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branch_c's review against another edition
4.0
I realize there are various well-respected evolutionary biologists and other smart people who have serious criticisms of evolutionary psychology, but I have to say that I find it very convincing, and Kurzban's explanation of it is one of the best I've read.
Even if his description of our minds' modules turns out not to be precisely correct in all details, it seems clear that something like this must be the truth. It explains so much about why people act the way they do, and ties in so elegantly with other explanatory aspects of evolution, it just seems very unlikely that it's wrong.
It may be difficult or impossible to test EP hypotheses right now, but that may not always be the case. As our understanding of the brain and its functions increases, I expect EP to rest on firmer ground as its concepts are refined. For now, this book is an excellent place to learn more about current thinking on the subject.
Even if his description of our minds' modules turns out not to be precisely correct in all details, it seems clear that something like this must be the truth. It explains so much about why people act the way they do, and ties in so elegantly with other explanatory aspects of evolution, it just seems very unlikely that it's wrong.
It may be difficult or impossible to test EP hypotheses right now, but that may not always be the case. As our understanding of the brain and its functions increases, I expect EP to rest on firmer ground as its concepts are refined. For now, this book is an excellent place to learn more about current thinking on the subject.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my new favorite books. I remember hearing about it years ago when I first got interested in human irrationality, but I totally forgot about it. When I was asking my followers for recommendations for books about cognitive dissonance, someone brought up this book. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Kurzban has a unique perspective and theories about how our minds work, and how it leads us to irrational and hypocritical behavior. Not only did this book introduce me to a new way of looking at how our brains function and why we evolved that way, but he made so many solid arguments that I haven’t heard in any of the dozens of books I’ve read on this topic.
This book is amazing, and it’s not too complex for laypeople like myself. Kurzban also brings up some philosophical topics in the book like our sense of “self” as well as some moral philosophy. I’m definitely going to read this book again at some point, but for now, I’m going to go grab his other book and hope he’s in the process of writing another.
This book is amazing, and it’s not too complex for laypeople like myself. Kurzban also brings up some philosophical topics in the book like our sense of “self” as well as some moral philosophy. I’m definitely going to read this book again at some point, but for now, I’m going to go grab his other book and hope he’s in the process of writing another.
socraticgadfly's review against another edition
3.0
Goodreads won't let me untag the "read," so first up is honesty that I've not actually read this.
One of my Goodreads friends five-starred this, but no review, so I clicked the link.
Book is totally wrong on brain modularity. That's evolutionary psychology BS that's as much BS as the other failings of ev psych, and is also out of date in the world of neuroscience.
I don't know what else is wrong with the book, but from the editorial blurb review on it, with ev psych being mentioned more than once, I'll give you a three-stars-at-best non-read review right there.
Flame me if you don't like it.
One of my Goodreads friends five-starred this, but no review, so I clicked the link.
Book is totally wrong on brain modularity. That's evolutionary psychology BS that's as much BS as the other failings of ev psych, and is also out of date in the world of neuroscience.
I don't know what else is wrong with the book, but from the editorial blurb review on it, with ev psych being mentioned more than once, I'll give you a three-stars-at-best non-read review right there.
Flame me if you don't like it.
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
5.0
Uncle Walt said it all when he quipped:
"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes".
If you've ever wondered how someone can say one thing and do another (i.e. be a total hypocrite). The answer may be that there's more than one them. A lot more than one.
Don't feel bad for them though. Because the same could be said about you, me and everyone else.
According to modularity theory, who we are and what we do depends on which competing mental module wins the struggle for dominance in a given situation.
These modules evolved for different reasons and are often working at crossed purposes. They can have very different agendas and elicit very different types of behaviors.
So you no longer have to be even one bit surprised the next time an anti gay politician or tella-evangelist gets busted with a male prostitute. Or the mayor of Toronto gets busted smoking crack. These are simply amplified, very public examples of the same kind of erratic, hypocritical behavior that everyone does pretty much all the time.
There's a catch though. We're great at busting others at being hypocritical and literally terrible at seeing our own hypocritical behavior. That's why accountability is such a very good thing. In fact it's our only hope.
I loved this book. In fact I really think just about everybody ought to read it. It's funny and smart and if you're unfamiliar with (good) evolutionary psychology, specifically modularity theory, than it may radically change the way you view human behavior (including your own).
If "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution" Dobzhansky (1973), and, assuming that mind is an emergent property of brain function (and it is), than nothing in PSYCHOLOGY makes sense except in the light of evolution either (and it doesn't).
This book is flawed. It labors some points while underworking others. But it's (a) LOL funny, (b) thought provoking as hell, and (c) extremely clarifying and useful, particularly if you are confused about psychology (and you are, and so is everyone else, even the "experts", trust me).
Its a first draft, of a corner of a map, that can lead us out of the tanged jukyard of incongruous mini theories that is psychology today (meaning the current state of the field-not the magazine).
Read it, ditch the tired unified self model, and keep thinking function and module over time under selection pressure in the environment of evolutionary of adaptation, and see if things about psychology (that were formerly terribly confusing) don't start making a bit more sense.
Great book!
"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes".
If you've ever wondered how someone can say one thing and do another (i.e. be a total hypocrite). The answer may be that there's more than one them. A lot more than one.
Don't feel bad for them though. Because the same could be said about you, me and everyone else.
According to modularity theory, who we are and what we do depends on which competing mental module wins the struggle for dominance in a given situation.
These modules evolved for different reasons and are often working at crossed purposes. They can have very different agendas and elicit very different types of behaviors.
So you no longer have to be even one bit surprised the next time an anti gay politician or tella-evangelist gets busted with a male prostitute. Or the mayor of Toronto gets busted smoking crack. These are simply amplified, very public examples of the same kind of erratic, hypocritical behavior that everyone does pretty much all the time.
There's a catch though. We're great at busting others at being hypocritical and literally terrible at seeing our own hypocritical behavior. That's why accountability is such a very good thing. In fact it's our only hope.
I loved this book. In fact I really think just about everybody ought to read it. It's funny and smart and if you're unfamiliar with (good) evolutionary psychology, specifically modularity theory, than it may radically change the way you view human behavior (including your own).
If "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution" Dobzhansky (1973), and, assuming that mind is an emergent property of brain function (and it is), than nothing in PSYCHOLOGY makes sense except in the light of evolution either (and it doesn't).
This book is flawed. It labors some points while underworking others. But it's (a) LOL funny, (b) thought provoking as hell, and (c) extremely clarifying and useful, particularly if you are confused about psychology (and you are, and so is everyone else, even the "experts", trust me).
Its a first draft, of a corner of a map, that can lead us out of the tanged jukyard of incongruous mini theories that is psychology today (meaning the current state of the field-not the magazine).
Read it, ditch the tired unified self model, and keep thinking function and module over time under selection pressure in the environment of evolutionary of adaptation, and see if things about psychology (that were formerly terribly confusing) don't start making a bit more sense.
Great book!
rnstnkt's review against another edition
4.0
I'm very familiar with evo psych, so the book seemed a little too long. Could have been shorter.
It was a nice read overall. A lot of examples/experiments were presented in support.
It was a nice read overall. A lot of examples/experiments were presented in support.
ivybeans's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best book that I have read in years. I became a firm believer in evolutionary psychology after reading this book. I agree with the author that the mind is made up many fairly independent modules. I was convinced that we are mistaken to think that the mind that does the talking is really us. Therefore, asking someone what they prefer is a mistake. Therefore, I agree with the author that there is no true self. Therefore, no self-interest in the economic sense. Therefore, the whole study of behavioural economics that uses psychological studies to demonstrate that people are not rational is not really very interesting even though there are many books on the subject.
mmarvin01's review
3.0
This was a very interesting book about why we "believe" what we believe about ourselves and others. I found the writing style to be a little distracting and repetitive (ex: "In this chapter I will explain __." and "I hope to have convinced you by now of ___.") Overall, I would recommend the book because the subject matter is relevant and fascinating.
danslimmon's review
2.0
I read this book as part of Robert Wright's Buddhism And Modern Psychology online course. I was excited to read it because I find fascinating the concept of consciousness as a sort of "press secretary" that evolved to explain our actions to others. This would tie consciousness to language in a nice, satisfying way.
Unfortunately, in this book, Kurzban doesn't really elaborate on the "press secretary" concept. He spends a lot of time giving muddy exposition on psychological misconceptions about self-deception, and he does a lot of moral argumentation that doesn't seem related to his main point and doesn't really lead anywhere.
I still have an intuition that the modular model of the mind is right and that the experience of selfhood is just an illusion. But Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite doesn't solidify or add nuance to these ideas in any appreciable way.
Unfortunately, in this book, Kurzban doesn't really elaborate on the "press secretary" concept. He spends a lot of time giving muddy exposition on psychological misconceptions about self-deception, and he does a lot of moral argumentation that doesn't seem related to his main point and doesn't really lead anywhere.
I still have an intuition that the modular model of the mind is right and that the experience of selfhood is just an illusion. But Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite doesn't solidify or add nuance to these ideas in any appreciable way.
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