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袠谐褉褘 褌械褋褌芯褋褌械褉芯薪邪 懈 写褉褍谐懈械 胁芯锌褉芯褋褘 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈懈 锌芯胁械写械薪懈褟
- 孝械褋褌芯褋褌械褉芯薪 薪械 胁褘蟹褘胁邪械褌 邪谐褉械褋褋懈褞, 芯薪 褍褋懈谢懈胁邪械褌 械械 锌褉芯褟胁谢械薪懈褟 胁 芯褌胁械褌 薪邪 锌褉芯胁芯褑懈褉褍褞褖懈械 褎邪泻褌芯褉褘 褋褉械写褘.
- 袩褉懈屑邪褌褘 胁芯芯斜褖械 懈 谢褞写懈 胁 褔邪褋褌薪芯褋褌懈 鈥� 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪薪褘泄 胁懈写, 褋泻谢芯薪薪褘泄 泻 锌械褉胁芯芯褌泻褉褘胁邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁褍 懈 写芯斜褉芯胁芯谢褜薪芯屑褍 锌械褉械褋械谢械薪懈褞 懈蟹 泻芯屑褎芯褉褌薪芯泄 褋褉械写褘 胁芯 胁褉邪卸写械斜薪褍褞 懈 薪械懈蟹胁械褋褌薪褍褞. 肖械薪芯屑械薪 薪械胁褘薪褍卸写械薪薪芯泄 屑懈谐褉邪褑懈懈 鈥� 褍褏芯写 懈蟹 写芯屑邪 胁 锌芯懈褋泻邪褏 谢褍褔褕械泄 写芯谢懈 鈥� 懈屑械械褌 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈褔械褋泻懈械 泻芯褉薪懈, 褋胁芯泄褋褌胁械薪薪褘械 薪邪褕械屑褍 胁懈写褍.
- 袥褞写懈 懈蟹 褋褌褉邪薪 褌褉械褌褜械谐芯 屑懈褉邪, 锌褉懈芯斜褖懈胁褕懈褋褜 泻 褑懈胁懈谢懈蟹邪褑懈懈, 芯斜褉邪蟹芯胁邪薪懈褞 懈 斜谢邪谐邪屑 蟹邪锌邪写薪芯谐芯 屑懈褉邪, 薪邪褔懈薪邪褞褌 斜芯谢械褌褜 懈 褉邪薪芯 褍屑懈褉邪褞褌. 袙 锌褉褟屑芯屑 褋屑褘褋谢械 鈥� 芯褌 褏芯褉芯褕械泄 卸懈蟹薪懈. 袩褉懈 芯写懈薪邪泻芯胁芯屑 锌懈褌邪薪懈懈 懈 褍褉芯胁薪械 写芯褏芯写邪 褍褉芯卸械薪械褑 袧褜褞-袡芯褉泻邪 斜褍写械褌 卸懈褌褜 蟹写芯褉芯胁褘屑 懈 写芯谢谐芯, 邪 胁褘褏芯写械褑 懈蟹 袧邪屑懈斜懈懈 锌芯谢褍褔懈褌 懈薪褎邪褉泻褌 懈谢懈 懈薪褋褍谢褜褌 胁 50 谢械褌.
- 袦邪褉褌懈薪 袥褞褌械褉 鈥� 薪械胁褉邪褋褌械薪懈泻 褋 芯斜褋械褋褋懈胁薪芯-泻芯屑锌褍谢褜褋懈胁薪褘屑 褉邪褋褋褌褉芯泄褋褌胁芯屑. 袪械谢懈谐懈芯蟹薪褘械 谢懈写械褉褘, 芯褌 褕邪屑邪薪芯胁 写芯 蟹薪邪屑械薪懈褌褘褏 褏褉懈褋褌懈邪薪褋泻懈褏 屑褍褔械薪懈泻芯胁, 懈屑械褞褌 芯斜褖懈械 褔械褉褌褘, 褋胁芯泄褋褌胁械薪薪褘械 锌褋懈褏芯锌邪褌懈褔械褋泻懈屑 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌褟屑 褋 芯褋芯斜械薪薪芯褋褌褟屑懈 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈褟 屑芯蟹谐邪, 懈 褋泻谢芯薪薪褘 泻 薪邪胁褟蟹褔懈胁褘屑 褉懈褌褍邪谢邪屑.
袨 褔械屑
袪芯斜械褉褌 小邪锌芯谢褜褋泻懈, 锌褉芯褎械褋褋芯褉 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈懈 小褌褝薪褎芯褉写褋泻芯谐芯 褍薪懈胁械褉褋懈褌械褌邪, 褍褔械薪褘泄-懈褋褋谢械写芯胁邪褌械谢褜 懈 邪胁褌芯褉 斜械褋褌褋械谢谢械褉芯胁 芦袘懈芯谢芯谐懈褟 写芯斜褉邪 懈 蟹谢邪禄, 芦袟邪锌懈褋泻懈 锌褉懈屑邪褌邪禄 懈 芦袣褌芯 屑褘 褌邪泻懈械禄 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹褘胁邪械褌 芯 谐谢邪胁薪褘褏 泻懈褉锌懈褔懈泻邪褏 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈褔械褋泻芯谐芯 褎褍薪写邪屑械薪褌邪, 薪邪 泻芯褌芯褉芯屑 褋褌褉芯懈褌褋褟 薪邪褕械 锌芯胁械写械薪懈械 鈥� 写芯斜褉褘械, 写褍褉薪褘械, 谐谢褍锌褘械 懈 斜谢邪谐芯褉芯写薪褘械 锌芯褋褌褍锌泻懈. 效褌芯 芯斜褖械谐芯 褍 褉械谢懈谐懈芯蟹薪芯谐芯 褎邪薪邪褌懈泻邪, 锌褉械褋褌褍锌薪懈泻邪-屑邪薪褜褟泻邪 懈 胁褉械写薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯褎械褋褋芯褉邪, 泻芯褌芯褉褘泄 褋 薪邪褋谢邪卸写械薪懈械屑 蟹邪胁邪谢懈胁邪械褌 胁邪褋 薪邪 褝泻蟹邪屑械薪械? 孝邪泻 谢懈 褋胁褟褌褘 胁褋械屑 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪褘械 褋胁褟褌褘械, 懈谢懈 褝褌芯 褋褌褉芯械薪懈械 屑芯蟹谐邪 懈 谐芯褉屑芯薪邪谢褜薪褘泄 锌褉芯褎懈谢褜 胁芯写褉褍蟹懈谢懈 薪懈屑斜褘 薪邪写 懈褏 谐芯谢芯胁邪屑懈? 袠 薪邪泻芯薪械褑: 锌芯褔械屑褍, 泻芯谐写邪 屑褘 斜芯谢械械屑 谐褉懈锌锌芯屑, 褌邪泻 谢芯屑懈褌 褋褍褋褌邪胁褘 懈 褋芯胁褋械屑 薪械 褏芯褔械褌褋褟 械褋褌褜? 袙褋械 褝褌懈 褉邪蟹薪芯锌谢邪薪芯胁褘械 懈 褍胁谢械泻邪褌械谢褜薪褘械 胁芯锌褉芯褋褘 邪胁褌芯褉 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯 褉邪褋褋屑邪褌褉懈胁邪械褌 褋 薪邪褍褔薪芯泄 褌芯褔泻懈 蟹褉械薪懈褟, 锌褉芯褟褋薪褟褟 懈褏 谢邪泻芯薪懈褔薪芯 懈 褋 褞屑芯褉芯屑 懈 锌芯写泻褉械锌谢褟褟 褉械蟹褍谢褜褌邪褌邪屑懈 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜薪褘褏 懈褋褋谢械写芯胁邪薪懈泄 懈 褝泻褋锌械褉懈屑械薪褌芯胁.
袨斜 邪胁褌芯褉械
袠蟹胁械褋褌薪褘泄 薪械泄褉芯斜懈芯谢芯谐, 锌褉芯褎械褋褋芯褉 小褌褝薪褎芯褉写褋泻芯谐芯 褍薪懈胁械褉褋懈褌械褌邪, 薪邪褍褔薪褘泄 褋芯褌褉褍写薪懈泻 袠薪褋褌懈褌褍褌邪 锌褉懈屑邪褌芯谢芯谐懈懈 锌褉懈 袧邪褑懈芯薪邪谢褜薪褘褏 屑褍蟹械褟褏 袣械薪懈懈. 袗泻褌懈胁薪芯 胁褘褋褌褍锌邪械褌 褋 谢械泻褑懈褟屑懈 写谢褟 褕懈褉芯泻芯泄 邪褍写懈褌芯褉懈懈, 锌褍斜谢懈泻褍械褌褋褟 胁 褌邪泻懈褏 懈蟹写邪薪懈褟褏, 泻邪泻 National Geographic Magazine, Scientifi c American, The New York Times. 校写芯褋褌芯械薪 褉褟写邪 胁褘褋褕懈褏 薪邪谐褉邪写, 胁 褌芯屑 褔懈褋谢械 锌褉械屑懈懈 袣邪褉谢邪 小邪谐邪薪邪 蟹邪 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉懈蟹邪褑懈褞 薪邪褍泻懈. 袩芯屑懈屑芯 屑薪芯卸械褋褌胁邪 薪邪褍褔薪褘褏 褌褉褍写芯胁 袪芯斜械褉褌 小邪锌芯谢褜褋泻懈 鈥� 邪胁褌芯褉 薪械褋泻芯谢褜泻懈褏 薪邪褍褔薪芯-锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪褘褏 泻薪懈谐, 褋褌邪胁褕懈褏 屑懈褉芯胁褘屑懈 斜械褋褌褋械谢谢械褉邪屑懈. 袙 懈褏 褔懈褋谢械 芯锌褍斜谢懈泻芯胁邪薪薪褘械 薪邪 褉褍褋褋泻芯屑 褟蟹褘泻械 芦袟邪锌懈褋泻懈 锌褉懈屑邪褌邪禄.
- 袩褉懈屑邪褌褘 胁芯芯斜褖械 懈 谢褞写懈 胁 褔邪褋褌薪芯褋褌懈 鈥� 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪薪褘泄 胁懈写, 褋泻谢芯薪薪褘泄 泻 锌械褉胁芯芯褌泻褉褘胁邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁褍 懈 写芯斜褉芯胁芯谢褜薪芯屑褍 锌械褉械褋械谢械薪懈褞 懈蟹 泻芯屑褎芯褉褌薪芯泄 褋褉械写褘 胁芯 胁褉邪卸写械斜薪褍褞 懈 薪械懈蟹胁械褋褌薪褍褞. 肖械薪芯屑械薪 薪械胁褘薪褍卸写械薪薪芯泄 屑懈谐褉邪褑懈懈 鈥� 褍褏芯写 懈蟹 写芯屑邪 胁 锌芯懈褋泻邪褏 谢褍褔褕械泄 写芯谢懈 鈥� 懈屑械械褌 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈褔械褋泻懈械 泻芯褉薪懈, 褋胁芯泄褋褌胁械薪薪褘械 薪邪褕械屑褍 胁懈写褍.
- 袥褞写懈 懈蟹 褋褌褉邪薪 褌褉械褌褜械谐芯 屑懈褉邪, 锌褉懈芯斜褖懈胁褕懈褋褜 泻 褑懈胁懈谢懈蟹邪褑懈懈, 芯斜褉邪蟹芯胁邪薪懈褞 懈 斜谢邪谐邪屑 蟹邪锌邪写薪芯谐芯 屑懈褉邪, 薪邪褔懈薪邪褞褌 斜芯谢械褌褜 懈 褉邪薪芯 褍屑懈褉邪褞褌. 袙 锌褉褟屑芯屑 褋屑褘褋谢械 鈥� 芯褌 褏芯褉芯褕械泄 卸懈蟹薪懈. 袩褉懈 芯写懈薪邪泻芯胁芯屑 锌懈褌邪薪懈懈 懈 褍褉芯胁薪械 写芯褏芯写邪 褍褉芯卸械薪械褑 袧褜褞-袡芯褉泻邪 斜褍写械褌 卸懈褌褜 蟹写芯褉芯胁褘屑 懈 写芯谢谐芯, 邪 胁褘褏芯写械褑 懈蟹 袧邪屑懈斜懈懈 锌芯谢褍褔懈褌 懈薪褎邪褉泻褌 懈谢懈 懈薪褋褍谢褜褌 胁 50 谢械褌.
- 袦邪褉褌懈薪 袥褞褌械褉 鈥� 薪械胁褉邪褋褌械薪懈泻 褋 芯斜褋械褋褋懈胁薪芯-泻芯屑锌褍谢褜褋懈胁薪褘屑 褉邪褋褋褌褉芯泄褋褌胁芯屑. 袪械谢懈谐懈芯蟹薪褘械 谢懈写械褉褘, 芯褌 褕邪屑邪薪芯胁 写芯 蟹薪邪屑械薪懈褌褘褏 褏褉懈褋褌懈邪薪褋泻懈褏 屑褍褔械薪懈泻芯胁, 懈屑械褞褌 芯斜褖懈械 褔械褉褌褘, 褋胁芯泄褋褌胁械薪薪褘械 锌褋懈褏芯锌邪褌懈褔械褋泻懈屑 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌褟屑 褋 芯褋芯斜械薪薪芯褋褌褟屑懈 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈褟 屑芯蟹谐邪, 懈 褋泻谢芯薪薪褘 泻 薪邪胁褟蟹褔懈胁褘屑 褉懈褌褍邪谢邪屑.
袨 褔械屑
袪芯斜械褉褌 小邪锌芯谢褜褋泻懈, 锌褉芯褎械褋褋芯褉 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈懈 小褌褝薪褎芯褉写褋泻芯谐芯 褍薪懈胁械褉褋懈褌械褌邪, 褍褔械薪褘泄-懈褋褋谢械写芯胁邪褌械谢褜 懈 邪胁褌芯褉 斜械褋褌褋械谢谢械褉芯胁 芦袘懈芯谢芯谐懈褟 写芯斜褉邪 懈 蟹谢邪禄, 芦袟邪锌懈褋泻懈 锌褉懈屑邪褌邪禄 懈 芦袣褌芯 屑褘 褌邪泻懈械禄 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹褘胁邪械褌 芯 谐谢邪胁薪褘褏 泻懈褉锌懈褔懈泻邪褏 斜懈芯谢芯谐懈褔械褋泻芯谐芯 褎褍薪写邪屑械薪褌邪, 薪邪 泻芯褌芯褉芯屑 褋褌褉芯懈褌褋褟 薪邪褕械 锌芯胁械写械薪懈械 鈥� 写芯斜褉褘械, 写褍褉薪褘械, 谐谢褍锌褘械 懈 斜谢邪谐芯褉芯写薪褘械 锌芯褋褌褍锌泻懈. 效褌芯 芯斜褖械谐芯 褍 褉械谢懈谐懈芯蟹薪芯谐芯 褎邪薪邪褌懈泻邪, 锌褉械褋褌褍锌薪懈泻邪-屑邪薪褜褟泻邪 懈 胁褉械写薪芯谐芯 锌褉芯褎械褋褋芯褉邪, 泻芯褌芯褉褘泄 褋 薪邪褋谢邪卸写械薪懈械屑 蟹邪胁邪谢懈胁邪械褌 胁邪褋 薪邪 褝泻蟹邪屑械薪械? 孝邪泻 谢懈 褋胁褟褌褘 胁褋械屑 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪褘械 褋胁褟褌褘械, 懈谢懈 褝褌芯 褋褌褉芯械薪懈械 屑芯蟹谐邪 懈 谐芯褉屑芯薪邪谢褜薪褘泄 锌褉芯褎懈谢褜 胁芯写褉褍蟹懈谢懈 薪懈屑斜褘 薪邪写 懈褏 谐芯谢芯胁邪屑懈? 袠 薪邪泻芯薪械褑: 锌芯褔械屑褍, 泻芯谐写邪 屑褘 斜芯谢械械屑 谐褉懈锌锌芯屑, 褌邪泻 谢芯屑懈褌 褋褍褋褌邪胁褘 懈 褋芯胁褋械屑 薪械 褏芯褔械褌褋褟 械褋褌褜? 袙褋械 褝褌懈 褉邪蟹薪芯锌谢邪薪芯胁褘械 懈 褍胁谢械泻邪褌械谢褜薪褘械 胁芯锌褉芯褋褘 邪胁褌芯褉 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯 褉邪褋褋屑邪褌褉懈胁邪械褌 褋 薪邪褍褔薪芯泄 褌芯褔泻懈 蟹褉械薪懈褟, 锌褉芯褟褋薪褟褟 懈褏 谢邪泻芯薪懈褔薪芯 懈 褋 褞屑芯褉芯屑 懈 锌芯写泻褉械锌谢褟褟 褉械蟹褍谢褜褌邪褌邪屑懈 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜薪褘褏 懈褋褋谢械写芯胁邪薪懈泄 懈 褝泻褋锌械褉懈屑械薪褌芯胁.
袨斜 邪胁褌芯褉械
袠蟹胁械褋褌薪褘泄 薪械泄褉芯斜懈芯谢芯谐, 锌褉芯褎械褋褋芯褉 小褌褝薪褎芯褉写褋泻芯谐芯 褍薪懈胁械褉褋懈褌械褌邪, 薪邪褍褔薪褘泄 褋芯褌褉褍写薪懈泻 袠薪褋褌懈褌褍褌邪 锌褉懈屑邪褌芯谢芯谐懈懈 锌褉懈 袧邪褑懈芯薪邪谢褜薪褘褏 屑褍蟹械褟褏 袣械薪懈懈. 袗泻褌懈胁薪芯 胁褘褋褌褍锌邪械褌 褋 谢械泻褑懈褟屑懈 写谢褟 褕懈褉芯泻芯泄 邪褍写懈褌芯褉懈懈, 锌褍斜谢懈泻褍械褌褋褟 胁 褌邪泻懈褏 懈蟹写邪薪懈褟褏, 泻邪泻 National Geographic Magazine, Scientifi c American, The New York Times. 校写芯褋褌芯械薪 褉褟写邪 胁褘褋褕懈褏 薪邪谐褉邪写, 胁 褌芯屑 褔懈褋谢械 锌褉械屑懈懈 袣邪褉谢邪 小邪谐邪薪邪 蟹邪 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉懈蟹邪褑懈褞 薪邪褍泻懈. 袩芯屑懈屑芯 屑薪芯卸械褋褌胁邪 薪邪褍褔薪褘褏 褌褉褍写芯胁 袪芯斜械褉褌 小邪锌芯谢褜褋泻懈 鈥� 邪胁褌芯褉 薪械褋泻芯谢褜泻懈褏 薪邪褍褔薪芯-锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪褘褏 泻薪懈谐, 褋褌邪胁褕懈褏 屑懈褉芯胁褘屑懈 斜械褋褌褋械谢谢械褉邪屑懈. 袙 懈褏 褔懈褋谢械 芯锌褍斜谢懈泻芯胁邪薪薪褘械 薪邪 褉褍褋褋泻芯屑 褟蟹褘泻械 芦袟邪锌懈褋泻懈 锌褉懈屑邪褌邪禄.
322 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1997
250 people are currently reading
6913 people want to read
About the author
Robert M. Sapolsky
24听books5,049听followersRobert Morris Sapolsky is an American neuroendocrinology researcher and author. He is currently a professor of biology, and professor of neurology and neurological sciences and, by courtesy, neurosurgery, at Stanford University. In addition, he is a research associate at the National Museums of Kenya.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
May 12, 2011
WOW! Dr. Sapolsky did not disappoint...he definitely has a spot on my top five favorite authors of all time. Not only are his stories eloquent and humorous, they are packed with facts and loads of interesting information on the brain, behavior, biology, environment, emotion, and his personal anecdotes sprinkled in here and there. And they can be understood by pretty much anyone who can read. Among my favorite essays in this book is "How big is yours", which explains the plight of individuals like myself (I suspect but have not confirmed) that suffered damage to their pre-frontal cortexes, especially before they were fully developed (not until age 21ish). The final chapter, "Circling the blanket for God", which I just read has me in a frenzied state I can't even begin to explain but to say that it has blown my mind. I'll try to explain a bit, just about the last page. He starts to talk about looking at his students over the years as science has advanced so rapidly and revealed the baffling complexity of the natural world. He says he sees them get uncomfortable about the philosophical implications of the idea that science and scientists will one day explain everything and in doing so take all the awe and wonder out of life, and to this Sapolsky responds, "I am not worried if scientists go and explain everything. This is for a very simple reason: an impala sprinting across the Savannah can be reduced to biomechanics, and Bach can be reduced to counterpoint, yet that does not decrease one iota our ability to shiver as we experience impalas leaping or Bach thundering. We can only gain and grow with each discovery that there is structure underlying the most accessible levels of things that fill us with awe.
But there is an even stronger reason why I am not afraid that scientists will inadvertently go and explain everything--it will never happen. While in certain realms, it may prove to be the case that science can explain ANYthing, it will never explain EVERYthing. As should be obvious after all these pages, as part of the scientific process, for every question answered, a dozen newer ones are generated. And they are usually far more puzzling, more challenging than than the prior problems. This was stated wonderfully in a quote by a geneticist named Haldane earlier in the century: "Life is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine". We will never have our flames extinguished by knowledge. The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it." And that's just a page.
Wow!!! Another major bonus of this book is the art at the beginning of each essay. It's incredible and I can honestly say the next thing I do after I write this is going to be to Google Image almost every last one of them.
If you have a curious mind, this book is most certainly for you : )
But there is an even stronger reason why I am not afraid that scientists will inadvertently go and explain everything--it will never happen. While in certain realms, it may prove to be the case that science can explain ANYthing, it will never explain EVERYthing. As should be obvious after all these pages, as part of the scientific process, for every question answered, a dozen newer ones are generated. And they are usually far more puzzling, more challenging than than the prior problems. This was stated wonderfully in a quote by a geneticist named Haldane earlier in the century: "Life is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine". We will never have our flames extinguished by knowledge. The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it." And that's just a page.
Wow!!! Another major bonus of this book is the art at the beginning of each essay. It's incredible and I can honestly say the next thing I do after I write this is going to be to Google Image almost every last one of them.
If you have a curious mind, this book is most certainly for you : )
September 22, 2022
I love Sapolsky for his dedication to his lane. He鈥檚 knowledgeable and inquisitive, and he avoids reductiveness completely. The best pop-science writer I know of.
April 4, 2021
效褍写械褋薪邪褟 泻薪懈谐邪 芯 胁谢懈褟薪懈懈 薪邪褕械谐芯 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪械谐芯 薪邪 薪邪褕械 胁薪械褕薪械械 懈 薪邪芯斜芯褉芯褌.
袨褔械薪褜 褉械泻芯屑械薪写褍褞 褌械屑, 泻褌芯 褋褌褉械屑懈褌褋褟 胁胁械褉褏 锌芯 卸懈蟹薪械薪薪芯泄 懈 泻邪褉褜械褉薪芯泄 谢械褋褌薪懈褑邪屑, 邪 褌邪泻卸械 褌械屑, 泻褌芯 谐芯褌芯胁懈褌褋褟 泻 芯褋芯蟹薪邪薪薪芯屑褍 懈 褍锌褉邪胁谢褟械屑芯屑褍 褋锌褍褋泻褍 胁薪懈蟹. 袘褍写械褌 褔械屑褍 锌芯褍褔懈褌褜褋褟 懈 褍 邪胁褌芯褉邪, 懈 褍 锌邪胁懈邪薪芯胁, 懈 褍 褉邪褋褌械薪懈泄.
袨褔械薪褜 褉械泻芯屑械薪写褍褞 褌械屑, 泻褌芯 褋褌褉械屑懈褌褋褟 胁胁械褉褏 锌芯 卸懈蟹薪械薪薪芯泄 懈 泻邪褉褜械褉薪芯泄 谢械褋褌薪懈褑邪屑, 邪 褌邪泻卸械 褌械屑, 泻褌芯 谐芯褌芯胁懈褌褋褟 泻 芯褋芯蟹薪邪薪薪芯屑褍 懈 褍锌褉邪胁谢褟械屑芯屑褍 褋锌褍褋泻褍 胁薪懈蟹. 袘褍写械褌 褔械屑褍 锌芯褍褔懈褌褜褋褟 懈 褍 邪胁褌芯褉邪, 懈 褍 锌邪胁懈邪薪芯胁, 懈 褍 褉邪褋褌械薪懈泄.
September 26, 2014
I want so badly to write like Sapolsky. Academic and casual. Fact-based and personally reflective. Smart and witty but not pompous.
He is a gem of a science communicator.
He is a gem of a science communicator.
July 22, 2021
Robert Sapolsky is hands down my favourite contemporary science writer. A literal (McArthur) genius (with looks to fit the part!) - he's erudite and writes with a dry sense of humour that I can't seem to get enough of.
The book is a collection of his essays from the late 90s. Sapolsky draws from his vast knowledge in fields as disparate as endocrinology, neurology, and anthropology to write some riveting essays. Some in particular stand out:
* The Young and the Reckless - on the arduous journey adolescent primates make from their birth group to a new one where they often start at the bottom of the dominance hierarchy (and the fate this entails in social primate societies)
* Poverty's Remains - on the phenomenon where most cadavers used in medical research in earlier times were from chronically stressed individuals in poverty and the unfortunate errors which resulted from this selection bias
* The Burden of Being Burden Free - on how a small population of "repressed" individuals are chronically stressed since they plan out every minutiae of their life in advance so that its stress free
* The Dangers of Fallen Souffles in the Developing World - on the singular stress response resulting from holding western style occupations (and the western style abundance it affords) in the chaotic non-western world where much is out of one's control
* Circling the Blanket for God - probably the best essay of the lot where Sapolsky builds on a prior theory on the connection between Schizophrenia and the origins of religion in humans. Thoroughly engaging!
The book is a collection of his essays from the late 90s. Sapolsky draws from his vast knowledge in fields as disparate as endocrinology, neurology, and anthropology to write some riveting essays. Some in particular stand out:
* The Young and the Reckless - on the arduous journey adolescent primates make from their birth group to a new one where they often start at the bottom of the dominance hierarchy (and the fate this entails in social primate societies)
* Poverty's Remains - on the phenomenon where most cadavers used in medical research in earlier times were from chronically stressed individuals in poverty and the unfortunate errors which resulted from this selection bias
* The Burden of Being Burden Free - on how a small population of "repressed" individuals are chronically stressed since they plan out every minutiae of their life in advance so that its stress free
* The Dangers of Fallen Souffles in the Developing World - on the singular stress response resulting from holding western style occupations (and the western style abundance it affords) in the chaotic non-western world where much is out of one's control
* Circling the Blanket for God - probably the best essay of the lot where Sapolsky builds on a prior theory on the connection between Schizophrenia and the origins of religion in humans. Thoroughly engaging!
January 14, 2021
丕囟胤乇丕亘 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱賮氐丕賲賷丞
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亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 貙 丨丿孬 兀丨丿 兀賰孬乇 丕賱鬲睾賷賷乇丕鬲 廿孬丕乇丞 賱賱丕賴鬲賲丕賲 賮賷 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 賳乇賶 亘賴丕 丕賱兀賮乇丕丿 "丕賱賮氐丕賲" 貙 賯亘賱 亘囟毓丞 毓賯賵丿 貙 丨賷孬 亘丿兀 賮乇賷賯 亘乇卅丕爻丞 丕賱胤亘賷亘 丕賱賳賮爻賷 爻賷賲賵乇 賰賷鬲賷 貙 丿乇丕爻丕鬲 兀馗賴乇鬲 毓賳氐乇賸丕 賵乇丕孬賷賸丕 賮賷 賲夭賷噩 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱賲囟胤乇亘 丕賱賲毓乇賵賮 亘丕爻賲 丕賳賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞.
賯丕賲 丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 亘賮丨氐 爻噩賱丕鬲 丕賱鬲亘賳賷 丕賱賲丨賮賵馗丞 亘丿賯丞 賮賷 丕賱丿賳賲丕乇賰 貙 賵賲乇丕噩毓丞 丨丕賱丕鬲 丕賱兀胤賮丕賱 丕賱匕賷賳 鬲賲 鬲亘賳賷賴賲 賲賳 賵丕賱丿賷賴賲 丕賱亘賷賵賱賵噩賷賷賳 賮賷 賵賯鬲 賲亘賰乇 噩丿賸丕 賲賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞. 廿匕丕 鬲賲 鬲亘賳賷 胤賮賱 賲賳 賵丕賱丿 賲氐丕亘 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 賲賳 賯亘賱 兀亘賵賷賳 兀氐丨丕亍 貙 賮賯丿 兀乇丕丿 賰賷鬲賷 兀賳 賷毓乇賮 貙 賴賱 賰丕賳 丕賱胤賮賱 賲毓乇囟賸丕 賱禺胤乇 丕賱廿氐丕亘丞 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲賵爻胤責 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賰爻 賲賳 匕賱賰 貙 賴賱 兀賷 胤賮賱 賲賳 兀亘賵賷賳 亘賷賵賱賵噩賷賷賳 兀氐丨丕亍 賳卮兀 賮賷 賲賳夭賱 賲毓 賵丕賱丿 亘丕賱鬲亘賳賷 賲氐丕亘 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 賲毓乇囟 賱禺胤乇 賲鬲夭丕賷丿 賱賱廿氐丕亘丞 亘丕賱賲乇囟責
兀馗賴乇 毓賲賱 賰賷鬲賷 兀賳 丕賱噩賷賳丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 鬲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕丨鬲賲丕賱賷丞 丕賱廿氐丕亘丞 亘賴匕丕 丕賱丕囟胤乇丕亘. 賵賱賰賳 賱賱丨氐賵賱 毓賱賶 賴匕賴 丕賱廿噩丕亘丞 貙 賰丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 廿噩乇丕亍 賲賯丕亘賱丕鬲 賳賮爻賷丞 賲賰孬賮丞 賲毓 賲禺鬲賱賮 丕賱丌亘丕亍 丕賱亘賷賵賱賵噩賷賷賳 賵 丌亘丕亍 丕賱鬲亘賳賷. 卮賲賱 賴匕丕 丌賱丕賮 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賵爻賳賵丕鬲 賲賳 丕賱毓賲賱. 賱賲 賷丿乇爻 兀丨丿 賲賳 賯亘賱 兀賯丕乇亘 賲乇囟賶 丕賱賮氐丕賲 亘賴匕賴 丕賱兀毓丿丕丿. 賵毓賱賶 胤賵賱 丕賱胤乇賷賯 賱丕丨馗 卮禺氐 賲丕 卮賷卅賸丕 :
賰丕賳 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 睾乇賷亘 丕賱兀胤賵丕乇. 賱賲 賷賰賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱兀賯丕乇亘 賴賲 兀賳賮爻賴賲 賲氐丕亘賷賳 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 - 亘賱 賰丕賳賵丕 賲賳賮氐賱賷賳 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丕賸 賯賱賷賱丕賸 賵賱丿賷賴賲 爻賱爻賱丞 賲賳 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱鬲賷 賷氐毓亘 兀丨賷丕賳丕賸 賲鬲丕亘毓鬲賴丕 毓賳丿賲丕 賷鬲丨丿孬賵賳. 賱賯丿 賰丕賳 卮賷卅賸丕 賲毓鬲丿賱賸丕 貙 賵賱賷爻 賳賵毓賸丕 賲賳 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 鬲賱丕丨馗賴丕 毓賳丿 丕賱鬲丨丿孬 廿賱賶 兀賮乇丕丿 毓丕卅賱丞 賲乇囟賶 丕賱賮氐丕賲 貙 賵賱賰賳賴 鬲賵賯賮 賮噩兀丞 毓賳丿賲丕 鬲毓丕賲賱 賲毓 丕賱丌賱丕賮 賲賳賴賲.
賰丕賳賵丕 賷丐賲賳賵賳 亘兀卮賷丕亍 睾乇賷亘丞 賵賰丕賳賵丕 賲賴鬲賲賷賳 賮賷 丕賱睾丕賱亘 亘丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 丕賱爻丨乇賷 兀賵 丕賱禺賷丕賱賷. 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 卮賷亍 賲噩賳賵賳 亘卮賰賱 賷賲賰賳 鬲氐丿賷賯賴 - 乇亘賲丕 丕賴鬲賲丕賲 賰亘賷乇 亘丕賱禺賷丕賱 丕賱毓賱賲賷 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱 貙 兀賵 廿賷賲丕賳 乇丕爻禺 亘亘毓囟 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 丕賱囟禺賲丞 兀賵 毓賱賲 丕賱鬲賳噩賷賲 賮賷 丕賱毓氐乇 丕賱噩丿賷丿 貙 兀賵 乇亘賲丕 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 兀氐賵賱賷 丨乇賮賷 賮賷 丕賱賲毓噩夭丕鬲 丕賱鬲賵乇丕鬲賷丞.
賷丨囟乇 丕賱毓丿賷丿 賲賳 丕賱亘丕賱睾賷賳 賲丐鬲賲乇丕鬲 Star Trek 貙 賵鬲爻鬲卮賷乇 夭賵噩丕鬲 丕賱乇丐爻丕亍 丕賱賲賳噩賲賷賳 賵賱丕 鬲夭丕賱 氐賳丕毓丞 丕賱兀夭賷丕亍 鬲兀禺匕賴丕 毓賱賶 賲丨賲賱 丕賱噩丿 貙 賵賷毓鬲賯丿 丌禺乇賵賳 兀賳 丕賱兀乇囟 賯丿 鬲賲 廿賳卮丕丐賴丕 亘丕賱賮毓賱 賮賷 爻亘毓丞 兀賷丕賲. 賱賰賳 丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 丕賱賳賮爻賷賷賳 丕賱賷賵賲 賷胤賱賯賵賳 毓賱賶 賲噩賲賵毓丞 丕賱爻賲丕鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱鬲賷 賷乇丕賴丕 賰賷鬲賷 丕爻賲 "丕囟胤乇丕亘 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱賮氐丕賲賷丞" 貙 賵禺丕氐丞 丕賱鬲乇賰賷夭 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 丕賱爻丨乇賷 賵丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 睾賷乇 丕賱賲鬲乇丕亘胤丞. 毓賱賶 賲丕 賷亘丿賵 貙 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賱丿賷賰 鬲乇賰賷亘丞 噩賷賳賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 貙 賮兀賳鬲 毓乇囟丞 賱賲乇囟 丕賳賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞. 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賱丿賷賰 賳爻禺丞 兀賰孬乇 丕毓鬲丿丕賱賸丕 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲乇賰賷亘 丕賱噩賷賳賷 貙 賮賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 賲爻鬲毓丿賸丕 賱賵囟毓 廿賷賲丕賳 賯賵賷 亘丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱爻丨乇賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 鬲爻鬲賳丿 亘卮賰賱 禺丕氐 廿賱賶 丕賱丨賯丕卅賯.
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Robert Sapolsky
The Trouble With Testosterone
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
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亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 貙 丨丿孬 兀丨丿 兀賰孬乇 丕賱鬲睾賷賷乇丕鬲 廿孬丕乇丞 賱賱丕賴鬲賲丕賲 賮賷 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 賳乇賶 亘賴丕 丕賱兀賮乇丕丿 "丕賱賮氐丕賲" 貙 賯亘賱 亘囟毓丞 毓賯賵丿 貙 丨賷孬 亘丿兀 賮乇賷賯 亘乇卅丕爻丞 丕賱胤亘賷亘 丕賱賳賮爻賷 爻賷賲賵乇 賰賷鬲賷 貙 丿乇丕爻丕鬲 兀馗賴乇鬲 毓賳氐乇賸丕 賵乇丕孬賷賸丕 賮賷 賲夭賷噩 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱賲囟胤乇亘 丕賱賲毓乇賵賮 亘丕爻賲 丕賳賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞.
賯丕賲 丕賱毓賱賲丕亍 亘賮丨氐 爻噩賱丕鬲 丕賱鬲亘賳賷 丕賱賲丨賮賵馗丞 亘丿賯丞 賮賷 丕賱丿賳賲丕乇賰 貙 賵賲乇丕噩毓丞 丨丕賱丕鬲 丕賱兀胤賮丕賱 丕賱匕賷賳 鬲賲 鬲亘賳賷賴賲 賲賳 賵丕賱丿賷賴賲 丕賱亘賷賵賱賵噩賷賷賳 賮賷 賵賯鬲 賲亘賰乇 噩丿賸丕 賲賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞. 廿匕丕 鬲賲 鬲亘賳賷 胤賮賱 賲賳 賵丕賱丿 賲氐丕亘 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 賲賳 賯亘賱 兀亘賵賷賳 兀氐丨丕亍 貙 賮賯丿 兀乇丕丿 賰賷鬲賷 兀賳 賷毓乇賮 貙 賴賱 賰丕賳 丕賱胤賮賱 賲毓乇囟賸丕 賱禺胤乇 丕賱廿氐丕亘丞 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲賵爻胤責 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賰爻 賲賳 匕賱賰 貙 賴賱 兀賷 胤賮賱 賲賳 兀亘賵賷賳 亘賷賵賱賵噩賷賷賳 兀氐丨丕亍 賳卮兀 賮賷 賲賳夭賱 賲毓 賵丕賱丿 亘丕賱鬲亘賳賷 賲氐丕亘 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 賲毓乇囟 賱禺胤乇 賲鬲夭丕賷丿 賱賱廿氐丕亘丞 亘丕賱賲乇囟責
兀馗賴乇 毓賲賱 賰賷鬲賷 兀賳 丕賱噩賷賳丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 鬲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕丨鬲賲丕賱賷丞 丕賱廿氐丕亘丞 亘賴匕丕 丕賱丕囟胤乇丕亘. 賵賱賰賳 賱賱丨氐賵賱 毓賱賶 賴匕賴 丕賱廿噩丕亘丞 貙 賰丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 廿噩乇丕亍 賲賯丕亘賱丕鬲 賳賮爻賷丞 賲賰孬賮丞 賲毓 賲禺鬲賱賮 丕賱丌亘丕亍 丕賱亘賷賵賱賵噩賷賷賳 賵 丌亘丕亍 丕賱鬲亘賳賷. 卮賲賱 賴匕丕 丌賱丕賮 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賵爻賳賵丕鬲 賲賳 丕賱毓賲賱. 賱賲 賷丿乇爻 兀丨丿 賲賳 賯亘賱 兀賯丕乇亘 賲乇囟賶 丕賱賮氐丕賲 亘賴匕賴 丕賱兀毓丿丕丿. 賵毓賱賶 胤賵賱 丕賱胤乇賷賯 賱丕丨馗 卮禺氐 賲丕 卮賷卅賸丕 :
賰丕賳 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 睾乇賷亘 丕賱兀胤賵丕乇. 賱賲 賷賰賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱兀賯丕乇亘 賴賲 兀賳賮爻賴賲 賲氐丕亘賷賳 亘丕賱賮氐丕賲 - 亘賱 賰丕賳賵丕 賲賳賮氐賱賷賳 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丕賸 賯賱賷賱丕賸 賵賱丿賷賴賲 爻賱爻賱丞 賲賳 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱鬲賷 賷氐毓亘 兀丨賷丕賳丕賸 賲鬲丕亘毓鬲賴丕 毓賳丿賲丕 賷鬲丨丿孬賵賳. 賱賯丿 賰丕賳 卮賷卅賸丕 賲毓鬲丿賱賸丕 貙 賵賱賷爻 賳賵毓賸丕 賲賳 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 鬲賱丕丨馗賴丕 毓賳丿 丕賱鬲丨丿孬 廿賱賶 兀賮乇丕丿 毓丕卅賱丞 賲乇囟賶 丕賱賮氐丕賲 貙 賵賱賰賳賴 鬲賵賯賮 賮噩兀丞 毓賳丿賲丕 鬲毓丕賲賱 賲毓 丕賱丌賱丕賮 賲賳賴賲.
賰丕賳賵丕 賷丐賲賳賵賳 亘兀卮賷丕亍 睾乇賷亘丞 賵賰丕賳賵丕 賲賴鬲賲賷賳 賮賷 丕賱睾丕賱亘 亘丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 丕賱爻丨乇賷 兀賵 丕賱禺賷丕賱賷. 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 卮賷亍 賲噩賳賵賳 亘卮賰賱 賷賲賰賳 鬲氐丿賷賯賴 - 乇亘賲丕 丕賴鬲賲丕賲 賰亘賷乇 亘丕賱禺賷丕賱 丕賱毓賱賲賷 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱 貙 兀賵 廿賷賲丕賳 乇丕爻禺 亘亘毓囟 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 丕賱囟禺賲丞 兀賵 毓賱賲 丕賱鬲賳噩賷賲 賮賷 丕賱毓氐乇 丕賱噩丿賷丿 貙 兀賵 乇亘賲丕 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 兀氐賵賱賷 丨乇賮賷 賮賷 丕賱賲毓噩夭丕鬲 丕賱鬲賵乇丕鬲賷丞.
賷丨囟乇 丕賱毓丿賷丿 賲賳 丕賱亘丕賱睾賷賳 賲丐鬲賲乇丕鬲 Star Trek 貙 賵鬲爻鬲卮賷乇 夭賵噩丕鬲 丕賱乇丐爻丕亍 丕賱賲賳噩賲賷賳 賵賱丕 鬲夭丕賱 氐賳丕毓丞 丕賱兀夭賷丕亍 鬲兀禺匕賴丕 毓賱賶 賲丨賲賱 丕賱噩丿 貙 賵賷毓鬲賯丿 丌禺乇賵賳 兀賳 丕賱兀乇囟 賯丿 鬲賲 廿賳卮丕丐賴丕 亘丕賱賮毓賱 賮賷 爻亘毓丞 兀賷丕賲. 賱賰賳 丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 丕賱賳賮爻賷賷賳 丕賱賷賵賲 賷胤賱賯賵賳 毓賱賶 賲噩賲賵毓丞 丕賱爻賲丕鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱鬲賷 賷乇丕賴丕 賰賷鬲賷 丕爻賲 "丕囟胤乇丕亘 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱賮氐丕賲賷丞" 貙 賵禺丕氐丞 丕賱鬲乇賰賷夭 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 丕賱爻丨乇賷 賵丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 睾賷乇 丕賱賲鬲乇丕亘胤丞. 毓賱賶 賲丕 賷亘丿賵 貙 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賱丿賷賰 鬲乇賰賷亘丞 噩賷賳賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 貙 賮兀賳鬲 毓乇囟丞 賱賲乇囟 丕賳賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞. 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賱丿賷賰 賳爻禺丞 兀賰孬乇 丕毓鬲丿丕賱賸丕 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲乇賰賷亘 丕賱噩賷賳賷 貙 賮賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 賲爻鬲毓丿賸丕 賱賵囟毓 廿賷賲丕賳 賯賵賷 亘丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱爻丨乇賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 鬲爻鬲賳丿 亘卮賰賱 禺丕氐 廿賱賶 丕賱丨賯丕卅賯.
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Robert Sapolsky
The Trouble With Testosterone
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
August 16, 2017
Some of the finest essays I've read. On par with David Foster Wallace with the difference that it is applied to biology.
January 18, 2024
Through the journey of seventeen essays, Sapolsky takes you on a ride filled with scientific knowledge, curiosity, parallelism in religion, argument with fellow scientists and surprising personal vulnerability. Sapolsky delves into a diverse array of topics, ranging from behavior and endocrinology to theology, showcasing his philosophical reflections drawn from years of behavioral field studies. While the book, penned in the '90s, may exude a certain dated feel due to subsequent research advancements, the discourse within remains a testament to progressive and clear thinking. Sapolsky's exploration extends beyond scientific musings, providing deeply personal and beautiful accounts of his relationship with his late father. The essays not only offer insights into the intricacies of the natural world but also reveal the author's capacity for introspection and emotional connection.
The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.
The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.
March 13, 2024
At this point, I鈥檒l read anything he writes (or watch/listen to whatever he says).
Scholarly, insightful, funny, humane/empathetic. Sapolsky is a genius with a heart.
Scholarly, insightful, funny, humane/empathetic. Sapolsky is a genius with a heart.
November 6, 2022
A light read with several intriguing short stories. He provides an interesting angle on life from a science perspective and mentions a couple of neuroscientific and behavioral phenomena that made me reflect on my own life. Impressive how much time he spent observing baboons and how much there is to learn from their behavior. And from the numerous cognitive pitfalls that surround us humans.
However, some of the stories are a bit unstructured and confuse and sometimes he goes off in a direction that makes it hard for the reader to follow his line of thought.
However, some of the stories are a bit unstructured and confuse and sometimes he goes off in a direction that makes it hard for the reader to follow his line of thought.
March 5, 2024
A fantastic book by one of the finest science communicators of our age, Prof. Robert M. Sapolsky of Stanford University.
Every essay is both erudite and fascinating, and the book is very readable, edifying, and enjoyable.
The title essay was especially interesting, as was the long reflection on religion and neurological disorders that (not accidentally) closes the collection.
From that last piece, I bring this delicious passage, about a young sixteenth-century Augustinian monk named Luder, whose writings have survived into our time:
====================
Anxious and neurasthenic, troubled with a relationship with a stern and demanding father, plagued with a variety of seemingly psychosomatic disorders, the young man had been caught one day in a frightening thunderstorm while walking alone, suffered a panic attack, and vowed to become a monk if he was allowed to survive.
True to his vow, he became a novitiate and threw himself into the rituals with a froth of repetition, self-doubt, and self-debasement. He described his dis-ease with the German word **Anfechtung**, which he defined as a sense of being utterly lost, a sense of anxious lack of mooring in every circumstance.
He carried out each monkish ritual to perfection, urging himself to ever greater concern for detail, ever greater consciousness of God throughout the act, ever greater contrition for his own inadequacies . . . and would invariably find fault and have to start over again. The first Mass that he led was an agony of anxiety, as he was filled with fears of leaving out details, of saying something blasphemous. His spare hours of silent meditation were filled with obsessive, heretical thoughts, for which he confessed at length day after day.
"I often repeated my confession and zealously performed my required penance," he wrote. "But I was always doubting and said, 'You did not perform that correctly. You were not contrite enough. You left that out of your confession.' "
At one point, his father confessor, no doubt exhausted with having to hear hours of confessions each day from Luder, endless reportings of evidence of failings and God's justifiable anger, finally turned to the young monk with an exasperated, shockingly modern insight鈥�"It is not God who is angry with you. It is you who is angry with God."
History gives us a final hint of this monk's affliction. He washed and washed, and it was all futile. "The more you cleanse yourself, the dirtier you get," he summarized plaintively. The vein of obsessive-compulsive anxiety is readily apparent in this young man, who would come to be known by the more modern version of his name, Martin Luther.
=====================================
Every essay is both erudite and fascinating, and the book is very readable, edifying, and enjoyable.
The title essay was especially interesting, as was the long reflection on religion and neurological disorders that (not accidentally) closes the collection.
From that last piece, I bring this delicious passage, about a young sixteenth-century Augustinian monk named Luder, whose writings have survived into our time:
====================
Anxious and neurasthenic, troubled with a relationship with a stern and demanding father, plagued with a variety of seemingly psychosomatic disorders, the young man had been caught one day in a frightening thunderstorm while walking alone, suffered a panic attack, and vowed to become a monk if he was allowed to survive.
True to his vow, he became a novitiate and threw himself into the rituals with a froth of repetition, self-doubt, and self-debasement. He described his dis-ease with the German word **Anfechtung**, which he defined as a sense of being utterly lost, a sense of anxious lack of mooring in every circumstance.
He carried out each monkish ritual to perfection, urging himself to ever greater concern for detail, ever greater consciousness of God throughout the act, ever greater contrition for his own inadequacies . . . and would invariably find fault and have to start over again. The first Mass that he led was an agony of anxiety, as he was filled with fears of leaving out details, of saying something blasphemous. His spare hours of silent meditation were filled with obsessive, heretical thoughts, for which he confessed at length day after day.
"I often repeated my confession and zealously performed my required penance," he wrote. "But I was always doubting and said, 'You did not perform that correctly. You were not contrite enough. You left that out of your confession.' "
At one point, his father confessor, no doubt exhausted with having to hear hours of confessions each day from Luder, endless reportings of evidence of failings and God's justifiable anger, finally turned to the young monk with an exasperated, shockingly modern insight鈥�"It is not God who is angry with you. It is you who is angry with God."
History gives us a final hint of this monk's affliction. He washed and washed, and it was all futile. "The more you cleanse yourself, the dirtier you get," he summarized plaintively. The vein of obsessive-compulsive anxiety is readily apparent in this young man, who would come to be known by the more modern version of his name, Martin Luther.
=====================================
May 25, 2015
The Trouble with Testosterone is a collection of essays on the subject of biology by Robert M. Sapolsky a professor at Stanford University. More specifically Sapolsky examines some of the ways in which our biology influences behavior 鈥� topics such as: the influence of testosterone on aggression, the onset of puberty and an animal鈥檚 position in the social hierarchy, the evolutionary advantages of risk taking, the effects of stress on hormone concentrations in the body, the effects of a Westernized diet on baboons evolved for foraging (not surprisingly, they mirror those of humans), and the role of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder in the development of religion.
Sapolsky is a good writer and the essays are interesting, although I thought he overstated the validity of several psychological hypotheses 鈥� for example: the five stages of grief (which are far from universal), the theories of Sigmund Freud (which have been almost entirely discredited), the causes of effects of depression and others. I suspect this is what happens when a person ventures too far afield from their area of expertise.
Sapolsky is a good writer and the essays are interesting, although I thought he overstated the validity of several psychological hypotheses 鈥� for example: the five stages of grief (which are far from universal), the theories of Sigmund Freud (which have been almost entirely discredited), the causes of effects of depression and others. I suspect this is what happens when a person ventures too far afield from their area of expertise.
January 6, 2022
Cartea este o colec葲ie de eseuri despre biologia comportamental膬, iar cel mai consistent este despre analiza credin葲elor religioase din perspectiv膬 psihologic膬 葯i neurologic膬.
Autorul este profesor de biologie 葯i neurologie la Universitatea Stanford 葯i face munc膬 de cercetare despre fiziologia stresului, abord芒nd numeroase teme de 鈥� atacat鈥� 卯n arena dezbaterilor morale.
Nu formuleaz膬 concluzii de certitudine, dar expune motivat rezultatele muncii sale de cercetare referitoare la biologia condi葲iei umane, despre care afirm膬 c膬 r膬m芒ne lipsit膬 de sens 卯n afara contextului social.
Autorul este profesor de biologie 葯i neurologie la Universitatea Stanford 葯i face munc膬 de cercetare despre fiziologia stresului, abord芒nd numeroase teme de 鈥� atacat鈥� 卯n arena dezbaterilor morale.
Nu formuleaz膬 concluzii de certitudine, dar expune motivat rezultatele muncii sale de cercetare referitoare la biologia condi葲iei umane, despre care afirm膬 c膬 r膬m芒ne lipsit膬 de sens 卯n afara contextului social.
June 14, 2020
Most of the essays in this book represent barely-coherent ramblings with occasionally mildly interesting facts about biology and human/animal tendencies. Although a scientist by profession, his writing does not come off scientifically-based at all. Additionally, it is nearly impossible to even deduce what subject the author is rambling about for much of the beginning of each chapter, leading to a difficult and confusing read.
September 25, 2020
mostly enjoyable essays connecting human behaviour with that of our non-human kin. unsure why he wrote extremely long, reductionist essay at end linking religion to mental pathologies. the latter seemed much more a product of personal beliefs than of scientific knowledge.
February 3, 2016
Fantastic writing and believable science-based articles about human physiology and about animals used to infer human physiology.
September 15, 2019
As someone with no background in science whatsoever, I found this book at times difficult to read. There were essays that were fantastic, and others that were written a bit too pompously for my liking. I like when things are accessible, and at times this didn't feel so. I enjoyed reading something outside my comfort zone for once but it's not a book I would recommend to others like myself.
May 30, 2020
I just love learning about behaviour. And I love everything about Sapolsky's writing style. There were some repeated stories that also appeared in his other books so I skimmed over those. But, there was less repetition than I expected.
February 25, 2022
Outstanding work. Sapolsky is not only an amazing academic, but a funny and skillful writer. He makes what some would call 鈥渂oring science鈥� deeply interesting. Maybe because he just asks the right questions. And no, you don鈥檛 need to be a scientist or biologist to enjoy the book
;) DDS
;) DDS
January 30, 2021
Wonderful informations in his amusing way of story telling
March 14, 2024
Provides a lot of food for thought
July 14, 2023
It's a collection of essays on behavioural biology, so kind of up my street. 17 in all, and each is a 10-15 minute read, can be dipped into although I read cover to cover :).
Sapolsky is one of the all time great science writers in my opinion. A couple of the essays didn't quite resonate with me, a couple were sort of old news and a couple were mind blowing. Overall recommend, although I would probably start with the book "behave" from the author, as that has a more coherent structure. Or read a couple of these essays, particularly "the trouble with testosterone" and the final one on religion.
Sapolsky is one of the all time great science writers in my opinion. A couple of the essays didn't quite resonate with me, a couple were sort of old news and a couple were mind blowing. Overall recommend, although I would probably start with the book "behave" from the author, as that has a more coherent structure. Or read a couple of these essays, particularly "the trouble with testosterone" and the final one on religion.
March 8, 2024
we all just apes fr
October 14, 2019
Author:Robert Sapolsky, renowned neruroendocrninolgist/ anthropologist
Genere :Science non- fiction
Collection of interesting scientific essays written with the insight of a learned behavioural biologist,explaining the fine inter play between the nut and bolts of neurochemistry,genetics and environment in moulding the behaviour which makes one a healthy individual or otherwise with our potential and constraints.
-
In Measures of life we get a glimpse how emergence of firing squads and injecting lethal doses for executions evolved over periods of time,in a way to accommodate the perception of guilt or reduce the guilt conscience by subtle cognitive games.
-
In solace of pattern, he takes us through the DABDA of mourning, an universal predictability of human nature.
-
On the title topic,association between the hormone testosterone and it鈥檚 causative role on aggressive behaviour and violence is discussed.The culprit is not the hormone per se but the predisposition to aggressiveness which might get further aggravated by testosterone.
-
Poverty Remains takes us to the troubled reality of how in the past, the anatomists and physicians depended on the cadavers of the poor for learning purposes and accounts of grave diggers during that era is nothing short of horror. Even today we witness how socioeconomic inequity permeates every aspect of health care system.
-
Circling the blanket for God is a topic that would definitely offend a section of society as the it discusses few psychological traits that are commonly observed in shaman, God men and religious preachers.The observation about the obsessive compulsive behaviour behind some rigorous religious rituals and the how religion provide a safe hiding shelter for those with OCD might not please the faithful.
-
The rest of the topics in this book definitely are interesting and informative.Time and space constraints doesn鈥檛 permit me for a detailed review.
The Author concludes his observations and writing saying that 鈥淪cience could explain anything,but it will never explain everything, for every question answered, a dozen new one are generated.鈥�
As Haldane quoted
鈥淭he purpose of Science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder,but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.鈥�
Genere :Science non- fiction
Collection of interesting scientific essays written with the insight of a learned behavioural biologist,explaining the fine inter play between the nut and bolts of neurochemistry,genetics and environment in moulding the behaviour which makes one a healthy individual or otherwise with our potential and constraints.
-
In Measures of life we get a glimpse how emergence of firing squads and injecting lethal doses for executions evolved over periods of time,in a way to accommodate the perception of guilt or reduce the guilt conscience by subtle cognitive games.
-
In solace of pattern, he takes us through the DABDA of mourning, an universal predictability of human nature.
-
On the title topic,association between the hormone testosterone and it鈥檚 causative role on aggressive behaviour and violence is discussed.The culprit is not the hormone per se but the predisposition to aggressiveness which might get further aggravated by testosterone.
-
Poverty Remains takes us to the troubled reality of how in the past, the anatomists and physicians depended on the cadavers of the poor for learning purposes and accounts of grave diggers during that era is nothing short of horror. Even today we witness how socioeconomic inequity permeates every aspect of health care system.
-
Circling the blanket for God is a topic that would definitely offend a section of society as the it discusses few psychological traits that are commonly observed in shaman, God men and religious preachers.The observation about the obsessive compulsive behaviour behind some rigorous religious rituals and the how religion provide a safe hiding shelter for those with OCD might not please the faithful.
-
The rest of the topics in this book definitely are interesting and informative.Time and space constraints doesn鈥檛 permit me for a detailed review.
The Author concludes his observations and writing saying that 鈥淪cience could explain anything,but it will never explain everything, for every question answered, a dozen new one are generated.鈥�
As Haldane quoted
鈥淭he purpose of Science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder,but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.鈥�
December 16, 2020
I chanced to come across Robert Sapolsky as I randomly saw his Stanford University Behavioral Biology lectures on YouTube. His ability to explain complex biological concepts with remarkable lucidity impressed me. Not being a fan of consuming information via videos, I decided to search for his books. The title of this book intrigued me, and I started reading it.
Robert Sapolsky has a unique style of writing. His sentences tend to become long-winded at times, but his quirky sense of humor and sarcasm prod you along to keep reading. Basic knowledge about human biology and curiosity are enough to get you through the book unscathed by boredom or frustration.
The essays discuss interesting concepts such as adolescence, junk food, mental disorders & even religion. There are bound to be instances when you shall feel personally attacked when Sapolsky talks about our behavioral patterns and their implications. One realizes that mental health is continuum and none of us out here are really sane. A poignant line from his book goes as,
鈥淏eing healthy really consists of having the same disease as everyone else.鈥�
Not fearing any political incorrectness Sapolsky鈥檚 words might occasionally offend the weak hearted amongst us. But overall, the book is an entertaining read.
Robert Sapolsky has a unique style of writing. His sentences tend to become long-winded at times, but his quirky sense of humor and sarcasm prod you along to keep reading. Basic knowledge about human biology and curiosity are enough to get you through the book unscathed by boredom or frustration.
The essays discuss interesting concepts such as adolescence, junk food, mental disorders & even religion. There are bound to be instances when you shall feel personally attacked when Sapolsky talks about our behavioral patterns and their implications. One realizes that mental health is continuum and none of us out here are really sane. A poignant line from his book goes as,
鈥淏eing healthy really consists of having the same disease as everyone else.鈥�
Not fearing any political incorrectness Sapolsky鈥檚 words might occasionally offend the weak hearted amongst us. But overall, the book is an entertaining read.
November 1, 2014
I found this collection of essays about the world and the human experience to be mostly interesting, if slightly disjointed. It is a collection - there isn't one unifying thought that ties the whole book together. The writing style is only ok due to some jumpiness and the other's clearly high opinion of himself. But mixed into that I found some fascinating stories, such as the culture of the apes he studied in South Africa and how they relate to human culture.
My worldview is about as opposite as possible from the author, but I enjoy reading books like that on occasion for the mental exercise. The author is a self-declared atheist, evolutionist scientist. He even goes so far as to theorize religion is based on mental illnesses, specifically "schizotypal" (defined as having some tendencies characteristic of schizophrenia but not the full blown disease) and OCD. And yet, I caught on at least 2 occasions where he, possibly subconsciously, refers to a higher plan or power in the universe.
Am I glad I read it? For the 50c I spent at a book sale, yes. Will I read it again? Highly unlikely.
My worldview is about as opposite as possible from the author, but I enjoy reading books like that on occasion for the mental exercise. The author is a self-declared atheist, evolutionist scientist. He even goes so far as to theorize religion is based on mental illnesses, specifically "schizotypal" (defined as having some tendencies characteristic of schizophrenia but not the full blown disease) and OCD. And yet, I caught on at least 2 occasions where he, possibly subconsciously, refers to a higher plan or power in the universe.
Am I glad I read it? For the 50c I spent at a book sale, yes. Will I read it again? Highly unlikely.
September 21, 2016
I was hoping this book would be more like a compendium of research about testosterone. Unfortunately, there is only 10 pages or less dedicated to that subject. I guess I was misled by the title, which is purely my fault for thinking that one word in a title would imply the thesis for the book. The book had great research on a wide variety of topics, but minimal material on the subject that originally attracted to me to this book. Since my expectations weren't met, and considering the disinterest I battled while reading this book, I give it two stars. Avoid the book if you think you'll learn much about testosterone, read the book if you are interested in the connections between obsessive compulsive disorder and religion or hypothesis as to why male baboons migrate to different baboon tribes and why female baboons don't. I think this book appeals to a very small sect of people, mainly scientists who specialize in anthropology, primatology, or psychiatry.
December 4, 2017
A thought-provoking read; it would be good to have strong evidence to back up the links that he makes, particularly when making a jump from animal to human behavior based simply on similar neurobiology. Additionally, it seems that much of his assumptions are largely rooted in Western constructions of normality, with little consideration for non-Western behaviors. Ultimately, I found this book to contain much to make me think, and little to make me believe, despite the given facts. Perhaps that is the point, after all--not to take everything at face value, and to instead consider all of the possibilities.
January 11, 2025
Unless you are an evolutionist moron devoid of critical judgement and oblivious by failing to see how cultural dynamics bend and challenge evolutionst ideas making them look ridiculous and retrograde DO NOT, I reapeat, DO NOT attempt to set eyes on this book even. It is as if a precocious highschooler discovered google scholar, took up a bunch of random articles with shallow conclusions and questionable methodologies and shoved them up in a big essay to impress the biology teacher. However I found it a nice hate reading, which is good to do from time to time and an even better patience exercise.
October 22, 2022
I鈥檓 a serious follower of dr. Sapolsky. Some ideas of this book was repeated in his biology course in Stanford University, and repeated in other lectures and books but I never get used to it, every time I got excited to know all these facts. It鈥檚 a uniq and practical perspective to see the world and it鈥檚 organisms. Maybe one day turns out all this scientific facts were false, but seeing the world from his window make sense more than any philosopher or author I ever read.
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