Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Listen and read as much as you want
  • Over 400 000+ titles
  • Bestsellers in 10+ Indian languages
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Details page - Device banner - 894x1036
Cover for Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity Are Revolutionizing Our View of Human Nature
Try for free

Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity Are Revolutionizing Our View of Human Nature

Try for free
10 Ratings

4.6

Duration
7H 31min
Language
English
Format
Category

Non-Fiction

Why do we do what we do? Especially those seemingly inexplicable behaviors—from the disreputable to the downright despicable?

Between what can be learned from evolutionary psychology (thinking that has developed in our species over the millenniums to ensure its propagation) and cognitive science (how our minds literally think) a picture emerges. In Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life, social psychologist Douglas Kenrick fuses these two fields to create a coherent story of human nature. In his analysis, many ingrained, apparently irrational behaviors—one-night stands, prejudice, conspicuous consumption, even art and religious devotion—are quite explicable and (when desired) avoidable. When combined with insights from complexity theory, Kenrick’s argument reveals how simple mechanisms give rise to complex life.

Through an engaging blend of anecdote, analogy and research findings, Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life takes listeners on a singular tour of the human mind, exploring the pitfalls and promises of our biological inheritance.

© 2011 HighBridge Audio (Audiobook): 9781611744446

Release date

Audiobook: 26 April 2011

Tags

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. Neuropolis: A Brain Science Survival Guide
    Neuropolis: A Brain Science Survival Guide Robert Newman
  2. The Science Delusion: Asking the Big Questions in a Culture of Easy Answers
    The Science Delusion: Asking the Big Questions in a Culture of Easy Answers Curtis White
  3. The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread
    The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread Cailin O’Connor
  4. Timeless Learning: How Imagination, Observation, and Zero-Based Thinking Change Schools
    Timeless Learning: How Imagination, Observation, and Zero-Based Thinking Change Schools Pam Moran
  5. Louder Than Words: The New Science of How the Mind Makes Meaning
    Louder Than Words: The New Science of How the Mind Makes Meaning Benjamin K. Bergen
  6. Choosing Not to Choose: Understanding the Value of Choice
    Choosing Not to Choose: Understanding the Value of Choice Cass R. Sunstein
  7. Curiosity Studies: A New Ecology of Knowledge
    Curiosity Studies: A New Ecology of Knowledge Arjun Shankar
  8. Utopia Is Creepy: And Other Provocations
    Utopia Is Creepy: And Other Provocations Nicholas Carr
  9. Changing Your Perspective: The Science of Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior
    Changing Your Perspective: The Science of Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior Tom Borowski
  10. Sexual Consent
    Sexual Consent Milena Popova
  11. The Virility Paradox: The Vast Influence of Testosterone on Our Bodies, Minds, and the World We Live In
    The Virility Paradox: The Vast Influence of Testosterone on Our Bodies, Minds, and the World We Live In Charles J. Ryan
  12. What the Luck?: The Surprising Role of Chance in Our Everyday Lives
    What the Luck?: The Surprising Role of Chance in Our Everyday Lives Gary Smith
  13. Wish I Were Here: Boredom and the Interface
    Wish I Were Here: Boredom and the Interface Mark Kingwell
  14. How Sex Works: Why We Look, Smell, Taste, Feel, and Act the Way We Do
    How Sex Works: Why We Look, Smell, Taste, Feel, and Act the Way We Do Sharon Moalem
  15. Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined
    Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined Scott Kaufman
  16. High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society
    High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society Carl Hart
  17. A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking: Deciding What to Do and Believe 2nd Edition
    A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking: Deciding What to Do and Believe 2nd Edition David A. Hunter
  18. How to Educate a Citizen: The Power of Shared Knowledge to Unify a Nation
    How to Educate a Citizen: The Power of Shared Knowledge to Unify a Nation E. D. Hirsch
  19. Me, Myself, and Why: Searching for the Science of Self
    Me, Myself, and Why: Searching for the Science of Self Jennifer Ouellette
  20. Teaching Johnny to Think: A Philosophy of Education Based on the Principles of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism
    Teaching Johnny to Think: A Philosophy of Education Based on the Principles of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism Leonard Peikoff
  21. The Folly of Fools: The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life
    The Folly of Fools: The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life Robert Trivers
  22. The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine
    The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine Francis S. Collins
  23. What Should We Be Worried About?: Real Scenarios That Keep Scientists Up at Night
    What Should We Be Worried About?: Real Scenarios That Keep Scientists Up at Night John Brockman
  24. Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives
    Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives Sarah Williams Goldhagen
  25. Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition
    Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition Patricia S. Churchland
  26. The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build the Next Technology Revolution: How the Convergence of Biology and Engineering Will Build the Next Technology Revolution
    The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build the Next Technology Revolution: How the Convergence of Biology and Engineering Will Build the Next Technology Revolution Susan Hockfield
  27. Neuroplasticity
    Neuroplasticity Moheb Costandi
  28. Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning
    Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning James M. Lang
  29. Haptics
    Haptics Lynette Jones
  30. Lecturing Birds on Flying: Can Mathematical Theories Destroy the Financial Markets
    Lecturing Birds on Flying: Can Mathematical Theories Destroy the Financial Markets Pablo Triana
  31. The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think
    The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think Douglas T. Kenrick, PhD
  32. How Change Happens
    How Change Happens Cass R. Sunstein
  33. The Argument Culture: Moving from Debate to Dialogue
    The Argument Culture: Moving from Debate to Dialogue Deborah Tannen
  34. Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe
    Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe Hugo Mercier
  35. They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing
    They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing Cathy Birkenstein
  36. The Nonviolence Handbook: A Guide for Practical Action
    The Nonviolence Handbook: A Guide for Practical Action Michael N Nagler
  37. How to Teach Philosophy to your Dog: A Quirky Introduction to the Big Questions in Philosophy
    How to Teach Philosophy to your Dog: A Quirky Introduction to the Big Questions in Philosophy Anthony McGowan
  38. Future Histories: What Ada Lovelace, Tom Paine, and the Paris Commune Can Teach Us About Digital Technology
    Future Histories: What Ada Lovelace, Tom Paine, and the Paris Commune Can Teach Us About Digital Technology Lizzie O'Shea
  39. A Very Short Tour the Mind: 21 Short Walks Around the Human Brain
    A Very Short Tour the Mind: 21 Short Walks Around the Human Brain Michael Corballis
  40. Discovering the Philosopher in You: The Big Questions in Philosophy
    Discovering the Philosopher in You: The Big Questions in Philosophy Colin McGinn
  41. Political Animals: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics
    Political Animals: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics Rick Shenkman
  42. Brain Bugs: How the Brain’s Flaws Shape Our Lives
    Brain Bugs: How the Brain’s Flaws Shape Our Lives Dean Buonomano
  43. Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, 4th Edition
    Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, 4th Edition Sharan B. Merriam
  44. Liars: Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception: Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception
    Liars: Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception: Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception Cass R. Sunstein
  45. Darwin’s House of Cards: A Journalist’s Odyssey Through the Darwin Debates
    Darwin’s House of Cards: A Journalist’s Odyssey Through the Darwin Debates Tom Bethell
  46. This is Not Normal: The Politics of Everyday Expectations: The Politics of Everyday Expectations
    This is Not Normal: The Politics of Everyday Expectations: The Politics of Everyday Expectations Cass R. Sunstein
  47. Applied Minds: How Engineers Think
    Applied Minds: How Engineers Think Guru Madhavan
  48. Elements of Wit: Mastering the Art of Being Interesting
    Elements of Wit: Mastering the Art of Being Interesting Benjamin Errett
  49. A Better Ape: The Evolution of the Moral Mind and How it Made us Human
    A Better Ape: The Evolution of the Moral Mind and How it Made us Human Victor Kumar
  50. Shortcut: How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation, and Sell Our Greatest Ideas
    Shortcut: How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation, and Sell Our Greatest Ideas John Pollack
  51. Can Biotechnology Abolish Suffering?
    Can Biotechnology Abolish Suffering? Magnus Vinding
  52. Age of Invisible Machines: A Practical Guide to Creating a Hyperautomated Ecosystem of Intelligent Digital Workers
    Age of Invisible Machines: A Practical Guide to Creating a Hyperautomated Ecosystem of Intelligent Digital Workers Robb Wilson
  53. The Illusionist Brain: The Neuroscience of Magic
    The Illusionist Brain: The Neuroscience of Magic Luis M. Martinez
  54. Balance: How It Works and What It Means
    Balance: How It Works and What It Means Paul Thagard
  55. Unbound: How Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do about It
    Unbound: How Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do about It Heather Boushey
  56. Delayed Response: The Art of Waiting from the Ancient to the Instant World
    Delayed Response: The Art of Waiting from the Ancient to the Instant World Jason Farman
  57. Natural Obsessions: Striving to Unlock the Deepest Secrets of the Cancer Cell
    Natural Obsessions: Striving to Unlock the Deepest Secrets of the Cancer Cell Natalie Angier
  58. The Building Blocks of Human Life: Understanding Mature Cells and Stem Cells
    The Building Blocks of Human Life: Understanding Mature Cells and Stem Cells John K. Young
  59. Perceptual Intelligence: The Brain’s Secret to Seeing Past Illusion, Misperception, and Self-Deception
    Perceptual Intelligence: The Brain’s Secret to Seeing Past Illusion, Misperception, and Self-Deception Brian Boxer Wachler MD
  60. Data For the People: How to Make Our Post-Privacy Economy Work for You
    Data For the People: How to Make Our Post-Privacy Economy Work for You Andreas S. Weigend
  61. Waves
    Waves Fredric Raichlen
  62. Conformity: The Power of Social Influences
    Conformity: The Power of Social Influences Cass R. Sunstein
  63. Good Thinking: What You Need to Know to Be Smarter, Safer, Wealthier, And Wiser
    Good Thinking: What You Need to Know to Be Smarter, Safer, Wealthier, And Wiser Guy P. Harrison
  64. Constitutional Personae: Heroes, Soldiers, Minimalists, and Mutes (Inalienable Rights)
    Constitutional Personae: Heroes, Soldiers, Minimalists, and Mutes (Inalienable Rights) Cass R. Sunstein
  65. The Pleasure Principle: Epicureanism: A Philosophy for Modern Living
    The Pleasure Principle: Epicureanism: A Philosophy for Modern Living Catherine Wilson
  66. The Mind: Consiousness, Prediction and the Brain: Consciousness, Prediction, and the Brain
    The Mind: Consiousness, Prediction and the Brain: Consciousness, Prediction, and the Brain E. Bruce Goldstein
  67. The Genius Checklist: Nine Paradoxical Tips on How You Can Become a Creative Genius
    The Genius Checklist: Nine Paradoxical Tips on How You Can Become a Creative Genius Dean Keith Simonton
  68. Critical Decisions
    Critical Decisions Peter A. Ubel
  69. The Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us About the Mind
    The Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us About the Mind Alison Gopnik, PhD
  70. What’s Your Type?: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing
    What’s Your Type?: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing Merve Emre
  71. The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design
    The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design Michael Kearns
  72. Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital
    Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital John Restakis
  73. The Cost-Benefit Revolution
    The Cost-Benefit Revolution Cass R. Sunstein
  74. The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier, Happier, and Smarter
    The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier, Happier, and Smarter Susan Pinker
  75. Understanding Human Emotions
    Understanding Human Emotions The Great Courses
  76. The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World (Unabridged Edition)
    The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World (Unabridged Edition) A.J. Jacobs
  77. Deep Learning
    Deep Learning John D. Kelleher
  78. Competition Overdose: How Free Market Mythology Transformed Us from Citizen Kings to Market Servants
    Competition Overdose: How Free Market Mythology Transformed Us from Citizen Kings to Market Servants Maurice E. Stucke
  79. The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study
    The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study Howard S. Friedman
  80. The Depths: The Evolutionary Origins of the Depression Epidemic
    The Depths: The Evolutionary Origins of the Depression Epidemic Jonathan Rottenberg
  81. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Very Short Introduction
    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Very Short Introduction Freda McManus
  82. This Idea Must Die: Scientific Theories That Are Blocking Progress
    This Idea Must Die: Scientific Theories That Are Blocking Progress John Brockman
  83. The Science of Sleep
    The Science of Sleep John Medina
  84. The Human Brain: Exploring the Mental Capacity and Unlimited Creative Potential of Our Brains
    The Human Brain: Exploring the Mental Capacity and Unlimited Creative Potential of Our Brains Quinn Spencer
  85. How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching
    How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching Susan A. Ambrose
  86. The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience
    The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience Andrew Newberg
  87. How to Be a Patient: The Essential Guide to Navigating the World of Modern Medicine
    How to Be a Patient: The Essential Guide to Navigating the World of Modern Medicine Sana Goldberg
  88. Why Knowledge Matters: Rescuing Our Children from Failed Educational Theories
    Why Knowledge Matters: Rescuing Our Children from Failed Educational Theories E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

Start with these

View all titles
  1. Detective Alpha ani Laal Rangachi Diary
    Detective Alpha ani Laal Rangachi Diary Saurabh Wagale
    4.4
  2. Mrutyunjay Bhag 1 - Karn
    Mrutyunjay Bhag 1 - Karn Shivaji Sawant
    4.3
  3. Shambhu
    Shambhu Nitin Thorat
    4.8
  4. Not Guilty
    Not Guilty Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.3
  5. Order Order
    Order Order Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.7
  6. Kshitij
    Kshitij Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.4
  7. Sadhu
    Sadhu Nitin Thorat
    4.8
  8. Chakravyuh
    Chakravyuh Yogesh Shejwalkar
    4.1
  9. Mahaparv
    Mahaparv Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.7
  10. Mrutyunjay Bhag 2 - Kunti
    Mrutyunjay Bhag 2 - Kunti Shivaji Sawant
    4.5
  11. Ravan Raja Rakshsancha
    Ravan Raja Rakshsancha Sharad Tandale
    4.6
  12. The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy: अवचेतन मन का चमत्कार ! - जोसेफ मर्फी
    The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy: अवचेतन मन का चमत्कार ! - जोसेफ मर्फी Joseph Murphy
    4.9
  13. AMBILYMOL THIRODHANAM
    AMBILYMOL THIRODHANAM G. R. INDUGOPAN
    3.8
  14. Mrutyunjay Bhag 3 - Karn
    Mrutyunjay Bhag 3 - Karn Shivaji Sawant
    4.5
  15. Mahamaya Nilavanti
    Mahamaya Nilavanti Sumedh
    4.1
Company
Explore
Useful links
Language and region

  • English

  • India

  • app_store_button
  • google_play_button
Follow us