Synopses & Reviews
and#147;Unlike advocates who promote one-cause-fits-all explanations for human behavior, Fuentes appreciates the array of influences that make us human. This book is guaranteed to give the reader a more nuanced view of who we are, and why we do what we do.and#8221;and#151;Joel Best, author of
Everyoneand#8217;s a Winner and
Damned Lies and Statisticsand#147;Agustand#237;n Fuentes has established himself as an original and authoritative voice for the study of human origins. While interrogating the narrative of where we came from, the domain of both science and mythology, he explains scientific subtleties with grace and ease and successfully guides us through a confrontation with our bio-cultural nature.and#8221;and#151;Jonathan Marks, author of What it Means to be 98% Chimpanzee
and#147;Fuentes brings together an enormous array of information from diverse fields to counter some of the most pervasive myths about human nature in our society.and#8221; and#151;Karen B. Strier, author of Primate Behavioral Ecology
and#147;It is about time that an anthropologist discusses these pervasive myths of human nature and shows them to be just that: myths. Using data from across anthropology and debunking popular writings that do not account for all of the relevant literature, Fuentes does an exceptional job in deconstructing many commonly held beliefs concerning human behavior.and#8221; and#151;Robert W. Sussman, coauthor of Man the Hunted
and#147;Fuentes challenges us to undertake the most fundamental of self-help programs and free ourselves of harmful misconceptions about race, aggression, and sex. By approaching the study of human nature through the lens of evolution, he has produced an illuminating, refreshing, and uplifting view of humanity that is both a superb history of our species and a manual for our future.and#8221; and#151;Nina G. Jablonski, author of Skin and Living Color
Review
and#8220;Accessible, compelling, and original, this book is a rich and nuanced account of how nature, culture, experience, and choice interact to influence human behavior.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;The author masterly conveys his knowledge in an informative way. . . . If you are willing to enhance your worldview by sleuthing to discover and#8216;who we are and why we do what we do,and#8217; Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You is for you. Whether you agree with Fuentes or not, it will at least engage your critical thinking skills and encourage you to be a more active and discerning consumer of information.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;This book is a must for anyone looking to explore where the lines of human nature and artificial class structure are, and where Fuentes says theyand#8217;ve been artificially created.and#8221;
Review
"Recommended."--Choice
Review
and#8220;Fuentes dismantles persistent fallacies about the validity of biological races, innateness of aggression, nature of monogamy and differences between sexes.and#8221;
Review
“Recommended.” Birdbooker Report/The Guardian
Review
and#8220;Useful. . . . [Fuentes] debunks some popular misconceptions about evolutionary change and provides a basic primer on evolutionary theory.and#8221;
Review
“Engaging. . . . Fuentess work goes a long way toward burying some of the most pervasive myths about human beings.” Joan C. Stevenson, Western Washington University - American Jrnl Of Human Biology
Review
and#8220;Recommended.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Engaging. . . . Fuentesand#8217;s work goes a long way toward burying some of the most pervasive myths about human beings.and#8221;
Synopsis
There are three major myths of human nature: humans are divided into biological races; humans are naturally aggressive; and men and women are truly different in behavior, desires, and wiring. In an engaging and wide-ranging narrative, Agustand#237;n Fuentes counters these pervasive and pernicious myths about human behavior. Tackling misconceptions about what race, aggression, and sex really mean for humans, Fuentes incorporates an accessible understanding of culture, genetics, and evolution, requiring us to dispose of notions of and#147;nature or nurture.and#8221; Presenting scientific evidence from diverse fieldsand#151;including anthropology, biology, and psychologyand#151;Fuentes devises a myth-busting toolkit to dismantle persistent fallacies about the validity of biological races, the innateness of aggression and violence, and the nature of monogamy and differences between the sexes. A final chapter plus an appendix provide a set of take-home points on how readers can myth-bust on their own. Accessible, compelling, and original, this book is a rich and nuanced account of how nature, culture, experience, and choice interact to influence human behavior.
and#160;
Synopsis
and#147;The author masterly conveys his knowledge in an informative way. . . . If you are willing to enhance your worldview by sleuthing to discover and#145;who we are and why we do what we do,and#8217; Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You is for you.and#8221;and#151;Science
"As an introductory text for students . . . the book is clear and engaging. Fuentes provides brief and understandable accounts about the basic biological and cultural concepts associated with each of the myths he lays out."and#151;American Journal of Physical Anthropology
and#147;Students who had read the book praised the lively style and found it especially convincing. . . . Fuentes convey[s] what I most want to tackle in a semester-long Anthropology 101 course.and#8221;and#151;Living Anthropologically
and#160;
About the Author
Agustand#237;n Fuentes is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Evolution of Human Behavior, Biological Anthropology: Concepts and Connections and Core Concepts in Biological Anthropology.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part 1. Myth-Busting Tool Kit
1. Myths about Human Nature Are Powerfuland#151;and Misleading
2. Cultureand#151;Problems with What We Believe about Being Human
3. Evolution Is Importantand#151;but May Not Be What We Think
Part 2. Busting Three Myths about Being Human
Prelude: Human ? Nature + Nurture
4. The Myth of Race
5. Myths about Aggression
6. Myths about Sex
7. Beyond the Myths: Now What?
Appendix: Getting the Information Yourself
Notes
Bibliography
Index