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The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology Paperback – August 29, 1995

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Robert Wright (Author)
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4.3 out of 5 stars 221 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (August 29, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0679763996
  • ISBN-13: 978-0679763994
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.1 x 8.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (221 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA classic worth a second look and an update
By Dennis Littrell HALL OF FAME on May 21, 2000
Format: Hardcover
Although first published in 1994, a long time ago in the rapidly developing science of evolutionary psychology, Robert Wright's seminal book remains an excellent introduction to the subject. The text crackles with an incisive wit that says, yes we're animals, but we can live with that. The discussion is thorough, ranging from a rather intense focus on Charles Darwin and his life through the sexist and morality debate occasioned by the publication of Edward O. Wilson's Sociobiology in 1975, to the rise of the use of primate comparisons fueled by Jane Goodall's instant classic, The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior (1986). Wright has some rather serious fun with human sexual behavior as seen from the perspective of evolutionary psychology, but he spends even more time worrying (to no good effect, in my opinion) about altruism and the shaky concept of kin selection. The title is partly ironic, since much of the material suggests that we are something less than "moral." The "Everyday Life" in the title is an allusion to Freud (The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, 1904) who makes a dual appearance in the text, first as a kind of not-yet-illuminated precursor to modern Darwinian thought, and second as the reigning champ of psychology that evolutionary psychology is out to dethrone. (See especially page 314.)

What's exciting about evolutionary psychology is that for the first time psychology has a firm scientific foundation upon which to build. But it's a tough subject for some people, I think, mainly because they confuse "is" with "ought.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsOne of the best introductions to Evolutionary Psychology
By Alan Koslowski on November 30, 1999
Format: Hardcover
Though a few other books related to Evolutionary Psychology have been written since this, it is still one of the best introductions to the field. It is intelligently written, but not pendantic. Wright discusses many aspects of evolutionary psych. using many examples from the life of Charles Darwin.
Many have criticized this work as a justifying gender inequality, usually as related to male oppression and abuse of females. Wright openly states that he is attempting to explain human behavior from a Darwinian perspective. He argues that this perspective sheds much light on the subject, though he admits is isn't perfect or all inclusive. Wright closes with several behaviors that Evolutionary Psychology can not adequetly explain (most glaringly, homosexuality).
Though many women have been outraged by this work, this book has much to offer for both females and males who read it from a non-ideological perspective. I've read several interviews with Wright and other Evolutionary Psychologists who have stated that by understanding why we (all people) are naturally inclined to behave in certain ways are we better able to control behavioral tendencies that may be detrimental to ourselves and others. When read from this perspective, this book can only help men and women better undertand each other and improve relations between the sexes.
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5.0 out of 5 starsCaptivating!
By The Spinozanator VINE VOICE on January 1, 2006
Format: Paperback
I read the celebrated "Moral Animal" some 10 years ago, then re-read and underlined it at least twice. Finally I had found a theory of human nature and psychology I could wholeheartedly believe in. I was looking for a great quote from that book last week but found I had loaned out both copies - so I bought a new one and ended up re-reading the whole thing.

The quote is: "...humans are a species splendid in their array of moral equipment, tragic in their propensity to misuse it, and pathetic in their constitutional ignorance of the misuse."

Science journalist Robert Wright compiled these findings of evolutionary psychology (EP) for the lay reader in 1994 and "Moral Animal" is still a timely treatise. Matt Ridley introduced his excellent "Red Queen" about the same topic around the same year. Wright writes in an engaging manner, intertwining his pearls with biographical sketches of Charles Darwin. Disclaimer: For those who are offended by the very suggestion that our behavior evolved from apes - and that our behavior is an elaborate, sophisticated manifestation of language and socialization which evolved by natural selection along with a huge brain - you won't like this book.

I realize the following assessment of mine is anecdotal, but here goes: I have seen step-children treated differently than genetic children. I have seen how men and women preen, peacock-like, showing off their best (?) sides during courtships and how they pair off in society according to commonly accepted determinants of status, differing depending on sex. I have read about and subsequently observed how people (unconsciously?) score each other during their social interactions, rating relationship values for the future.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsindispensable
By Ahimsa Campos Arceiz on November 1, 2004
Format: Paperback
"The theory of natural selection is so elegant and powerful as to inspire a kind of faith in it [...]; there is a point after which one no longer entertains the possibility of encountering some fact that would call the whole theory into question." I fully subscribe this quotation from the Appendix of The moral animal, and there resides the beauty of this theory and the study of evolution, animal behavior, evolutionary psychology, and so on. Things look rather easy under this prism.

The first part of the book is dedicated to the man-woman relationship: to the nature of the reproductive, sexual and romantic relationships. Kin selection is at the core of the argument, which goes all around the differential parental investment between human males and females, and its consequences. Humans, as a slightly polygynous species (high MPI: male parental investment), show different strategies between sexes about how to maximize their contribution to the next generation. While reading it I was feeling that Wright's review of sexual strategies fits too well to a male's mind (at least mine) and I wondered what would happen if the book was written by Ms Roberta Wright, instead of the author, would she use the same tone? Maybe slight differences would arise. However, real or not, I like what he says (sorry, it is too long to explain here in detail, so you better read it). When you, male-reader, read these chapters you might feel a strong desire to increase your number of wives or sexual partners. Don't worry, it is a transitory side-effect. It passes. Sorry, I ignore how you, female-reader, feel about. Sometimes Wright's position seems to be too conservative, he seems to praise in excess the moral of English Victorian society. This is also transitory, since he is only playing.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsbest of the subject so far for me.

One of the best books I read this year. My 3rd book on the subject. EO Wilson - Sociobiology, Richard Dawkins - The Selfish Gene, and this so fat this year and all were excellent. Read more

Published 1 month ago by ArchieZer0
5.0 out of 5 starsa good gift

I bought this book as a gift for a friend. I read it years ago and loved it.

Published 2 months ago by Annette A. Holm
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

ok

Published 3 months ago by JS Rogers
5.0 out of 5 starsOnce you read a book like this, you can never look at life the same

fantastic book, with great ideas.

Published 4 months ago by David Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars... undrstand the human race and Darwin and his theory like no other...

Makes one undrstand the human race and Darwin and his theory like no other book.

Published 4 months ago by ourjewishstorysam
5.0 out of 5 starsHistory Buffs will love it for the Darwin timeline and evolutionists...

I bought this for textbook but instead of selling it off I kept it because it really was interesting. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Yvanna
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Received asap, appreciate it.

Published 7 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

One of the ten best books ever written. Probably the most important.

Published 7 months ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsAn excellent and well written book, The Moral Animal Delivers more...

Wright is evidently a good writer. He easily attracts the reader's attention, and takes them on a journey to understand the basics of evolutionary psychology. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsTaking a class with the author as we speak. ...

Taking a class with the author as we speak. Never read Darwin but this book gives a whole lot of insight & some fundamental basics on evolutionary psychology. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Amazon Customer

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