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Matt Ridley

The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature Paperback – April 29, 2003

by Matt Ridley (Author)

515 ratings

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Referring to Lewis Carroll's Red Queen from Through the Looking-Glass, a character who has to keep running to stay in the same place, Matt Ridley demonstrates why sex is humanity's best strategy for outwitting its constantly mutating internal predators. The Red Queen answers dozens of other riddles of human nature and culture -- including why men propose marriage, the method behind our maddening notions of beauty, and the disquieting fact that a woman is more likely to conceive a child by an adulterous lover than by her husband. Brilliantly written, The Red Queen offers an extraordinary new way of interpreting the human condition and how it has evolved.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Harper Perennial
Publication date

April 29, 2003
Dimensions

5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

9780060556570
ISBN-13

978-0060556570
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Matt Ridley is the author of books that have sold well over a million copies in 32 languages: THE RED QUEEN, THE ORIGINS OF VIRTUE, GENOME, NATURE VIA NURTURE, FRANCIS CRICK, THE RATIONAL OPTIMIST, THE EVOLUTION OF EVERYTHING, and HOW INNOVATION WORKS. In his bestseller GENOME and in his biography of Francis Crick, he showed an ability to translate the details of genomic discoveries into understandable and exciting stories. During the current pandemic, he has written essays for the Wall Street Journal and The Spectator about the origin and genomics of the virus. His most recent WSJ piece appeared on January 16, 2021. He is a member of the House of Lords in the UK.

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0060556579
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; 2nd ed. edition (April 29, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780060556570
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060556570
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #134,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #27 in Developmental Biology (Books)
- #809 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)
- #929 in Evolution (Books)

Customer Reviews:
515 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		67%
4 star		18%
3 star		7%
2 star		6%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Josh

Informative

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016

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The kind of book you find so interesting that you can't help but talk about at a family reunion. Then you realize you've been talking to your fifteen year old nephew about sexual evolution for the past two hours and that's the last time you see your brother.

121 people found this helpful

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Fundeen

This book is great for the science geeks out there

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2016

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This book is great for the science geeks out there. Being one, I enjoyed it very much. My background is in genetics and biology, so I can bore my friends at cocktail parties with my bio-ramblings, but this book is approachable and facinating to read for anyone. Mr Ridley does a masterful job of describing how species evolve over time to avoid predation, but also how predators evolve to counter the prey's evolutionary changes. In essence, the players keep changing, but the play stays the same. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an educational and fulfilling read that will open your eyes to worlds you may not have considered before.

26 people found this helpful

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Derek Foret

Missed the Point and Fails to acknowledge Philosophical Influences

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2021

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By page six Ridley makes sure to push his religion and act in an unscientific manner by immediately and in a bigoted manner attacking any one who thinks differently or even entertains a different theory. I firmly believe that any book or person claims to be scientific and then proceed to outright assaults not just religion but any theory that does not line up with their world view loses credit to their argument as they then show that they are heavily biased. When discussing the topic of human nature it is said you must address the philosophical influence as even though humans are animals the thought processes of humans are not as primitive or using Ridley's choice of words, evolved. The writing is wordy and lengthy at best with to many assumptions are human nature itself is difficult to address from a scientific stand point via the scientific process. Ridley's book, Genome, is written in an improved manner compared to this as this book was a disappointment. It is rather amazing at how he first tells others who disagree on even the smallest thing that he hates them but then proceeds in a later chapter that most of the stuff in this book is wrong. I have concluded that like all atheistic people who follow the religion of Darwinism are simply a stuck in time of having a fifteen year old's rebellious phase believing with arrogance, pride, and false elitism staring down on anyone who does not subscribe to his beliefs that he better. After reading a few of the reviews saying this book is used for classes is rather discussing. I will not take back my praise for his writing of Genome but he has lost credit from me for Red Queen due to his bigoted and zealous writing.

One person found this helpful

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Mr.

A Book for Thought Criminals

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2015

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Fantastic read. I've never considered myself the kind of person that reads science books for pleasure. This book changed my mind about that. The understanding I've gained of the theory of evolution and the interpretation here have changed my perception of the world. Without judgement, in an interesting way, facts are laid out and discussed in a compelling logical manner. Easy to read. Go slower for better understanding.

Cons: Try discussing the implications of this book in a public setting, and be accused of 1st degree thought crimes.

27 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Intriguing in the extreme.

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2015

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A well-written and very insightful rollercoaster ride through genetics, primatology, ecology, comparative zoology, neurobiology, linguistics, and psychology. A skillful, guided tour that is useful not only because it teaches, but because it dares to put relative values upon the existing theories out there. A compelling case is made for the "causes" of man's intellectual differentiation from other apes, and the evidence presented causes one to consider these questions in a novel, very unexpected ways. Ridley is not afraid to take a stand and systematically crush the "man is totally unique" humanist evolutionary theory crowd, and he does this by relating how other species handle what we tend to think are problems unique to man. By the end of the book, you will find yourself reluctantly uneasy... and convinced that he's probably right on the money. Highly recommend.

19 people found this helpful

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Dense Foreplay Leads to Climatic Conclusions

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2012

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The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley

"The Red Queen" is the very interesting book about how human nature evolved as a result of sex. According to the author, human beings were "designed" to reproduce and that without understanding competitive reproduction we will not be able to comprehend the human psyche and nature. Well known journalist, scientist and educator; Matt Ridley, brings us a well-rounded science book that deals with many fascinating topics involving sexual evolution. The first third of book or so starts off a little dense and may put off some readers but once it picks up it really takes off and rewards readers with invaluable knowledge. This 416-page book is composed of the following ten chapters: 1. Human Nature, 2. The Enigma, 3. The Power of Parasites, 4. Genetic Mutiny and Gender, 5. The Peacock's Tale, 6. Polygamy and the Nature of Men, 7. Monogamy and the Nature of Women, 8. Sexing the Mind, 9. The Uses of Beauty, and 10. The Intellectual Chess Game.

Positives:
1. A well-written and well-researched book.
2. The fascinating topic of sexual evolution in the hands of a master.
3. The book was originally published in 1993 but it holds up generally well and it's still worth reading.
4. Good use of the best that science had to offer at that time.
5. Thought-provoking and refreshingly honest and witty approach.
6. Provides compelling arguments in support of a universal human nature.
7. Explains the reasoning behind the title which is a metaphor in evolution for "the faster you run, the more the world moves with you and the less you make progress".
8. Some great analogies, "The fashion in evolutionary science now is to scoff at progress; evolution is a treadmill, not a ladder".
9. What sex is. A look from three different kinds of scientists. Great stuff.
10. The unbelievable world of sex in both the animal and plant kingdom.
11. Some great facts and perspectives, "The `great war" of 1914-18 killed 25 million people in four years. The influenza epidemic that followed killed 25 million in four months".
12. What drive the evolution of sex.
13. Understanding what evolution is in a practical sense.
14. How science works to address a problem.
15. Understanding gender in terms of "genetic lottery". Or leave it to the environment.
16. Some great anecdotes, "Anaxagora's belief that lying on the right side during sex would produce a boy was so influential that centuries later some French aristocrats had their left testicles amputated". Ouch!
17. The nature of "choosy" females.
18. The two warring factions in sexual selection: "Fisher" and "Good-genes".
19. Testosterone and its relation to disease.
20. What men find attractive in women.
21. The impact of human culture.
22. An honest look at the roles of the sexes.
23. An understanding about homosexual behavior.
24. Game theory and how it plays out between males and females. Always interesting.
25. Human evolution always fascinating.
26. The growth of our brains.
27. Understanding the evil practice of female infanticide.
28. Power as a tool for sexual success. It's good being the king.
29. Marriage, understanding the institution of.
30. Adultery and how it shaped human society.
31. Fascinating look at what societies favor daughters over sons and vice versa.
32. The differences of mental features between the sexes.
33. A look at social statuses.
34. The innate instinct of learning language.
35. The evidence for neoteny.
36. Links to notes worked great!

Negatives:
1. The first third or so of the book was a bit dense and may have put off some readers.
2. Despite holding up generally well (book was published in 1993), some topics are outdated. For instance, free will is an illusion. I will provide a list of suggestion that offers more up to date information.
3. Animal altruism is not a myth.
4. Some topics are fairly logical. We all have a basic grasp of sexual selection.
5. Some topics may irk feminists. Let me leave it at that.
6. The author purposely sidesteps the issue of morality and the little that is here is inadequate.
7. "Deception is therefore the reason for the invention of the subconscious." - Trivers Really?

In summary, I wished I had read this book when it first came out in 1993. The book started off a little dry but once it gets going I wasn't able to put it down. Many topics of popular interest in the hands of an accomplished author make for good reading. In spite of its age, I learned some new things and have a much better grasp of why human nature evolved as a result of sex. If you have the patience to make it through the early chapters the book will reward you with wisdom, worth reading!

Further recommendations: " Human: The Science Behind What Makes Your Brain Unique " and " Who's in Charge?: Free Will and the Science of the Brain Who's In Charge?" by Michael S. Gazzaniga, " The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution " by Gregory Cochran and Henry Harpending, " Why Evolution Is True " by Jerry A. Coyne, " The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined " and " The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature " by Steven Pinker, " SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable " by Bruce M. Hood, " The Myth of Free Will, Revised & Expanded Edition " by Cris Evatt, " The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies---How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths " by Michael Shermer, and " Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors " by Nicholas Wade. All books reviewed by me.

71 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

K Lidington

Easy reading, endless problem, try this on your MP

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2020

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One of the few books you can knock off in a day and miss nothing. Published in 2006, it is in some sense 'out of date', but as the problem has not gone away it is still 'current'.
Nicely describes the causes of the frustrations that anyone who has ever tried to get anything done faces, as well as the some of the loopholes that are exploited by the unscrupulous. Funny in parts, as all human stupidity is funny, I just wish I was not paying for it.
A good title to start the subject with — then move on to Red Tape and The Secret Barrister. You will then have a full understanding of why your taxes are so high, public faith in the public sector is so low and why your politicians need to have their nose pushed into the miserable mess they have presided over for so (too) long.

2 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

A challenge to the ego

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2017

Verified Purchase

The author deserve praise for daring to put so many arguments which challenge entrenched views, a trawl through the reviews of others show a predictable division between those willing to accept challenging ideas an those whose toes and egos have been firmly 'trodden on' .

What is revealed is that many feminists (and women ) have intense egos and to reveal the predominace of the female in nature 'spoils one or two peoples game' denying 'power without responsibility' which inevitably arises from blaming everything bad on one gender

3 people found this helpful

Jay

Excellent, a must read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

Just a wonderful book for anyone interested in an easy to read book about evolution and why are most likely enemy is the world of micro-organisms. Well written and still relevant. I ordered as gift for friend who loved it.

R Great

Superbly interesting, to the point, and full of evolutionary ideas

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

The most interesting read I've had in a long time. The book doesn't bend over for political correctness; instead it describes the science succinctly and without hesitation.

Emile

A rabbit hole into reality

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2019

Verified Purchase

A fantastic read. Concise and eloquent account of the nature of human beings. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to open their eyes and understand the fundamental nature of our species and what pressures helped guide us to be the most powerful animal the planet has ever seen.

2 people found this helpful

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