Evolution for Everyone

How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives

By: David Sloan Wilson

Narrated by: René Ruiz

With stories that entertain as much as they inform, renowned evolutionist David Sloan Wilson outlines the basic principles of evolution and shows how, when properly understood, they can illuminate the length and breadth of creation, from the origin of life to the nature of religion.

What is the biological reason for gossip? For laughter? For the creation of art? Why do dogs have curly tails? What can microbes tell us about morality?

These and many other questions are tackled by Wilson in this witty and groundbreaking new book. Now everyone can move beyond the sterile debates about creationism and intelligent design to share Darwin’s panoramic view of animal and human life, seamlessly connected to each other.

Evolution, as Wilson explains, is not just about dinosaurs and human origins, but about why all species behave as they do—from beetles that devour their own young, to bees that function as a collective brain, to dogs that are smarter in some respects than our closest ape relatives. And basic evolutionary principles are also the foundation for humanity’s capacity for symbolic thought, culture, and morality.

In example after example, Wilson sheds new light on Darwin’ s grand theory and how it can be applied to daily life. By turns thoughtful, provocative, and daringly funny, Evolution for Everyone addresses some of the deepest philosophical and social issues of this or any age. In helping us come to a deeper understanding of human beings and our place in the world, it might also help us to improve that world.

Mixed.

Note this book was published in 2007. Had I noticed, I likely would have chosen another book.

In the preface to the 40th anniversary edition of "The Selfish Gene", Dawkins pointed out that the title of his book could have been changed to "The Cooperative Gene" without changing the meaning of anything in the book. There is a false distinction between selfish and social at every group selection level, from human society to genes. Often the selfish thing to do is the social / cooperative thing to do. Whatever works: works.

This is not a new observation. Wilson cited The Grumbling Hive, a poem from 1705, which influenced the Scottish Enlightenment observation of the emergent order of society from human action but not human design. The idea of undesigned social evolution predates Darwin by a century (and was arguably the foundation Darwin built on). Wilson's claim that we are only recently, "the last 20 years", (presumably from 2007) applying Darwin's idea to everything social puts the cart before the horse by a solid 250 years.

The Grumbling Hive described organization by demand, but erred regarding supply. A few decades later, Adam Smith described organization by supply, but erred with his labor theory of value (a theory later taken to its logical conclusion by Marx). The subjective theory of value had to be rediscovered on the great merry go round of economic thought.

Market forces provide economic variation and replication, selected by voting consumers. Wilson repeatedly casts subtle shade on decision making by people with skin in the game serving consumers. In Wilson's defense, the complexity of phenomenon that emerge from markets are under appreciated by academics paid through grants and insulated from the market. (Often by choice. It's a tough world out there.) Two decades later, his comments on rich societies needing to spend more on basic research brought a knowing grin.

That is my biggest issue with this good book. But I voted with my $10 Audible credit, consumed it, and then spent the same for "Science in the Soul" written and edited by Dawkins and others. The latter is a better value for the $10, but Wilson's book provides valuable fodder for thinking about why I would invest energy altruistically / socially / cooperatively telling you what I think of it. 4 / 5.

A compelling advocate for Evolution

The author said his book is a way to merge science with creationism. Not so. He gave the ever changing science the role of the highest authority and downgraded creationism as having no authority, therefore discounting all the science-backed facts that prove the Bible and the opinions of his science colleagues who disagree with him.

Pure excellence even for those that understand evolution

I have passed by this book for years simply because of the title. Thinking “I know this stuff, how could it be more than a waste of time. Being a big fan of Dawkins and E O Wilson somehow I missed out on D S Wilson. This is a powerfully moving book, it makes me want to throw away my whole successful career and start from the beginning one again. Plus for those who have only an inkling of what understanding evolution can do for you, this book is a great resource. A++++
The performance is actually really good. The reason I give it a 4 is because I really love to hear an audio book presentation reading by the author. David Sloan Wilson, you have gained another worshipper 😉. #iloveevolutiion

Everything evolves - really

An absolutely amazing, eye-opening, and totally accessible read. You won’t see life the same way again after you read this!

Prairie Home Companion for Evolution

I agree with most nearly everything in this book and am a fan of the author’s ideas but JFC a more meandering, cheesy, folksy bordering on creepy and weird, boring and annoyingly narrated book on this subject I have not read. It was a grueling chore to get through for the ounce of stuff I hadn’t read elsewhere in the author’s better-written books. Probably worth it though.