Sense and Nonsense

Lucid and balanced, Sense and Nonsense will hopefully reach a broad audience. * Sarah B. Hrdy, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of California Davis *
Sense and Nonsense is the go-to book for anyone interested in how researchers have used evolutionary theory to explain human behaviour, psychology, society and culture. Brown and Lala expertly and accessibly guide readers through the controversial sociobiology debates of the 1970s, to the emergence of present-day fields such as evolutionary psychology and cultural evolution. They use up-to-date empirical case studies and highlight areas of genuine disagreement and discussion. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in or studying the human evolutionary sciences. * Alex Mesoudi, Professor of Cultural Evolution, University of Exeter *
Sense and Nonsense provides a clear and concise introduction to the human evolutionary behavioural sciences. Its balanced approach, covering all sub-disciplines in the field, make it an ideal textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as a useful read for those already working in the discipline. Its engaging writing style will also appeal to anyone who wants to understand why humans do the things we do, given that we cannot wholly understand human behaviour without an evolutionary perspective. One of its most valuable features is the inclusion of both historical perspectives and critical reflections on the discipline. Readers will come away from the book armed with the information they need to form their own opinions on the rapidly growing, but often controversial, field of evolutionary approaches to human behaviour. * Rebecca Sear, Professor, Centre for Culture and Evolution, Brunel University London *
Understanding the evolutionary roots of the behavior of humans and other animals is one of the highest profile scientific projects of our times, with pitfalls and controversies in proportion to the scope of its aspirations. In this third edition of their classic volume, Brown and Lala provide us with a ringside seat to debates in this ever-evolving field, merging historical analysis with up-to-the-minute insights about the present and future of the discipline. Sense and Nonsense is the ultimate insider's guide to the history of one of our most ambitious attempts to understand ourselves and our place on the planet. * H. Clark Barrett, Professor of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles *