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Human Instinct
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Product Description
Book Description
How our primeval impulses shape our modern lives.
Product Description
From caveman to modern man ...
Few people doubt that humans are descended from the apes; fewer still consider, let alone accept, the psychological implications. But in truth, man not only looks, moves and breathes like an ape, he also thinks like one.
Sexual drive, survival, competition, aggression - all of our impulses are driven by our human instincts. They explain why a happily married man will fantasize about the pretty, slim, young woman sitting across from him in the tube and why thousands of people spend their week entirely focused on whether their team will win their next crucial match.
But how well do our instincts equip us for the twenty-first century? Do they help or hinder us as we deal with large anonymous cities, stressful careers, relationships and the battle of the sexes? In this fascinating book, Robert Winston takes us on a journey deep into the human mind. Along the way he takes a very personal look at the relationship between science and religion and explores those very instincts that make us human.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
84 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Robert Winston's "Human Instinct" provides an in depth overview of a vast area of knowledge - survival, sexual drive, competition, aggression, altruism and our need for something more, perhaps the divine. Right from the start of this book I was impressed. Unlike other "popular science" books on similar subjects, such as Dawkins' "Selfish Gene", Winston never gives us so much detail or specialisation that we lose sight of the topic's wider relevance and interest. He assumes no scientific foreknowledge, but without being oversimplistic. The book offers a gestalt of multiple fields, ranging from the development of the brain and our, often unconscious, methods of choosing a mate, to a well thought out reconciliation of religion and science. While presenting a personal take on the latter, the book as a whole answers essential questions factually, and in an engaging manner. As ever, Winston's distinctive style means that we can never become bored. He draws on his own and common experiences to make the book's content accessible. While we may not initially see how Marc Quinn's sculpture, Indiana Jones and lonely hearts columns have a place in a book of this kind, they offer assurance that our ancient instincts are at the root of more of our twentieth-century lives than we realise. The least scientific reader will be surprised to find this a real page-turner (and I should know, as a history student whose scientific knowledge is limited to his GCSEs). I particularly like Winstons' knack of mentioning a subject we may well know about, like the "Pavlov's dog" phenomenon, but then offering a much fuller picture than that we are familiar with. He explains the individual stages of the experiment and lets us realise for ourselves what its implications were. Other experiments add to the good humoured tone of the book; infants and toddlers were left unwashed and wore the same t-shirt for days. This demonstrated how babies have developed smells that manipulate their fathers into standing by their offspring. We are also offered a graph of Winston's testosterone levels during the England-Argentina World cup match (his testosterone level doubled when Beckham scored his famous penalty!) Winston doesn't state the facts, he explains how the discoveries were made. We see how man has gradually built up a bigger picture and can share some of the excitement felt by those making the finds. This is a really unmissable book for everyone who wishes to complete the inevitable gaps in their everyday knowledge. You'll be shocked by how much of it you refer back to in conversation!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Rarely do you pick up a book which answers so many questions that were at the front of your brain, but never actually articulated. From why men are bigger than women, to the reason for the size of our willies and onto the deeper aspects of emotion, thinking and behaviour this is a stunningly thought-provoking book written in a warm, engaging, humerous and enlightening style. At times I adored Winston's analysis, only to rage at a later assertion. Fantastic! The conversations and arguments I have had on the back of this book make it an absolutely outstanding purchase. And from my own perspective, I now never tire of telling people that if you are not an evolutionary psychologist, then you are not a psychologist at all. Buy it - it's magnificent!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Each chapter short, sharp and to the point, it's hard to suggest a scientific book as simple to understand than this one. The studies are concise and easy to remember and the topics seem to blend into one another - this is an excellent text for Scientific University Students to begin their studies with. But more importantly, a 'must' for the 'lost' among us who need direction on where we came from and who we are as human beings...This is an eye opener to who we are and what our primal instincts lead us to do...(A good argument for any adulterous male!)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great read!
Very interesting, talks about human behaviors in an easy to understand but fascinating way.
If you have ever wanted to know what makes us who we are, then this ones for you.
If you have ever wanted to know what makes us who we are, then this ones for you.
Published 9 days ago by shellby
Winston's Human Instinct
Although I know some people who did not enjoy the programmes - too much Winston, not enough "instinct", like an advertisement for 118118 gone wild, there it was again - the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by RR Waller
Tells a story of humanity
I disagree with other reviewers who say the book has a slow start - the start was fascinating and needed to be reflected to prepare you for what was to come. Read more
Published 10 months ago by D. J. Andrews
instinctive behaviour
We often forget that we are just another species of animal, a primate in our case. This book show's how we are programmed and how this affects us in the choices and decisions we... Read more
Published 14 months ago by James Gamble
An introduction to evolutionary psychology based on a BBC TV series
Winston gives an account of the principles of, and some of the evidence for, evolutionary theories of basic emotions, mating choices, sexual selection, parent-child relationships,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by anozama
Instinctual Insights in a Relaxed & Easy Style
Professor Robert Winston is one of those inspiring individuals who shed light and understanding on life's complexities with a relaxed and easy style. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by A. Byrne
Very readable and wide range of interesting information
Robert Wintson explores the characteristics of human instincts. The human species' inquisitive, altruistic, moral, violent, sexual and spiritual nature are all examined. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2008 by Alex Ireland
Deeply disappointing, and very unscientific
I am really surprised that someone who is a genuine scientist would write a book like this. He writes about a lot of theories as if they are fact, when there is very little... Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2008 by lightinglife
Human Instinct
This is another clear and entertaining book from Robert Winston. Sadly it has many anecdotes and information from his other book 'The Human Mind' in addition to much information... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2007 by Spider Monkey
Savannah mammals
This is a fantastic book. The idea that humans adapted to life on the Savannah over a period of millions of years and will therefore be ill-equiped to handle city life is... Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2006 by T. Geary
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