Customer Reviews

Design for a Life: How Behavior and Personality Develop

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This book endlessly frustrated me while reading it. Expecting much from the authors, experts in behavioral biology, it was disappointing to only scratch the surface of topic after topic. While discussing a range of issues within life history theory and development--7 ages of life, heritability, the relationships between genes and behavior, effects of birth order on behavior, play, mating preferences--each issue gains little space, and little more than a superficial treatment. This is a shame because the authors show they are capable of explaining potentially confusing topics like heritability as clearly as anyone. Furthermore, the authors commonly employ quotes from Shakespeare, references to popular literature, etc. in place of real evidence. These fictional accounts and popular references may be useful for illustrations, but don't much bolster the author's arguments. In sum, this book may serve as an enjoyable informal introduction to the subjects of development, life history, etc. but will only frustrate those looking for in depth treatment of these issues.