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Out Of Eden : the surprising consequences of polygamy

By: Barash, David P.
Publisher: New York Oxford University Press 2016Description: 230p.ISBN: 9780190275501.Subject(s): Polygamy -- Human BehaviorDDC classification: 306.8423 Summary: In Out of Eden, esteemed writer and evolutionary biologist David P. Barash tackles this uncomfortable finding: that humans are actually biologically and anthropologically inclined toward polygamy. Drawing on decades of research, Barash presents a remarkable array of scientific evidence from evolutionary biology and cross-cultural studies that guide the reader through the hidden impacts of polygamy on such crucial behaviour as violence, parenting, sexual preferences, adultery and efforts at monogamy itself, along with mind-bending speculation about the possible role of our polygamous predisposition when it comes to human genius, homosexuality and even monotheism. Although our species has long been "out of Eden," this fascinating read is ultimately reassuring that biology is not destiny.
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In Out of Eden, esteemed writer and evolutionary biologist David P. Barash tackles this uncomfortable finding: that humans are actually biologically and anthropologically inclined toward polygamy. Drawing on decades of research, Barash presents a remarkable array of scientific evidence from evolutionary biology and cross-cultural studies that guide the reader through the hidden impacts of polygamy on such crucial behaviour as violence, parenting, sexual preferences, adultery and efforts at monogamy itself, along with mind-bending speculation about the possible role of our polygamous predisposition when it comes to human genius, homosexuality and even monotheism. Although our species has long been "out of Eden," this fascinating read is ultimately reassuring that biology is not destiny.

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