The Evolution of Communication

by Marc Hauser

Bound to become a classic and to stimulate debate and research, The Evolution of Communication looks at species in their natural environments as a way to begin to understand what the real units of analysis of communicating systems are, using arguments about design and function to illuminate both the origin and subsequent evolution of each system. It lights the way for a research program that seriously addresses the problem of how communication systems, including language, have been designed over the course of evolution.

Genres: Science, Linguistics

776 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

My training is the biological sciences, but with broad interests in human nature, including its evolution. My writings, including academic and trade books, as well as over 200 scientific papers, cover the disciplines of animal behavior, evolutionary biology, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, biological anthropology, evolutionary psychology, linguistics, economics, cognitive development, and philosophy. From 1992-2010 I was a professor at Harvard University. From 2010 and ongoing, I am working with at-risk youths, harnessing the discoveries of the mind and brain sciences to both bring new tools to this important are of education and human welfare, and to help ameliorate the lives of these children. I continue to work on scientific papers, teach, and write for the general public.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie to you and pretend like this is a fun or interesting book, or worth your time in any way. Really, don't even bother. I would recommend doing nothing more with it than looking at the pretty cover, or using it as a booster chair if you can't find a phone book big enough. Sold yet? Why oh why then am I giving this more than one star? Am I being misleading? No. The benifit of this book is that it has boosted my ego and my academic confidence more than anything else. Hauser is really, really difficult to read. Honestly. But buckling down and tackling a new chapter every week filled me with a new sense of pride. I know that if I can wade through this mire, I can make it through anything. Haven't finished yet - still on chapter 6. But it's on the reading list for next quarter. I'm actually excited to finish. I think I'm going to build an altar to stick it on once it's been read from cover to cover. I'll keep it out as a reminder that nothing is impossible.

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Finished!!! So damn proud...