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Blueprint
- The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society
- Narrated by: Nicholas A. Christakis
- Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
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Blueprint
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Summary
Drawing on advances in social science, evolutionary biology, genetics, neuroscience, and network science, Blueprint shows how and why evolution has placed us on a humane path - and how we are united by our common humanity.
For too long, scientists have focused on the dark side of our biological heritage: our capacity for aggression, cruelty, prejudice, and self-interest. But natural selection has given us a suite of beneficial social features, including our capacity for love, friendship, cooperation, and learning. Beneath all our inventions - our tools, farms, machines, cities, nations - we carry with us innate proclivities to make a good society.
In Blueprint, Nicholas A. Christakis introduces the compelling idea that our genes affect not only our bodies and behaviors, but also the ways in which we make societies, ones that are surprisingly similar worldwide. With many vivid examples - including diverse historical and contemporary cultures, communities formed in the wake of shipwrecks, commune dwellers seeking utopia, online groups thrown together by design or involving artificially intelligent bots, and even the tender and complex social arrangements of elephants and dolphins that so resemble our own - Christakis shows that, despite a human history replete with violence, we cannot escape our social blueprint for goodness.
In a world of increasing political and economic polarization, it's tempting to ignore the positive role of our evolutionary past. But by exploring the ancient roots of goodness in civilization, Blueprint shows that our genes have shaped societies for our welfare and that, in a feedback loop stretching back many thousands of years, societies have shaped, and are still shaping, our genes today.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
What listeners say about Blueprint
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 04-09-19
Enlightening
An excellent informative and enjoyable read. Take a chance you will enjoy and learn from this audio book
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Luke Humphrey
- 14-09-19
Excellent
An engaging look at the genetic blueprint for society encoded in our DNA. Chriatakis is a good explainer, and takes the reader through the ideas and anecdotes at a steady pace. He takes the scenic route through concepts, allowing time to explore all the avenues and implications around them. He builds any conclusions up fairly from first principles rather than demanding the reader believe anything on his authority.
The book does not shy away from exploring the data behind the science, but it never becomes overwhelming (I haven't studied biology, sociology, zoology, or anthropology beyond secondary school level and never felt that a concept was difficult to understand).
Equally, the book is always ready to delve into the wider social impacts of different theories - such as the recent shift in concensus of homosexuality being a lifeatyle choice to a genetic certainty.
Overall, an optimistic and unpatronising look at some interesting ideas, the science behind them and their implications for society at large.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mark Dana Floden
- 14-06-21
Great summary of evolutionary human behavior
The author comes across as deeply knowledgeable of human genetics, and its effects on out behaviour, individually and in groups.
He has numerous insights that I found intriguing and illuminating.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- VW
- 22-08-19
A scientist's Bible
Immediately on finishing the book , I purchased the hardback. This is probably the most impactful book I have ever read. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Ben
- 22-11-19
Very Good
I liked the book and found the information interesting but it is a long read without too much humor - Maybe that says more about me then the book :-)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jonathan Abecassis
- 12-12-19
Brilliant but needs full attention
Really fascinating stuff well narrated but it is not light listening so if you’re distracted you may need to rewind a bit.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 12-07-20
Interdisciplinary Masterpiece
Inspirational, beautifully written, interdisciplinary masterpiece! Christakis describes and brings together sociology, antrhopology, neuroscience, psychology, genetics, medicine and evolution to tell a story that is tremendously informative whilst also filling you with hope for the future!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Earthmo
- 16-07-21
Excellently written and read
I seem to prefer factual books when they are read by the author-it all comes across much more sincerely.
I like the balanced views and easy to digest facts that make this book so interesting and informative.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Ragne
- 10-09-21
Too long.
Well, that just kept going. Quite repetitive, and longer than needed.
Had to lower the volume quite a bit as his voice got rather shrill as he kept talking. Had to take breaks when I started to get a headache. Should have used a professional narrator.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 19-12-20
Nihil novi sub sole
The book actually adds nothing. The author mentions a few interesting facts about animals and people, but even they are not somehow original because most of you know if you have ever seen Animal Planet. The leitmotif of the book is that evolution exists, so it might be interesting to someone who hasn't heard of it.
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