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A review by edelstein
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
"Individuals no more exceptional than the rest of us provide stunning examples of our finest moments as humans."
Coming in at 800 pages, this book is a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to understand just about anything related to the fascinating and unbelievably complex thing that is a human. In the first half, Robert Sapolsky works his way up from the atomic level of neurobiology, to the echoing effects of trauma throughout multiple generations. He describes the fundamental ideas of the level, connects effects and patterns by showing how they are reflected in everyday behavior, and hints towards the implications of the cog towards the ever-greater machine. Each section is written beautifully, with strong pacing and a perfectly seasoned blend of humor and wit to lighten the darker themes presented. The second half, after establishing the biological fundamentals of a human, takes to the scale of society. What it means to feel empathy, to wage war, to have family beyond blood, and more. Once again, he presents a swath of scientific fields in easily digestible manners for everyone, even those with no former experience. The consistent presentation, analysis, and reflections on the limitations throughout the entire book is a masterful feat, one naturally coming from a PhD lecturer at Stanford.
I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in science, behavior, or being a better person. A strong theme hammered upon time and time again is that humans are not perfect, and we never will be; but that doesn't mean we can't try.
Coming in at 800 pages, this book is a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to understand just about anything related to the fascinating and unbelievably complex thing that is a human. In the first half, Robert Sapolsky works his way up from the atomic level of neurobiology, to the echoing effects of trauma throughout multiple generations. He describes the fundamental ideas of the level, connects effects and patterns by showing how they are reflected in everyday behavior, and hints towards the implications of the cog towards the ever-greater machine. Each section is written beautifully, with strong pacing and a perfectly seasoned blend of humor and wit to lighten the darker themes presented. The second half, after establishing the biological fundamentals of a human, takes to the scale of society. What it means to feel empathy, to wage war, to have family beyond blood, and more. Once again, he presents a swath of scientific fields in easily digestible manners for everyone, even those with no former experience. The consistent presentation, analysis, and reflections on the limitations throughout the entire book is a masterful feat, one naturally coming from a PhD lecturer at Stanford.
I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in science, behavior, or being a better person. A strong theme hammered upon time and time again is that humans are not perfect, and we never will be; but that doesn't mean we can't try.