The Selfish Ape: Human Nature and Our Path to Extinction

by Nicholas P. Money

Weaving together stories of science and sociology, The Selfish Ape offers a refreshing response to common fantasies about the ascent of humanity. Rather than imagining modern humans as a species with godlike powers, or Homo deus, Nicholas P. Money recasts us as Homo narcissus, paragons of self-absorption. This exhilarating story takes in an immense sweep of modern biology, leading readers from earth’s unexceptional location in the cosmos, to the story of our microbial origins, and the workings of the human body. It explores human genetics, reproduction, brain function and ageing, creating an enlightened view of humans as a brilliantly inventive, yet self-destructive animal.
This is a book about human biology, the intertwined characteristics of human greatness and failure, and the way that we have plundered the biosphere. Written in a highly accessible style, it is a perfect read for those interested in science, human history, sociology and the environment.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology, Science

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2019

About the author

Nicholas Money is a mycologist, science writer, and professor at Miami University.

Reviews

[Antonio Vena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un altro ottimo tassello di quello che ormai va definito il Dark Saggiatore ovvero quando il Saggiatore pubblica saggi su estinzione, rischio catastrofico globale, nichilismo di specie.
Lettura completa e interessante di letteratura estinzionista. C'è molto del dibattito sull'Antropocene e tutto il libro è scritto in maniera brillante e intrigante.
Money non è bravo come Sandal ma non importa, questo è un saggio importante ed evocativo.

[Danielle Wagstaff · Rating 2 out of 5]

While an interesting premise, the book spent so much time going over some of the basic processes of development, evolution, digestion, that it didn't get to the point until the last couple of chapters of the book. There was much more potential here - a detailed overview of how our genetics and our evolutionary history make us dangerous, or selfish, etc., but there was little of that to be found.

[Sente · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the...?
Only the last chapters are somehow related to the book's title, and the previous ones are not even necessary (they are mostly made of "Paradise Lost" references/extracts anyway).

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

After spending 40 years in the desert of the Academia, here is another prophet flogging the species for not being how mommy told him he has to be.

[William Nist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biologist looks at the evolution of life on our Goldilocks planet and concludes that we are headed for an extinction with little hope of reversing the trajectory. On the way, he looks at the function of our genes (of which are the true subjects of evolutionary survival), our gut biome, the way we die and decompose, and the alarming results of the way we live in our carbon-centric world.

He concludes that the best we can do is have some gracefulness in accepting our destiny, displaying some humane behavior to our fellow beings, and some kindness to the rest of the natural world. Maybe in doing this, we might be able to postpone the inevitable.

As i look around, I don't see that happening.

[Barış Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Yansımanın ruh hali nasıl olursa olsun, derimi çekiştirmek için harcadığım vakit ve eli kulağındaki ölüm karşısında duyduğum korkuyu başka bir güne kadar uykuya yatırmam, belli bir kibrin göstergesidir."
Çok severek okudum, konuları tüm açıları ile kısa kısa da olsa ele almış, sürekli açıp bir şeyleri wiki den ya da google dan inceleme isteği yaratıyor. Kitap 96 sayfa olmasına rağmen 07.07.2021 de alıp 16.07.2021 de bitirebildim, hep yan okuma ve kaynaklar sayesinde... Kesinlikle okumalısınız...

[Tania tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

Devo dire che i primi capitoli sono stati abbastanza impegnativi, non perché lunghi, ma perché trattavano temi e argomenti molto scientifici. Nonostante ciò, sono stati molto interessanti e introduttivi per la larte finale del libro.

Secondo me, questo libro va letto con una mente aperta, senza shockarsi delle affermazioni dello scrittore(vere tra l’altro). Le persone con una mente tanto chiusa non credo possano comprendere a pieno questo libro.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won’t repeat what’s been reviewed by other readers, just some personal take away here.
I doubted our species’ ability to save the earth and ourselves for what we have done, the book strengthened my belief that we may not able to revert this destruction process.
After reading the book I think it has permanently changed how I want to live, as I was reading the part about fossil fuels I was annoyed by being on a very crowded subway train, but my anger dissolved when I realized that I was doing the most eco friendly transportation. And I think my next car must and will be a electric car(although there are questions if they are really that clean energy).

[Giulz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante, ma avrei preferito un maggiore approfondimento sui temi che vengono trattati solo negli ultimi due capitoli. Peccato. Comunque si legge in un pomeriggio, male non fa di certo.

[Veroncol · Rating 4 out of 5]

L’ultimo capitolo vale il libro!

[M J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short but very detailed lesson in biology and microbiology focusing on mammals and homo sapiens which pays homage to the complexity and fascination of humans while at the same time the wonder of homo sapiens simply being a product of evolution. The overall focus, however, is the self-absorbed nature of home sapiens (what Money calls homo narcissist) and its consequent result of driving all competition to extinction while modifying the planets systems and a—to be expected—result of self-extermination.
Somewhere, years ago, I read a comment, relative to Jesus of Nazareth, that for a god to have undergone the tortures Jesus was subjected to is really not a big deal; but for a man to have experienced it is something incredible. So too, for a god to have created the universe and everything in it is impressive but not as big a deal as for it all to have been the result of the coincidence and chance of evolution.
Not especially prescient to conclude what Homo sapiens/narcissist is headed for.

[TWiMC1964 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a somewhat curious titled and structured book, with the title a derivative of, The Selfish Gene and the sub-title more specifically describes the conclusion of the book's argument. All chapters begin with the letter G and whether this is creative or contrived is unclear. While there are many interesting facts in the book, given in a rapid manner the overall assembly of the case is not as, relevant, intricate and sequential as required for convincing.

Written by a scientist, the chapter on how humans make things better dwells on scientific discoveries which is expected, though there is nothing on the philanthropic and charitable actions of humans. Overall I sense this argument would be more interestingly spun by an anthropologist and psychologist in terms of human's egoism as individuals and as creatures and whether this is prevalent in all life but more so in human's who have written with intellect and tools beyond their natural state, at least for now.

[Stephen Twist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps I am out of kilter with some of the reviewers that have criticised Nicholas Money's considered, informative, interesting and entertaining book. Whilst Nick Money has serious credentials as an academic biologist, I sense that this book is aimed at those, like me, who need to be eased into science, and given support to bridge between microbiology and life philosophy. Here he succeeds admirably. Importantly, you don't have to agree with Money's destination in the last couple of chapters - you just have to approach his ideas with an open mind. As evident from this review, I enjoyed the journey through all ten chapters, increasing my understanding of what it is to be human and where we stand in the spectrum of life.

[Larva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un saggio che cerca di riportare l'"homo narcissus" nella giusta prospettiva , ricordandoci per esempio che "abbiamo il triplo dei geni rispetto a un lievito, lo stesso numero i geni di un verme nematode e di un pollo, ma ne abbiamo meno di molte piante", 50 volte in meno della Paris japonica. E che dire della nostra prodigiosa intelligenza...siam così sicuri che sia una benedizione? Visto come l'abbiamo usata, solo per migliorare la nostra misera esistenza, a scapito di tutto il resto del pianeta, forse sarebbe stato meglio non averla...
Un piccolo e prezioso saggio che dovrebbero far leggere nelle scuole.

[Cengiz Aytun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yazar insanlığın ve biyosferin yokoluşu gittiğini bu gidişten dönüşün de mümkün olmadığını iddia ediyor. Bu konuda ben de bir kitap yazıyorum ve son bölümü yazarken kendi kendime umut mu umutsuzluk mu diye her gün soruyorum. Okudukça araştırdıkça umutsuz olmak için çok neden var. İnsanevladının bencilliği umutsuzluğun en büyük kaynağı. Yine de umudu yeşertmeye çalışmayı daha anlamlı buluyorum.

[The Inquisitive Biologist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surveying human biology, The Selfish Ape packs a provocative and powerful punch in the face of human exceptionalism. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2019...

[Ayşe Naz · Rating 2 out of 5]

fazlasıyla öfkeli yazılmış. her cümlesinde bana bağırıyormuş gibi hissettim ama o kadar sinirlenmiş ki yazar asıl anlatmak istediği şeye hiç gelememiş. biraz vakit kaybı oldu ama olsun lise biyoloji tekrarı yapmış oldum.

[Katie Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book for my freshman Biology & Society class, written by my professor. Interesting read, kind of gave me both a more pessimistic and optimistic view of our planet's future?

[Idfaciamus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. Like Carlo Rovelli who writes about quantum physics, Nicolas Money has a broad education and illustrates many of his points with a poetic quote. However, the book is more of a canvas of life on earth, which is very interesting, and it is only near the end when he gets to the apes and us. He mentions E.O. Wilson once to disagree with him, but his conclusion seems similar to Wilson's: this isn't going to end well, primarily because in our cleverness we have created the tool of science, and we are now more like a monkey with a hand grenade.