Evolving Ourselves

How Unnatural Selection and Nonrandom Mutation are Changing Life on Earth

By: Juan Enriquez, Steve Gullans

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A sweeping, paradigm-shifting account of how evolution is no longer driven just by nature but also by human choices.

Why are conditions like autism, asthma, obesity, and allergies exploding at unprecedented rates? Why are we living longer, getting smarter, having far fewer kids? If Darwin were alive today, how would he explain this new world?

Today's humans have developed such profound capabilities for redesigning bacteria, plants, animals, and ourselves that random mutation and natural selection are no longer the primary determinants of which species survive and how they change over time. Evolution is now increasingly driven by two forces: unnatural selection (what lives and dies has to do with human desires and choices, not the natural ability to reproduce and thrive) and nonrandom mutation (our techniques have gotten so precise that we can drastically alter the genetics of any life form).

Evolving Ourselves is a chronicle of how life is evolving to meet our specs and choices, of how we can change our own biology, and of the unintended consequences for future generations. It proves that how we use our enormous power over life forms and our ability to engineer new environments will determine nothing less than the survival of humanity.

©2015 Juan Enriquez and Steve Gullans (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"If you think that human evolution occurred only in the past, think again! Evolving Ourselves is a scintillating, witty, and sometimes scary account of how rapidly changing technologies are altering human evolution in consequential ways. The book boldly predicts our species’ evolutionary future." (Daniel E. Lieberman, Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences, Harvard University; author of The Story of the Human Body)

"A refreshingly human-centered take on the future of nature, Evolving Ourselves shows how natural selection has become a participatory team sport. That’s right: Evolution itself is evolving, human beings are the cause, and we all better wake up and do this more consciously before we domesticate ourselves into extinction." (Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock)

"For anyone with an interest in understanding the complexity that defines us as human beings, there is plenty to absorb in the cleverly woven pages of Evolving Ourselves. Written in an engaging and often entertaining style, the book pinpoints the unique situation in which Homo sapiens find themselves: deciding what we become next." (Dr. Louise Leakey, Turkana Basin Institute)

One of the best books I've ever heard

Where does Evolving Ourselves rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The content is so interesting and it was written in such a way that you don't want to stop listening to it. I was completely sorry it was over. Most of what I found there was new for me. I am just anxiously waiting to find a new book from Juan Enriquez

What was one of the most memorable moments of Evolving Ourselves?

Lots of moments were memorable, as it jumps from one interesting discovery to another one.

Have you listened to any of Rob Shapiro’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I can't compare it with another one. I don't pay attention to who is talking but what they say

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Genetics; going beyond the limits of your imagination

super interesante

muy buen libro. excelente lectura para los amantes de la ciencia. vale la pena leer.

Amazing

The most fascinating book! Our future succinctly explained. Genomics for the non scientists. Absolutely incredible!

Imperfect but provocative

A lot of potentially great ideas. A few errors somewhat undermine the authors' credibility, but overall it's fantastic.

fascinating ideas and science

this was a well written and engaging book that kept me thinking. it covers and brings together many topics that encompass the past future and present state of human species, technology, natural and unnatural selection. and what this has meant for the evolutionary path of humanity.

great perspectives

this author has great perspectives and followed them with current, relevant examples and research. great read!

Very Worthwhile

Very interesting and altogether plausible scenarios are discussed as to what may become of the biological future.

What did you like best about this story?
It held my interest throughout

Have you listened to any of Rob Shapiro’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Rob was a fair narrator. He had a few mispronunciations. For genomics he would say the much lesser used "gen-AHM-ics" instead of the more professional"gen-OHM-ics".

very good book, getting outdated

it's a fantastic book for some who wants to gain information about the subject, yet some information is starting to get out dated. still recommended.

Fantastic Entertainment For Scientists

One of the most interesting and inspiring books I've ever read. As a scientist who is always looking for good presentations of recent research, this book provides an excellent narrative of the discoveries that have become a cornerstone of modern synthetic biology.

good argument! good narrator!

Enriquez and Gullans make a compelling argument! Narrator has voice and style suited for this work.