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The Social Leap
The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come From, and What Makes Us Happy
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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,885 ratings, 199 reviews)
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Format: Hardback
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Description
In the compelling popular science tradition of Sapiens and Guns, Germs, and Steel, The Social Leap offers a groundbreaking and eye-opening exploration that applies evolutionary science to provide a new perspective on human psychology. It reveals how major challenges from our past have shaped some of the most fundamental aspects of our being.
The most fundamental aspects of our lives—from leadership and innovation to aggression and happiness—were permanently altered by the "social leap" our ancestors made from the rainforest to the savannah. Their struggle to survive on the open grasslands required a shift from individualism to a new form of collectivism, which forever altered the way our minds work. It changed the way we fight and our proclivity to make peace, it changed the way we lead and the way we follow, it made us innovative but not inventive, it created a new kind of social intelligence, and it led to new sources of life satisfaction.
In The Social Leap, William von Hippel lays out this revolutionary hypothesis, tracing human development through three critical evolutionary inflection points to explain how events in our distant past shape our lives today. From the mundane, such as why we exaggerate, to the surprising, such as why we believe our own lies and why fame and fortune are as likely to bring misery as happiness, the implications are far-reaching and extraordinary.
Blending anthropology, biology, history, and psychology with evolutionary science, The Social Leap is a fresh and provocative look at our species that provides new clues about who we are, what makes us happy, and how to use this knowledge to improve our lives.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Social Leap by William von Hippel is highly praised for its engaging exploration of human evolution and behaviour. Reviewers appreciate the author's skilful blend of humour, scientific insight, and storytelling to explain how evolutionary history influences our current lives and well-being. The book is seen as thought-provoking, offering a deeper understanding of human nature and a fresh perspective on measuring success and happiness.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780062740397
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 27 December 2018
Country: United States
Imprint: Harper Wave
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 26.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 494g
Pages: 304
About the Author
William von Hippel grew up in Alaska, got his B.A. at Yale and his PhD at the University of Michigan, and then taught for a dozen years at Ohio State University before finding his way to Australia, where he is a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland. He has published more than a hundred articles, chapters, and edited books, and his research has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, The Economist, the BBC, Le Monde, El Mundo, Der Spiegel, and The Australian. He lives with his wife and two children in Brisbane, Australia.
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The Social Leap: how and why humans connect
Our chimpish ancestors were superbly adapted to a life of leaping through the trees. To survive on the savannah, they had to make a social leap - a change that drives us still today. Human psychology is rife with contradictions. We work hard to achieve our goals, but when we succeed, our happiness is fleeting compared with our efforts. We...PaperbackSold Out -
The Social Paradox
From the author of The Social Leap comes this thought-provoking exploration into humans’ two core evolutionary needs, for connection and autonomy, how the modern world has thrown them out of whack, and how we can rebalance them to improve our lives. Why do people who have so much—leading comfortable lives filled with unprecedented freedom, choice, and abundance—often feel so unhappy...PaperbackSold Out
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