INTRODUCING EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY

THE MATRIX:  This book was required reading for the main actors in The Matrix - as Keanu Reeves says in this extract from The Matrix Revisited. See also my article, Smash the Windows .

How did the mind evolve? How does the human mind differ from the minds of our ancestors, and from the minds of our nearest relatives, the apes? What are the universal features of the human mind, and why are they designed the way they are? If our minds are built by selfish genes, why are we so cooperative? Can the differences between male and female psychology be explained in evolutionary terms? These questions are at the centre of a rapidly growing research programme called evolutionary psychology.

Drawing on the insights of evolutionary biology and cognitive psychology, as well as data from anthropology, primatology and archaeology, evolutionary psychologists are beginning to piece together the first truly scientific account of human nature. Introducing Evolutionary Psychology is the perfect introduction to this exciting new field. Clearly and concisely written by Dylan Evans, and superbly illustrated by award-winning artist Oscar Zarate, it offers a fascinating view of the history of the mind.