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So Human an Animal: How We Are Shaped By Surroundings and Events

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This book will definitely be in print for many years to come, and not only because it won a Pulitzer Prize, but also because it sent a noble message to the people. Rene Dubos wrote this exposé to show that the habits of mankind were - and still are to a much greater extent - very injurious not only to the whole ecosystem, but more importantly to men. The Industrial Revolution was a great success from a certain perspective. But it also brought a lot of pollution and filth that must be dealt with. All the innovative technology is useful and harmful at the same time. We just don't see it because we feel "adjusted" to it. And the debilitating effects of technology on nature and our fellow men have been conspicuous, especially in the past decade.

The Greek physician Hippocrates wrote an essay 2500 years ago called Airs, Waters, and Places. In it he asserted that people in various regions of Europe and Asia were different due to distinct physical environments. The latter wisdom is eternal. But the debate on whether men are shaped by nature or nurture has been going on for centuries and neither party will relent. In reality, both sides have concrete evidence and logic. Let me now summarize Rene's point of view which was presented in the book. Man is predisposed to many characteristics which he never develops due to various environmental and sociocultural factors, such as climate and food intake. Thus, to put it simply, consuming certain (or sufficient) foods and being exposed to certain weather has an effect on how a child will progress. Being genetically predisposed means nothing if environment doesn't activate those propensities. (Of course there are exceptions, i.e., mental or physical disabilities and diseases.) For example, slum children continue to inadvertently conform to their parents, not because of any genetic deficiencies, but because of sociological restrictions. Or, as one study showed, cats were raised from a very early age in cages with rats. When they reached adulthood, none of the cats ever attacked the rats. Even as primitive animals as cats are influenced in such unbelievable ways by their environment. Bottom line is, genetic impact on a biological being is unchangeable (unless with the nascent science of stem cells) and indeed potent. But environmental influence is far more prevalent and versatile. By degrading the environment the way man does, he inflicts perhaps irreparable damage on posterity.

Innovation has undeniably been positive for our civilization. Cars, planes, and space shuttles are just a few of the inventions which could only have been predicted by a few prescient persons of the 19th century. But all that competition to invent and acquire wealth has been hurtful to us as human beings. According to the American urban planner Christopher Alexander, one of the worst consequences of modern life (and it certainly has exacerbated since then) was the "autonomy-withdrawal" syndrome. Many people, he claimed, used their home to escape from the hectic, industrialized, and over-competitive world. Nowadays, socializing as it was 30 years ago is dead. One's home has become a sanctuary from the capitalist world of constant competition. Standards have deteriorated and material wealth has annihilated the emotional and intellectual values that really matter (Fahrenheit 451). People wish to conform to what is considered normal, only to realize that their goals were never of primary significance to them and to resort to anti-depressant drugs. (In 2006, according to National Center for Health Statistics, 97,812,000 prescriptions to fight depression were given in ambulatory care settings alone!) Gross domestic product is doing well and life-expectancy is rising...but so are unhappiness and aimlessness. So what do we do, stop inventing?! No. Rene recommended concentrating on the quality, not the speed, of progress, and try eliminating some of the negative aspects of technological advance.

Mr. Dubos also covered other aspects of the destructive behaviors in which we engage, such as deforestation, to get richer and more advanced. Furthermore, his grief was about the situation prior to the 1970s. It's good that he's not here to witness the modern rape of nature and environment.

This work is absolutely timeless and should be read by everyone. The fact that it was published many years ago shouldn't be a deterrent. The evidence in it is irrefutable and the moral is as timely as ever. With `So Human an Animal' Rene Dubos has earned his immortality.

In conclusion, I'll quote from the book: the mayor of Cleveland "quipped that if we weren't careful, we'd be remembered as the generation that put a man on the moon while standing knee-deep in garbage."

The microbiologist Rene Debos originally from France, but a transplant to New York City for most of his adult life, completes and exposes the implications of and is the subtitle of the book "How We Are Shaped By Surroundings." The theme for most of the book is the struggle between technology and both the physiological and psychological effects on man.

For example, the author points out that "most of the environmental problems that now plague Western civilization derive from discoveries (i.e. technology) and decisions made to solve other problems and to enlarge the human life." Though published in 1968, it is a little top heavy on pollution in the major cities of the times and about the calamities that will occur with urbanization in the not too distant future, which never occurred, at least not yet. On the other hand, I kept finding myself turning the pages as his insights to how technology, urbanization, lack of social contact, and etc really does shape the man/woman. This could not me more true today as kids are not only glued, if not addicted, to the current technologies of today and makes one thank again about nature and Walden's Pond.

If your are interested in these sociological, physiological, and psychological aspects - I would highly also recommend Garrett Hardin's "Living Within Limits". As a somewhat counter argument to the catastrophes about urbanization, you may also want to review Ben J. Wattenberg's "Fewer".

Living within Limits: Ecology, Economics, and Population Taboos by Garrett Hardin
Fewer: How the New Demography of Depopulation Will Shape Our Future by Ben J. Wattenberg

Another reader reviewed this as "old news". I disagree. In academic geographic, architectural, and sociological circles the content of this book may be old news, but as a layman in all of those studies, I found this to be a profound introducton to the subtleties of human development. I know I'm not alone - there are plenty of people out there who have no real understanding of the underlying principles of heredity, childhood development, human environment, and physiology. Dubos covers these topics with amazing sensetivity and wisdom. This book's illuminating treatment of the issue of race alone should be enough to keep it relevant and important 40 years after it was written.

It does read like a self-help book in a few places, but the surrounding context is penetrating enough to compensate for those few sentences.

A wonderful, astonishing book. If you are interested in how we, as a species forever in a state of subtle evolution, are unwittingly influenced by our environment, this is a book to read.

I have read this book because it was mentioned by Lovelock as shaping his ideas for the Gaia theory.
In reading it I have found several interesting ideas and worthwile one- liners but I it took some trouble to remain reading because the tone and phrasing seemed to come from another era. However, when placed in the appropriate historical context it is worthwile.
Persons interested in the future of the earth and the role of mankind in it must have had this on their reading list together with the books of Hardin.

A wonderful, astonishing book. If you are interested in how we, as a species forever in a state of subtle evolution, are unwittingly influenced by our environment, this is a book to read.

NOTE it was written in 1968 - and Dubos was right on about all our problems...

the biggest thing to remember is that the book is written in 1968, and it well supported Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (1970) to a T. today. Dubos makes his points well, tho spends about half a chapter to illustrate the evidence, i feel such explanations are not always needed. almost feels like he's writing to an audience of complete non-believers; as a geographer i find it dummyfying.

still not a total failure for human geographists of 2005, there are some interesting tid-bits. Some high points are why there are different races (previously mentioned by National Geographic founder in 1899 in his observations of Alaskans), and why Southeast Asians are so short and Norwegians so tall, and how archetecture affects human life and well being. Also, the significance of human life chapter is interesting (if you havent found it yet, look at any self-help book).

if you're really interested, concentrate on beginnings of paragraphs and last few pages of each chapter.