Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You: Busting Myths about Human Nature

by Agustín Fuentes

A compelling takedown of prevailing myths about human behavior, updated and expanded to meet the current moment.   
 
There are three major myths of human humans are divided into biological races; humans are naturally aggressive; and men and women are wholly different in behavior, desires, and wiring. Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You counters these pervasive and pernicious myths about human behavior. Agustín Fuentes tackles misconceptions about what race, aggression, and sex really mean for humans, and incorporates an accessible understanding of culture, genetics, and evolution that requires us to dispose of notions of "nature or nurture."
 
Presenting scientific evidence from diverse fields, including anthropology, biology, and psychology, Fuentes devises a myth-busting toolkit to dismantle persistent fallacies about the validity of biological races, the innateness of aggression and violence, and the nature of monogamy, sex, and gender. This revised and expanded edition   provides up-to-date references, data, and analyses, and addresses new topics, including the popularity of home DNA testing kits and the lies behind ‘"incel" culture; the resurgence of racist, nativist thinking and the internet's influence in promoting bad science; and a broader understanding of the diversity of sex and gender.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology, Science, Psychology, Sexuality, Sociology, Audiobook

349 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Agustín Fuentes, trained in Zoology and Anthropology, is the Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. His research delves into the how and why of being human. Ranging from chasing monkeys in jungles and cities, to exploring the lives of our evolutionary ancestors, to examining what people actually do across the globe, Professor Fuentes is interested in both the big questions and the small details of what makes humans and our closest relatives tick. He has published more than 150 peer reviewed articles and chapters, authored or edited 19 books and a three-volume encyclopedia, and conducted research across four continents and two-million years of human history. His current explorations include the roles of creativity and imagination in human evolution, multispecies anthropology, evolutionary theory, and the structures of race and racism. Fuentes is an active public scientist, a well-known blogger and lecturer, and a writer and explore for National Geographic. Fuentes’ recent books include “Race, Monogamy, and other lies they told you: busting myths about human nature” (U of California), “Conversations on Human Nature(s)” (Routledge) and “The Creative Spark: how imagination made humans exceptional" (Dutton).

Reviews

[The Rugged Communitarian · Rating 1 out of 5]

How do you debunk the undeniable scientific fact that androgens create the wiring of the male brain in the foetus and a lack of androgens leads to the wiring and development of a female brain in the foetus?

This is politically driven propaganda to make people of a certain political persuasion feel like “the science” is on their side.

I suggest reading Brain Sex by Anne Moir (a little dated but still valid). For video reference, on YouTube, she has debated and defended sex differences along with Dick Swaab, a renowned neurobiologist.
On race, I suggest A Troublesome inheritance by Nicholas Wade, who has debated the author of this book, Augustin Fuentes, on Youtube.

[Kostas Hitchens Pap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το περιεχόμενο είναι σοβαρά τεκμηριωμένο και στην σωστή βάση αλλά αν κάποιος εκτός της στοιχειώδης λογικής έχει και βασικές γνώσεις βιολογίας και κοινωνιολογίας δεν νομίζω ότι θα πάρει κάτι τόσο το σημαντικό από το βιβλίο δηλαδή δεν έχει να μάθει πολλά καινούρια πράγματα.
Θα έβαζα 3 αστέρια για αυτόν το λόγο ,ωστόσο τα σημαντικά ζητήματα που πραγματεύεται καθώς και η μάχιμη θέση του συγγραφέα ώστε να μην αφήνουμε οπισθοδρομικές και λάθος ιδέες να επηρεάζουν αρνητικά τις ζωές μας με κάνουν να στηρίζω αυτές τις προσπάθειες όσο περισσότερο γίνεται

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s A LOT of data in this book, and the author rather pedantically presents many, many chapters to set up what basis he’s using to make his deductions. Let me stress again: many, many chapters. It started to feel a bit like homework. He then proceeds with what he calls “myth busting” as a way to debunk the common (stereotypical) beliefs alluded to in the title of the book.

On the plus side, I had leaned towards most of his deductions prior to reading the book and it was interesting to read the science which supported them. On the minus side, after laboriously setting up the basis for his theories, the deductions (the myth bustings) are whipped through quickly and mostly rely on studies that are referenced in the bibliography but not really discussed in any detail. That was disappointing and I was left feeling somewhat short-changed.

I think the book was written to too broad of an audience and, in trying to make it interesting to more scientific readers as well as laymen, it ended up a bit unsatisfactory to everyone (at least that seems to be the case from my reading of Amazon’s reviews). I heard the author interviewed on NPR which is how I first learned of the book. His enthusiasm for his topic was palpable and he was very interesting, and sometimes that enthusiasm comes through in the book. I just wish a bit more of it did.

[Valter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is repetitive, tedious, boring, dry and repetitive. Did I mention it's repetitive, too?
Besides, you sense the author's bias, in the way he supports his thesis (e.g., in selecting narrow examples or using a binary approach). Sometimes he cherry picks the examples supporting his thesis, and discard them when they aren't.

I'm not even halfway, and I'm really tempted to stop reading. When the author repeats a concept over and over, I feel the urge to scream and throw away the book (alas, since I'm reading it as e-book, I can't ;-).

The premise is valid and the information are sometimes interesting, that's why I'm giving 2 stars.
If the book was half the length, pruned from repetitions and more lively, it would be worth 3 stars - although the reader should still be cautious about the author's bias.

[Adam Shand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish it, but spent a couple of hours browsing it. Annoyingly it's quite an interesting book ruined by the authors inability to be concise or tell a story.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book, ESPECIALLY politicians. It should be a requirement of the office.

[Alyssa Lizarraga · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to preface this by saying that a large part of my degree was dedicated to this book’s topics. I explored how much of our identities are influenced by our biology and how much of our biology is influenced by our identities (my degree was literally Human Biology & Society; this was my jam). Fuentes outlines three main myths about human nature (that race is biologically determined, that we have evolved to be aggressive, and that there are significant sex differences in humans) and reviews the literature that refutes them.

The book’s subtitle (“Busting Myths About Human Nature”) puts the author in a position in which he is promising something that he cannot deliver. Several times throughout each chapter, Fuentes will announce that a myth about human nature has been “busted,” a highly deterministic and near-impossible claim. This, coupled with the repetitive and long-winded writing style, makes the arguments (valid though they may be) less effective than they could be. I have read plenty of academic journals with the same amount of mental stimulation as the hum of a refrigerator. This one had a little more personality, more like a 20-year-old refrigerator with hiccups, gurgles, and buzzes punctuating its mechanical hum. I would recommend this book to those already aware and convinced of our evolving understanding of biological determinism who want a little more juice in their comprehension.

[viva las vegas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title is intetesting. But real arguments are not so strong and few times I was confused why author found out that this myth is busted. Unfortunately, a lot of arguments are based on “think about it!” or “other people think about it”. I understand that it’s not easy find so many researches and there don’t exist so many datas, numbers and arguments. But for me this book is more like “let’s talk about it” then “here is real situation and here are real arguments”. Plus author very ofter repeat the same thought, in different words. The same sentences more times. It looks like if you repeat something so many times, people will believe that it’s true.
Book is fine, but if you want know more, you need different sources.
But I really like appendix about how ask good questions, how find your own sources and how think about everything. This part was the best from whole book.

[Miyoshi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt as though I was being tortured reading it. If it was a required assignment I would have dropped it a long time ago.

[Mz · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://bookpress.gr/kritikes/epistim...

[Andrew Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-fiction might not be everyone's bag, but I'd go so far as to say this should be required reading, full stop.

This book in particular has some pretty dense, academic chunks (though compared to the studies they reference, I'm sure they're as accessible as they could be) but is overall very digestible. Fuentes tackles three pervasive myths about human nature - ones we all participate in on a daily basis.

He does so by first explaining what myths are and their significance in human life, then how he intends to bust them, then provides his credentials and reiterates that the content of the book should provide a jump-off point to do your own research. He then explains the myths about race, aggression, and gender and systematically dismantles them. Finally, he provides oodles of footnotes, references, further reading, and tools to think critically about the nature of...well, our nature.

Why? The general idea is that by understanding why we think these things, and what we misunderstand, we can better build society to account for them and create and equitable future for everyone. Pretty straightforward. Rather than get into the nitty gritty here, i'd much rather you read it, and then share these conversations in person. Well worth the effort, and I imagine, frustratingly eye-opening for a good deal of people who should read it.

[Lenora Say · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tbh not a classic 5 star read but going by my own scale I have recommended this book to many people without being prompted so 5 stars it is! Def recommend if you’re a nerd of any kind or interested in sociology or biology or stereotypes or biases or historical biology or intersections of any of the above. It’s DENSE but interesting and explains unfamiliar concepts very well. This was my capstone read and pretty succinctly tied everything we’ve learned into socioeconomic weight. GLAD to be done

[Jan Agaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm surprised I actually read this in full, considering it was required for a class I didn't enjoy at all. It was a pretty easy read for an educational book; I was able to follow along and learn a few things about important topics.

[Carol Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and not for the faint of heart. Lots of good information.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent book for beginner anthropologist or for those who wish to understand myths and misconceptions of humans. But as a senior, this was an elementary read for my senior seminar.

[Matthew Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible to the laymen.

[Pinko Palest · Rating 1 out of 5]

disappointingly deterministic in its view of biology. Was led to expect something more nuanced. Those who believe that biology trumps nurture should enjoy it though

[Roshni Jhamtani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The part on human aggression is good. A good collection of history of some theories and the status of research on them at the time of publishing.

[Kristen Hayward · Rating 1 out of 5]

it made evolutionary biology boring - biologist :(

[Peri Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spells it out well for people who don’t have a background in any of these subjects

[Bea Batres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, as other reviewers high light, the first chapters maybe a bit too long, more intro than needed. The author questions the validity of some of the most predominant myths on human nature, for example, monogamy or race, by evaluating the scientific data that should support these beliefs. I think it is a worthwhile read, and helps the reader be more aware of all the bias that is ingrained in us by our social conditioning.

[Alexios Xifaras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of the 2016 W.W. Howells Award. Definitely worth it ! The book introduces the reader to the basics of the theory of evolution and then proceeds to demolish the myths associated to: 1) Race (this category, simply, does not apply to humans. We all belong to the same race.), 2) Aggression (we are not as aggressive as you probably think and definitely we did not inherit this trait from our common ancestor with the chimps and bonobos) and 3) Sex (the differences between the sexes are not biological but to a major extent socially constructed). It is a pity that this book has such low ratings in Amazon. My personal advice: Do not be misled by the reviews in Amazon ! Read this book and make your own conclusions. Personally I think this book is one of the best in the subject of biological anthropology.

[Chris Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave the book four stars because it's a good book if you want a broad overview of a lot of topics. The science novice would get a lot out of this book. That being said, Fuentes could learn to get to the point. My wife and I read this for a book club and she recently said that we should have a drinking game where we drink every time Fuentes asks a rhetorical question. It got a bit frustrating at times.

Again, great information and an admirable attempt at letting people know that their basic assumptions about people are likely wrong. I just wish that the people that actually need this information would read the book. They won't, though, because the "game" is on.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like Fuentes' constant use of something that amounts to "Myth hereby busted" line throughout the whole of the book. It makes it feel a little formulaic and by extension, repetitive. I like that it has a simple cook-book type of feel to it, however, which is in part set up by that formulaic outline of chapters and repetitive tag line. It feels like something perfect for undergrads, making it a very nice teaching tool to use as a shortcut to teaching human evolution, along with many other themes besides. The book contains a ton of information and it does a decent job at synthesizing it.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great insights on biological source of characteristics related to race (or more correctly ethnic background), sex/gender, mad aggression. Sets up his own straw-men, or "myths" to bust, leaving me wondering if it makes a difference that we think we are different because of ethnic or biological reasons or socialization. Whatever the case, we still have to live in this world, and a cut and dried scientific solution does not make that any easier.
Not very smooth reading.

[Georgeann Galante · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books on human nature. This one didn't let me down.

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent refutation, packed with references and accessibly articulated. Enlightening.

[Stacy Holmstedt · Rating 3 out of 5]

More academic than is fun for casual reading. The one thing I'll take away is the concept of "publication bias" -- academic publication skews toward findings that are sensational, particularly on topics of race and gender, drowning out more ordinary confirmations that biological behavioral differences just aren't there.