The Tangled Wing: Biological Constraints on the Human Spirit

First published twenty years ago to great acclaim, The Tangled Wing soon became a must-read for anyone interested in the biological roots of human behavior and emotions. Since then however, revolutions have taken place in the biological sciences--not only in genetics but molecular biology and neuroscience as well. All of these innovations have been brought into account in this vastly expanded edition of a book originally called an "overwhelming achievement" by the Times Literary Supplement.

In a masterful synthesis of biology, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy, Konner delves unabashedly into the seat of human emotions. He shows what is "natural" and what is merely construct. His discussion and analysis are both sensitive and straightforward, ranging from such compelling topics as brain differences between the sexes to the roots of mental illness. Finally, in a stirring tribute to the human spirit, he demonstrates how our tremendous capacity for change illuminates our prospects for the future.


Notes and References
Complete notes and references for The Tangled Wing are available online in either PDF or HTML format, at www.henryholt.com/tangledwing

Melvin Konner M.D., Ph.D., is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Anthropology and an associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Emory University. Trained at Harvard University, he has held NIMH and NSF research grants, and has been a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, and the Foundations Fund for Research in Psychiatry. Konner is the author of Becoming a Doctor and Why the Reckless Survive, and Other Secrets of Human Nature. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the board of the Russell Sage Foundation, Konner has spent time advocating single-payer health care reform, testifying twice at U.S. Senate hearings. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.