Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst

by Robert M. Sapolsky

There are three ways of viewing the place of biology in making sense of our behaviors, criminal or otherwise: We have complete free will in our behavior. We have none. Somewhere in between.

Why do “You’re so smart” and “You work so hard” have such different effects? Because they fall on either side of one of the deepest lines drawn by believers in mitigated free will. It is the belief that one assigns aptitude and impulse to biology and effort and resisting impulse to free will.

This ranges from religious wars, which are, to cite a quote generally attributed to Napoleon, “people killing each other over who has the better imaginary friend,”

It’s not religiosity that stokes intergroup hostility; it’s being surrounded by coreligionists who affirm parochial identity, commitment, and shared loves and hatreds. This is hugely important.

Ultimately, forgiveness is usually about one thing—“This is for me, not for you.” Hatred is exhausting; forgiveness, or even just indifference, is freeing. To quote Booker T. Washington, “I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”

If you had to boil this book down to a single phrase, it would be “It’s complicated.”