since the information could be validated. However, I felt that even though the book was focused on the genetic perspective, it still included environmental/social explanations, but I wish there could have been more. A few areas seemed a little one-sided, but I did appreciate that some topics were left open simply because an answer has not been discovered yet. Lastly, the way topics were introduced allowed me to stay engaged and continue to read because each chapter began with a story of an individual as an example, and then moved into more scientific explanations.
October 18, 2021
3/5
This book covers how your genes and the environment you grew up in influence 8 different aaspects of personality and life, such as aggression, nervousness, libido, drug usage, and more. This book was very informative and educational, but it wasnt super boring. the things it covered were very interesting and it narrated them in an entertaining way.. but sometimes it would ramble on and on and it would get boring during these rambling segments. If you are interested in learning about personality and the things that influence what your personality will turn out to be, you may enjoy this book.
This book covers how your genes and the environment you grew up in influence 8 different aaspects of personality and life, such as aggression, nervousness, libido, drug usage, and more. This book was very informative and educational, but it wasnt super boring. the things it covered were very interesting and it narrated them in an entertaining way.. but sometimes it would ramble on and on and it would get boring during these rambling segments. If you are interested in learning about personality and the things that influence what your personality will turn out to be, you may enjoy this book.
September 7, 2007
This book is chock full of examples to pit nature versus nurture. I still remember being convinced for a long while after reading this that we have very little control over our behaviors per our genetic predispositions. They take many cases of identical twins separated at birth and compare their outcomes later in life; you know, the obvious.
September 6, 2012
If you've always suspected that nature wins over nurture most often, then this is the book for you. It shows how genes affect our anxiety, weight, personality, aging, and aggression. I used to puzzle over how often relatives told me my looks and mannerisms matched those of my maternal mother, although I barely knew her. Now I know why.
September 6, 2014
I feel like I got a broad sense of how genes play into nearly every aspect of human behavior, personality, health, etc. but there wasn't much concrete facts or info to remember as he often would imply something had a big effect then cite another study that discounted that effect.
I also felt nervous reading a science book from 1998.
I also felt nervous reading a science book from 1998.
February 14, 2015
Quite an interesting book about some of the research into the effect of genes on many parts of our personality and character: Thrills, worry, anger, addiction, sexuality, thinking, hunger, and aging. It was written in 1998, so I wish he would write another that tells us what further research has found.
April 30, 2015
AWESOME BOOK!!!! An honest look at the nature vs. nurture debate. The author challenges stereotypes; from intelligence within races to obesity. I appreciate all the work the author put into this book. I can see that the author took the time to really study the nature vs. nurture debate using facts and not opinion. Which in our culture can be extremely convoluted.
April 30, 2015
AWESOME BOOK!!!! An honest look at the nature vs. nurture debate. The author challenges stereotypes; from intelligence within races to obesity. I appreciate all the work the author put into this book. I can see that the author took the time to really study the nature vs. nurture debate using facts and not opinion. Which in our culture can be extremely convoluted.
givenupon
July 18, 2007i picked this up from the library when i was wanting to read the book about gays but it was checked out.
I don't like it so much but i have only read about a chapter. Seems really dumbed/watered down. I'm worried it won't contain any science.
I gave up on this one. returned to the library
I don't like it so much but i have only read about a chapter. Seems really dumbed/watered down. I'm worried it won't contain any science.
I gave up on this one. returned to the library
Read
August 12, 2010This book didn't really do it for me. I didn't enjoy the constant switching from story telling to in depth biology. If you can't find a way to properly intertwine the two, then pick one and stick with it.
Read
August 18, 2012nf--found very interesting--objective telling....didn't realize it was pub. in 98---now want to read updated verson (but am going to read the Violinist's Thumb...whic h I believe will bring me up to date on this subject.)
August 30, 2007
Like Judith Herman's book, this is meant for people who want to know what external circumstances shape the human soul.
September 1, 2012
Although I usually only read fictional, I really enjoyed this book. The style was very comprehensive and the author used really interesting examples to make it totally relatable.
June 10, 2014
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12722209
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12722209
April 8, 2017
Interesting enough, but rather dated, some of the science is wrong according to more up to date research, if I'm not mistaken. But a reasonable enough introduction to the topic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews