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Title: The Mating Mind : How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature by Geoffrey Miller ISBN: 0-385-49517-X Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 17 April, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.36 (25 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A Literary Masterpiece
Comment: Geoffrey Miller is a wonderful writer, fully in command of the theory and evidence in evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, and animal behavior. He is also widely read in the arts and popular culture. He has a fertile imagination and a creative bent that makes reading his ideas a real pleasure. This book is, as they say, "a good read."
But is it correct? Miller tries to explain the mystery of human intellect and creativity. Why would a creature (us) who evolved under the most primitive of material conditions, who lacked even sedentary agriculture until 10,000 years ago, have evolved the mental capacity for beauty, wit, rhythm, and truth? His answer is: sexual (as opposed to survival) selection. In short we are smart and talented because women preferred to mate with smart and talented men.
There is a problem, however. There are two theories of sexual selection: runaway selection (associated with Darwin and Ronald Fisher), and the handicap principle (Zahavi). Most of Miller's arguments require the former (although he formally disavows this early in the book), while the latter is probably the only plausible model of sexual selection.
For instance, the idea that we have large brains because women prefer intelligent men, even if intelligence imposes a fitness cost on men, is plausible only if intelligence is a signal of a superior fitness in some other hidden area (e.g., a lower parasite load). But I cannot think of one such area, nor does Miller supply one. Intelligence may have direct fitness benefits for humans, but that is NOT sexual selection, but straightforward selection for survivability.
In short, I think Miller is wrong, and I know there is no quantitative evidence for his 'just-so story,' but I loved the book anyway.
Rating: 3
Summary: More science, Less PC
Comment: Geoffrey Miller presents compelling evidence in this book for just how complex and efficient evolution really is. The concept he presents is one of those theories that because it is difficult to dismiss on logical grounds, is treated with less than the acclaim it deserves. As T.S. Eliot said, people are not fond of too much reality. Sexual selection answers most of the difficult questions about altruism towards strangers, art, music, and other kinds of behavior that do not confer some sort of survival benefit.
That said, my chief complaint about this book is that Miller professes to believe in the objectivity of science; in its blindness to subjective human fears, wishes, etc. However, the book becomes nearly unreadable in places where it grinds to a halt with glaringly obvious kow-towing and back peddling to political correctness, sometimes contradicting what he has just put forth. Unfortunately, rap "musicians" do not share a poetic ability with Shakespeare. Men are ridiculed and presented almost as buffoons, yet every reference to women would make a radical feminist proud. Western civilization comes under the gun for the same tired, worn out resentment about cultural imperialism, colonialism, etc. Why the self-hatred? If science is his main aim, Miller should leave his politics for another project: it has nearly ruined this one for me.
Rating: 4
Summary: The sexiest nonfiction book I have read yet!
Comment: I could not put this book down. Any student in psychology or biology should read this book. Any man who would like to understand the underlying reasons of what works on the flirtation market should read this book. This book was down right sexy. Do not start reading it with modern societies' moralities in mind. What it means to be human and human sexuality is a lot older than modern views on sex. This book explores the reasons behind all the things we do in order to "get some". A wonderfully informative read. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was that I was looking for more specific information gleaned from specific studies. Some readers may not need that but I was looking for it. I love it that my favorite book "Clan of the Cave Bear" was cited. (Not in a supporive way but I was still glad to see it mentioned anyway.)
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Title: The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley ISBN: 0140245480 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1995 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating by David M. Buss ISBN: 046500802X Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.50 |
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Title: The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins ISBN: 0192860925 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: September, 1990 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Silent Power by Stuart Wilde ISBN: 1561705365 Publisher: Hay House Pub. Date: July, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.00 |
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Title: Radical Honesty : How To Transform Your Life By Telling The Truth by Brad Blanton ISBN: 0440507545 Publisher: DTP Pub. Date: 01 April, 1996 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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