In his bestselling The Moral Animal; Robert Wright applied the principles of evolutionary biology to the study of the human mind. Now Wright attempts something even more ambitious: explaining the direction of evolution and human history–and discerning where history will lead us next.In Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny; Wright asserts that; ever since the primordial ooze; life has followed a basic pattern. Organisms and human societies alike have grown more complex by mastering the challenges of internal cooperation. Wright's narrative ranges from fossilized bacteria to vampire bats; from stone-age villages to the World Trade Organization; uncovering such surprises as the benefits of barbarian hordes and the useful stability of feudalism. Here is history endowed with moral significance–a way of looking at our biological and cultural evolution that suggests; refreshingly; that human morality has improved over time; and that our instinct to discover meaning may itself serve a higher purpose. Insightful; witty; profound; Nonzero offers breathtaking implications for what we believe and how we adapt to technology's ongoing transformation of the world.
#152826 in Books 1991-11-05 1991-11-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x 1.95 x 6.13l; 2.91 #File Name: 0679736603976 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Tragic HistoryBy Ellery GreenThis; the second volume in the authors trilogy; is a detailed description of a relatively brief period. Even so; some events are left to the third volume; consequently sacrificing some sense of chronology. For anyone interested in Russia this book and its companions are an excellent resource. My only reason for laying the book down occasionally was that I needed time to digest the surfeit of information. For example; the reasons for the murder of the royal family were fully explained. The story; though familiar; was made more shocking and reasonable from the Bolshevik point of view. The thesis that the Russian government was indeed patrimonial was further proven by Lenin's concern that the family could serve as a rallying point. Perhaps the chaotic character of events is well defined by the fact that I was left confused concerning things like Kerensky's failure; Rasputin's role; and the Bolshevik view of the peasants. Evidently the author's opinion that there was a Bolshevik coup; not a revolution; is now generally accepted. The book naturally leads the reader into the third volume. I am glad that I read it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy ZachA complete history of the Russian Revolution from 1871 through 19201 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Stan OakesChapter 4 on "The Intelligentsia" leading to the formation of the social sciences. Rare expose.
