eBook - ePub

Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare

Name: Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare
Author: Gordon H. Orians

How Evolution Shapes Our Loves and Fears

Gordon H. Orians,

230 pages
English
ePUB (mobile friendly)
Available on iOS & Android

eBook - ePub

Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare

How Evolution Shapes Our Loves and Fears

Gordon H. Orians,

About this book

The eminent zoologist "extends his pioneering work in evolutionary biology" to examine "our preferences, predilections, fears, hopes, and aspirations" (Stephen R. Kellert, author of Birthright ). Why do we jump in fear at the sight of a snake and marvel at the beauty of a sunrise? These impulsive reactions are no accident; in fact, many of our human responses to nature are steeped in our evolutionary past—we fear snakes because of the danger of venom, and we welcome the assurances of sun as the predatory dangers of night disappear. According to evolutionary biologist Gordon Orians, many of our aesthetic preferences—from the kinds of gardens we build to the foods we enjoy and the entertainment we seek—are the lingering result of natural selection. In Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare, Orians explores the role of evolution in human responses to the environment, applying biological perspectives ranging from Darwin to current neuroscience. Orians reveals how our emotional lives today are shaped by decisions our ancestors made centuries ago on African savannas as they selected places to live, sought food and safety, and socialized in small hunter-gatherer groups. During this time our likes and dislikes became wired in our brains, as the appropriate responses to the environment meant the difference between survival or death. His rich analysis explains why we mimic the tropical savannas of our ancestors in our parks and gardens, why we are simultaneously attracted to and repelled by danger, and how paying close attention to nature's sounds has made us an unusually musical species.

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Yes, you can access Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare by Gordon H. Orians in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Biological Sciences & Ecology. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.