Human Nature and the Evolution of Society

"The book is written in an accessible language, and is well edited, with an index and a glossary for more technical terms, and handy summaries and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter. . . . This is an excellent choice: escaping from excessive technicality and jargon, Sanderson helps to popularize evolutionary psychology in a correct way, while maintaining a solid scientific basis." --Science & Education

"Sanderson's new book provides a great service, surveying and summarizing a vast quantity of research on evolution and human behavior in a way that will be accessible to general readers and students while also engaging and enlightening experts in the field. One of the book's many strengths is the way it situates current research on human nature within the broader contexts of cross-cultural research and human paleontology. In addition to covering such standard topics as mating and parenting, Sanderson also ventures where few other authors of books like this dare to go, exploring such topics as language, religion, sexual orientation, and racism. Although I may quibble with some of the positions that Sanderson stakes out on these issues, I applaud him for making his views clear, a refreshing contrast with the noncommittal approach taken by so many textbook authors." --Lee Cronk, Rutgers University

Sanderson s new book provides a great service, surveying and summarizing a vast quantity of research on evolution and human behavior in a way that will be accessible to general readers and students while also engaging and enlightening experts in the field. One of the book s many strengths is the way it situates current research on human nature within the broader contexts of cross-cultural research and human paleontology. In addition to covering such standard topics as mating and parenting, Sanderson also ventures where few other authors of books like this dare to go, exploring such topics as language, religion, sexual orientation, and racism. Although I may quibble with some of the positions that Sanderson stakes out on these issues, I applaud him for making his views clear, a refreshing contrast with the noncommittal approach taken by so many textbook authors. Lee Cronk, Rutgers University
A cross-culturally rich treatment of various domains of the human experience that sacrifices neither breadth nor depth. Treating debates within each topic fairly, it is notably inviting to critical engagement; this is one of many reasons it should be required reading. Benjamin Purzycki, University of British Columbia
This book does an excellent job demonstrating the utility of evolutionary theory in social science in a way that students can easily understand. Jennie R. Brown, Franklin Pierce University
"
"Sanderson's new book provides a great service, surveying and summarizing a vast quantity of research on evolution and human behavior in a way that will be accessible to general readers and students while also engaging and enlightening experts in the field. One of the book's many strengths is the way it situates current research on human nature within the broader contexts of cross-cultural research and human paleontology. In addition to covering such standard topics as mating and parenting, Sanderson also ventures where few other authors of books like this dare to go, exploring such topics as language, religion, sexual orientation, and racism. Although I may quibble with some of the positions that Sanderson stakes out on these issues, I applaud him for making his views clear, a refreshing contrast with the noncommittal approach taken by so many textbook authors." --Lee Cronk, Rutgers University

"A cross-culturally rich treatment of various domains of the human experience that sacrifices neither breadth nor depth. Treating debates within each topic fairly, it is notably inviting to critical engagement; this is one of many reasons it should be required reading." --Benjamin Purzycki, University of British Columbia

"This book does an excellent job demonstrating the utility of evolutionary theory in social science in a way that students can easily understand." --Jennie R. Brown, Franklin Pierce University