Book description
'Expresses an infectious sense of wonder at the uniqueness of our
species; it is hard not to be affected by his enthusiasm' Sunday Times
What explains the staggering diversity of cultures in the world? Why
are there so many languages, even within small areas? Why do we
rejoice in rituals and wrap ourselves in flags? In Wired for Culture
Mark Pagel, the world's leading expert on human development, reveals
how our facility for culture is the key to what makes us who we are.
Shedding light on everything from art, morality and affection to
jealousy, self-interest and prejudice, Pagel shows that we developed
culture - cooperating together and passing on knowledge - in order to
survive. Our minds are hardwired for culture, and it still determines
how we speak, who we love, why we kill and what we think today.
'Human evolution may be the hottest area in popular science writing.
Within this field, Wired for Culture stands out for both its sweeping
erudition and its accessibility ... richly rewarding' Financial Times
'Impressive for its detail, accuracy and vivacity' Guardian
'Pioneering, vivid ... the best popular science book on culture so
far' Nature
Mark Pagel is head of the Evolution Laboratory in the Division of
Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, at the University of Reading,
and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is the editor-in-chief of the
award winning Oxford
Encyclopaedia of Evolution
and co-author of
The Comparative Method in Evolutionary Biology
, which is regarded as a classic, as well as the author of a number of
articles in
Science
,
Nature
, and other journals, and he has also been a contributor to numerous
monographs. Statistical methods that Pagel has developed are used by
researchers all over the world to study evolutionary trends across
species.
