Promotional Information

An intelligently provocative book about Darwin's 'other' theory discusses the curious ways in which sexual attraction has influenced the evolution of the human mind.

About the Author

Geoffrey Miller studied at Columbia, Stanford, Sussex and Munich Universities and until recently was at University College, London. He now teaches at the University of New Mexico.

Reviews

"Intriguing... The discussion of the mind as a mechanism of attracting mates is fascinating" Washington Post Book World "A refined, an intellectually ingenious, and a very civilised discussion of the possible importance of sexual selection for mental evolution" -- John Constable, Cambridge University Psychology, Evolution, and Gender "Entertaining and wide-ranging" Nerve "Flies in the face of evolutionary orthodoxy - proposed by Stephen Jay Gould and others - which suggests that cultures evolve on their own, separate from the evolution of the human mind" Observer "Thoughtful, witty and vividly written" -- Richard Dawkins

Miller (senior research fellow, Centre for Economic Learning and Social Evolution, Univ. Coll., London) here argues that the human mind and human behaviorDincluding language and moralityDhave evolved in part as a result of mating choices made by our hominid ancestors over millions of years. In addition to natural selection, he stresses reproductive adaptations through sexual selection that have emerged in physical traits to distinguish our unique bipedal species from the quadrupedal great apes. His analysis pays special attention to ornamentation, courtship displays, group leadership, and aesthetic creativity as heritable fitness indicators. Miller is to be commended for his frank and learned focus on those sexual aspects of human nature that have enhanced the evolutionary success of our species in terms of both physical characteristics and social patterns. This fascinating and provocative contribution to understanding human sexuality is highly recommended for all large science collections.DH. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

"Intriguing... The discussion of the mind as a mechanism of attracting mates is fascinating" Washington Post Book World "A refined, an intellectually ingenious, and a very civilised discussion of the possible importance of sexual selection for mental evolution" -- John Constable, Cambridge University Psychology, Evolution, and Gender "Entertaining and wide-ranging" Nerve "Flies in the face of evolutionary orthodoxy - proposed by Stephen Jay Gould and others - which suggests that cultures evolve on their own, separate from the evolution of the human mind" Observer "Thoughtful, witty and vividly written" -- Richard Dawkins