Blueprint [Release date Mar. 26, 2019] : the evolutionary origins of a good society

Nicholas A. Christakis Blueprint The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society Little Brown Spark (2019) "A dazzlingly erudite synthesis of history, philosophy, anthropology, genetics, sociology, economics, epidemiology, statistics, and more" (Frank Bruni, The New York Times ), Blueprint shows 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 of 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 are still shaping our genes today. 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 Title Page......Page 2 Copyright......Page 4 Dedication......Page 8 Preface Our Common Humanity......Page 9 Chapter 1 The Society Within Us......Page 17 Chapter 2 Unintentional Communities......Page 32 Chapter 3 Intentional Communities......Page 71 Chapter 4 Artificial Communities......Page 107 Chapter 5 First Comes Love......Page 132 Chapter 6 Animal Attraction......Page 171 Chapter 7 Animal Friends......Page 198 Chapter 8 Friends and Networks......Page 237 Chapter 9 One Way to Be Social......Page 273 Chapter 10 Remote Control......Page 318 Chapter 11 Genes and Culture......Page 343 Chapter 12 Natural and Social Laws......Page 370 Photos......Page 397 Acknowledgments......Page 408 About the Author......Page 410 Also by Nicholas A. Christakis......Page 412 Resounding Praise for "Blueprint"......Page 413 Illustration Credits......Page 420 Notes......Page 423 Newsletters......Page 545