Synopsis
Whether or not we know it, our daily lives are shaped by powerful current of instinct. The conscious and unconscious decisions we make are deeply affected by an ancient and universal genetic programme.
Our ambition and lust, our drives to compete and to co-operate are essential components of the human mind, forged among our ancestors on the African savannah. Instincts were instrumental in the evolutionary success of the species, and success meant a fondness for sex and violence, for status and wealth - and a will to survive.
From ordering lunch to one night stands, human behaviour is still heavily influenced by this genetic agenda. But how well do instincts equip us for the 21st century? Do instincts help or hinder us as we deal with large anonymous cities, low-level stress, the battle of the sexes, and the fracturing of communal life?
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From the Publisher
Whether we know it or not, our daily lives are shaped by powerful currents of instinct. The conscious and unconscious decisions we all make are deeply affected by an ancient genetic program: our ambition and lust, our drives to compete and cooperate are essential components of the human mind, forged among our ancestors on the African savannah. Instincts were instrumental in the evolutionary success of the species, and success meant a fondness for sex and violence, for status and wealth—and a will to survive. From ordering lunch to one–night stands, human behavior is still heavily influenced by this genetic agenda. But how well do instincts equip us for the 21st century? Do instincts help or hinder us as we deal with large anonymous cities, low–level stress, and the fracturing of communal life? In this engrossing study, Robert Winston takes us deep into the human mind in search of the answers to these questions and more. Robert Winston is one of Britain’s leading scientists. As a consulting physician and Professor of Fertility Studies at the University of London, he has pioneered in vitro fertilization and been a leading voice in the debate on genetic engineering.
From the Inside Flap
In this fascinating investigation of our most basic instincts, Robert Winston shows us how our primeval impulses shape our modern lives, and questions whether our inherited instincts equip us for the twenty-first century.
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