The Most Dangerous Animal: Human Nature and the Origins of War - Hardcover

Smith, David Livingstone

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 031234189X ISBN 13: 9780312341893

Publisher: St Martin's Press, 2007

Synopsis

Why are we our own worst enemy? In the twentieth century, 170 million human beings have died in wars. That makes 4630 casualties a day, 193 every hour, and three every minutes. 1035 billion dollars were spent on aid to developing countries. Russia and the U.S. boast 3.6 and 5.9 wars each generation respectively - that is 49.3 and 48.3 years of warfare for each generation. "The Most Dangerous Animal" takes the reader on a journey through evolution, anthropology and psychology and asks what it is about human nature that makes war possible. Meticulously researched, far-reaching in scope, and with many stunning examples, "The Most Dangerous Animal" delivers a sobering lesson for an increasingly dangerous world.

About this title

Review:

"This is the most important post-9/11 analysis of war..... Every politician should read this book before deciding on war." Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and Author of The Science of Good and Evil"

About the Author:

Dr. David Livingstone Smith is the author of "Why We Lie" as well as a professor of philosophy and cofounder and director of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology at the University of New England. He and his wife live in Portland, Maine.

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 031234189X
• ISBN 13: 9780312341893
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288