Kindness in a Cruel World: The Evolution of Altruism [Hardcover]

Nigel Barber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

Beginning with Darwin's theory, Barber shows how the original notion of a dog-eat-dog world where survival of the fittest is the only rule must now be modified by new findings on altruism. In bees, for example, the workers evolve without reproductive ability and exist only for the good of the hive and the propagation of the queen bee's genes. In addition, vampire bats will spontaneously share food through regurgitation, evidently so that the favour will be returned when food sources are scarce. In humans, reciprocal arrangements depend on trust, so moral emotions, like guilt, embarrassment, resentment, and pride, have evolved to guard against the temptation to cheat, which would destroy the basis of trust on which so much depends. Barber brings the revealing insights of evolutionary psychology to these examples and more, and delves into related issues including sex differences in kindness, new approaches to rehabilitating criminals, the connection of kindness to health, and the political manifestations of altruism in the environmental movement.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a wide-ranging tour of human behavior, Barber (The Science of Romance) attempts to explain why, in a Darwinian world, altruism is alive and well. Indeed, he takes an unreservedly optimistic tone. He argues that a spirit of cooperation is in fact a result of our evolutionary history. But Barber sees altruism in virtually every behavior and form of social cooperation and thus does little to advance our knowledge of the subject. His broad definition of altruism (quite distinct from that of most evolutionary biologists, who declare that an altruistic act must have a cost greater than the benefit) permits him to lump together the feeding of young by their parents and a soldier falling on an active grenade to save his fellow soldiers as examples of the same phenomenon. Although his framework is flawed, Barber uses it as a springboard for intriguing discussions of celibacy (and pedophilia) in priests, adoption, criminology, environmentalism and karoshi (the Japanese word for death from overwork). Throughout, the author, an independent researcher and writer, presents a cross-cultural and cross-species perspective, looking for ways to generalize. Unfortunately, this leads him to oversimplify complex issues, such as the reasons for the failure of the 1997 Kyoto agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases and the apparent venality of the executives of Enron.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Altruism, that capacity to do unto others whether or not they would similarly do unto you, is examined from wide-ranging anthropological and philosophical viewpoints by an author who brings fresh perspectives and thought-provoking insights to this frequently misinterpreted human, and nonhuman, imperative. Positioning human altruism in the context of evolutionary precepts that illustrate similar behaviors in other species, Barber analyzes the motivations behind our most selfless actions to reveal their genetic, cultural, and sociological origins. Discussing such diverse aspects of altruism as its role in parental influences, religions, and politics, Barber clearly outlines altruism's impact on the individual, then extrapolates his findings to encompass the world at large. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591022282
• ISBN-13: 978-1591022282
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, June 22, 2009

By 

Gertrude Callaghan (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kindness in a Cruel World: The Evolution of Altruism (Hardcover)

"Kindness in a Cruel Word" provides fascinating insights into human and animal behavior. Complex, and seemingly contradictory behaviors, make sense when viewed through Barber's evolutionary lens. For readers new to evolutionary theory, this book will get then hooked on it as a way of making sense of the world. It is the best and most accessible book on the topic.