The Social Conquest of Earth

Author(s): Edward O. Wilson

Popular Science

In asking where we came from, what we are and where we are going, Edward O. Wilson directly addresses three fundamental questions of religion, philosophy and science. Refashioning the story of human evolution, he draws on his remarkable knowledge of biology and social behaviour to show that group selection, not kin selection, is the primary driving force of human evolution. He proves that history makes no sense without prehistory and prehistory makes no sense without biology. Demonstrating that the sources of morality, religion and the creative arts are fundamentally biological in nature, Wilson presents us with the clearest explanation ever produced as to the origin of the human condition and why it resulted in our domination of the Earth's biosphere.

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A huge, deep, thrilling work, presenting a radically new but cautiously hopeful view of human evolution, human nature, and human society. No one but E. O. Wilson could bring together such a brilliant synthesis of biology and the humanities, to shed light on the origins of language, religion, art, and all of human culture. --Oliver Sacks "Biologist E.O. Wilson's brilliant new volume...Drawing on his deep understanding of entomology and his extraordinarily broad knowledge of the natural and social sciences, Wilson makes a strong case for the synthesis of knowledge across disciplines." Nature "...splendid book...The Social Conquest of Earth fully maintains the elegant and informative style of its predecessors." Clive Cookson, Financial Times "The Social Conquest of Earth is one of the supreme examples of evolutionist writing." Literary Review "A clear analysis of the factors that give rise to altruism..." Clive Cookson, Summer Books, The Financial Times "The father of sociobiology sums up 60 distinguished years of research into evolution and social behaviour." Clive Cookson, Christmas Books 2012, Financial Times

Edward O. Wilson, a professor emeritus at Harvard University, is the author of more than twenty-five books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Ants and the bestselling novel Anthill (ISBN 978 0 393 33970 3). Also available: The Superorganism (ISBN 978 0 393 06704 0) and From So Simple a Beginning (ISBN 978 0 393 06134 5).

General Fields

  • : 9780871403636
  • : W. W. Norton & Company, Incorporated
  • : W. W. Norton & Company, Incorporated
  • : 0.28
  • : 01 March 2013
  • : 235mm X 156mm
  • : United States
  • : 01 June 2013
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Edward O. Wilson
  • : Paperback
  • : 613
  • : English
  • : 599.938
  • : 352
  • : PSAJ
  • : 90 illustrations