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1. You are uncomfortable with introspection 2. You have beliefs you are unwilling to change no matter what 3. You are unwilling to entertain the notion that humans are not special in the universe 4. You don't believe in evolution
Not having any of these issues myself, I can say that the book was a real eye opener. I had never really thought about emotions - how they work and why they work the way they do. Wilson does a great job of boiling down what could be terribly boring to come to a pretty unsettling conclusion.
No matter how "rational" we think we are, the physical design of our minds tells us that we're more emotional than anything. And those emotions, the same emotions that guided our caveman ancestors to survival, are very much out of place in our modern world. They are driving us to want things that won't make us happy, and they are influencing how we interpret the world around us, especially the people in our lives. Coming to grips with this was both depressing and exciting.
It was depressing because no one likes to admit that they're not in control of what they're thinking. But it was exciting because Wilson offers a roadmap to get around the baggage of the caveman mind. In fact, this is what makes the book so good.
He starts by digging deep into truth - what it is and how to find it. He then goes into emotions - what they are, how they work, and when they're likely to mess us up. That's the first part of the book. (There are two.) The second part is about applying Part 1 to everyday life. It's loaded with insightful discussions of everything from self-esteem to morality and ethics and even a touch of politics and current affairs.Read more ›
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I found this book to be highly informative and interesting. The author did an excellent job of laying the ground work for how many of the common neurosis that people have are derivatives of our primitive ancestry. When you read the book and look at your own life and your own flaws, it is nice to know that it isn't just you, in fact it is everyone; we all share the same genetic programming of our cavemen ancestors.
If you are the kind of person who wants to be happy or be a better person but you struggle with your own flaws, this book was written for you. Just having a better conceptual understanding of how you are the way you are via the process of evolution if very satisfying. The author then does a fantastic job of applying this groundwork toward a myriad of real life examples, further cementing the caveman concepts.
The only inherent flaw in the book (and it isn't really the book's fault), it is that the people who could benefit the most are the least likely to read it or if they do, really understand it. If you aren't very introspective and don't have a great sense of personal responsibility, it isn't going to help you out very much. Then again, if that's you, you probably wouldn't be reading this review.
I haven't seen many other books devoted to personal happiness, if any. Pick this one up if that's something you're interested in.
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This is, without question, a thinking person's book. The subject matter ranges from the philosophical (reason, the nature of truth, and applied ethics) to the scientific (evolution, cognitive science, and evolutionary psychology), but also stands as a species of self-help manual - one of the smartest you're likely to find - written in an eminently readable style reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell.
The book is divided into two parts. Part One explores the evolutionary origins of the mind, as well as wading into the philosophical depths of reason and truth. It prescribes the use of reason to find what Wilson calls `the center line of truth' by way of `critical rationalism'. Part Two is more practical and prescribes a reality-based ethic to serve as the foundation of happiness for a caveman - albeit an enlightened caveman - who finds himself in a modern environment, where survival is all but assured.
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This item: Healing The Unhappy Caveman: Why The Human Mind Was Not Designed For Happiness And What YOU Can Do About It
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