Unfit for Purpose

Reviews / Votes

This book is a gripping and sobering reminder of how much we are all governed by our genetic inheritance. So much for free will. * The Mail on Sunday, 5 stars * Adam Hart's thought-provoking, if pessimistic, book asks: how do our primate origins relate to existence in today's technological jungle? The stress response that once saved us from predators is now killing us, as we pack into our lives microstressors ranging from unsuitable foods to social media - becoming worriers rather than warriors. * Nature * Like countless others I've found the stresses of modern life a little overwhelming at times. Unfit For Purpose lifts the lid on the myriad of evolutionary and environmental wrong turns that now conspire to undermine our mental and physical health. A must read for those who want to understand where we're going wrong and whether we can ever hope to put things right again. * Matthew Wright, broadcaster * Yes, this is a forensic dissection of the mismatch between our ancient biology and the modern world; yes, it's jam-packed with scientific insights; but above all, thanks to Adam's refreshingly fluent prose, it's a really great read! -- Rick Edwards, broadcaster and host of Science-ish Adam offers a splendidly novel perspective on what it is to live a modern-day life in a stone-age body. A tour-de-force of cutting-edge evolutionary science, which debunks, debates and delights in equal measure. -- Jules Howard, naturalist, science writer and author of Death on Earth Excellent news! Thanks to Adam Hart, I can now blame my penchant for Prosecco on a genome that has failed to keep pace with the modern world! From the rise of obesity to the rise of fake news, Unfit for Purpose explores the relationship between our evolutionary heritage and the rise of modern living. Written with wit and clarity, this timely and thought-provoking book is one of the best I have read in ages. -- Helen Pilcher, science writer and author of Life Changing