How Many Friends Does One Person Need?
Dunbar'S Number and Other Evolutionary Quirks
Published on 4. March 2010
320 pages
978-0-571-25829-1 (ISBN)
Description
We are the product of our evolutionary history and this history colours our everyday lives - from why we kiss to how religious we are. In How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Robin Dunbar explains how the distant past underpins our current behaviour, through the groundbreaking experiments that have changed the thinking of evolutionary biologists forever.
He explains phenomena such as why 'Dunbar's Number' (150) is the maximum number of acquaintances you can have, why all babies are born premature and the science behind lonely hearts columns. Stimulating, provocative and highly enjoyable, this fascinating book is essential for understanding why humans behave as they do - what it is to be human.
He explains phenomena such as why 'Dunbar's Number' (150) is the maximum number of acquaintances you can have, why all babies are born premature and the science behind lonely hearts columns. Stimulating, provocative and highly enjoyable, this fascinating book is essential for understanding why humans behave as they do - what it is to be human.
More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
File size
0,62 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-571-25829-1 (9780571258291)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
02/2011
Faber & Faber
€16.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Robin Dunbar is currently Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford and a Fellow of Magdalen College. His principal research interest is the evolution of sociality. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1998.
His books include The Trouble with Science (1995), 'an eloquent riposte to the anti-science lobby' (Sunday Times), and Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language, praised as 'brilliantly original' and 'a delight to read' (Focus). His most recent book, The Human Story, (2004), was described as 'fizzing with recent research and new theories' in the Sunday Times and 'punchy and provocative' by the New Scientist.
His books include The Trouble with Science (1995), 'an eloquent riposte to the anti-science lobby' (Sunday Times), and Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language, praised as 'brilliantly original' and 'a delight to read' (Focus). His most recent book, The Human Story, (2004), was described as 'fizzing with recent research and new theories' in the Sunday Times and 'punchy and provocative' by the New Scientist.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Chapter 1 : In the Beginning
- Chapter 2 : The Monogamous Brain
- Chapter 3 : Dunbar's Number
- Chapter 4 : Kith and Kin
- Chapter 5 : The Ancestors that Still Haunt Us
- Chapter 6 : Bonds that Bind
- Chapter 7 : Why Gossip is Good for You
- Chapter 8 : Scars of Evolution
- Chapter 9 : Who'd Mess with Evolution?
- Chapter 10 : The Darwin Wars
- Chapter 11 : So Near, and Yet So Far
- Chapter 12 : Farewell, Cousins
- Chapter 13 : Stone Age Psychology
- Chapter 14 : Natural Minds
- Chapter 15 : How to Join the Culture Club
- Chapter 16 : Be Smart . Live Longer
- Chapter 17 : Beautiful Science
- Chapter 18 : Are You Lonesome Tonight?
- Chapter 19 : Eskimos Rub Noses
- Chapter 20 : Your Cheating Heart
- Chapter 21 : Morality on the Brain
- Chapter 22 : How Evolution Found God
- Index
- A, B, C
- D, E, F
- G, H, I
- J, K, L
- M, N, O
- P, Q, R
- S, T, U
- V, W, X
- Y, Z
- Acknowledgements
- By the Same Author
- Copyright
