The Domestication of the Human SpeciesIn the exciting book Peter J. Wilson takes domestication as the starting point for his continued inquiry into human evolution. Wilson argues that settling down into a built environment was the most radical and far-reaching innovation in human development and that it had a crucial effect on human psychology and social relations. The insights of this book point the way toward amendments to social theories that will challenge the professional reader and at the same time offer to the general reader an enriched understanding of human behavior and human history. "This book is a rare occurrence: a total rethinking of a set of closely related fundamental problems in the understanding of human evolution.... An] immensely ambitious undertaking."--Paul Wheatley, Contemporary Sociology "This approach merges societies in surprising ways....It certainly leads to some provocative and stimulating generalizations."--John Bodley, American journal of Physical Anthropology "Perhaps this book is revolutionary...asking us to rethink human nature, its causes, its cures...It holds out the real possibilities of redoing the human condition by reconceptualizing the power of our environs.... Wilson] has given is a book that is hard to put down once begun, and one whose ideas are even harder to dismiss."--Harvey B. Sarles, Contemporary Psychology "This is definitely a book on which to sharpen one's wits....The author invites the reader to think with him about matters not only past but also present which have much relevance for our future. This book makes lively and mind-stretching reading."--Ashley Montagu |
Common terms and phrases
ability aborigines achieved activities aesthetic anthropologists architecture argued Atoni attention Azande become behavior Berawan building camp charismatic charismatic authority chimpanzees claim concept construction contrast culture decorated display divine domesticated society dominance dwellings E. O. Wilson economic effect environment especially ethnography everyday evolution example exchange existence feast feature function G/wi gift gorilla guests Hadza hospitality household human hunter hunter/gatherer societies ibid individual intimacy Karl Wittfogel king kinship kinship and descent Kung labor power live longhouse material mausoleums Mbuti means ment Merina mobilization and organization modern monuments Naiken natural natural environment neighbors Neolithic nomadic open societies palaces Paleolithic permanent person political position possible practice prestige primates production relations relationship ritual sense settlement shamanism Silberbauer slametan social spatial structure suggests surreal symbolic theory tion tomb group Trobriands unity University Press village vision visual visual perception witchcraft Woodburn