Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals by Robert M. Sapolsky

Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals Reviews

• 
  Ruby Grad

  A wonderful collection of essays by biologist Robert Sapolsky, who has an incredible sense of humor as well. I learned quite a lot and had fun doing it. Each essay is a quick and easy read.
• 
  Shaghayegh

  "we are certainly not the most evolved species, nor the least vulnerable. Nor the cleverest."
• 
  Daniel Gallego

  Brutal Sapolsky, estos artículos están bien cheveres, me gusta la ironía que maneja y además es todo un crack de la investigación. "Tener mente abierta es un requisito para tener un corazón abierto"
• 
  Socraticgadfly

  This is another great book of what nature via nurture really means, driving many coffin nails through genetic determinism, including practitioners of Pop Evolutionary Psychology (with capital letters, as a philosophical mindset) who remain more genetic determinists than they let on while claiming to preach "nature via nurture."
  
  Sapolsky is the real deal on "nature via nurture" - indeed, it should be noted that, with the exception of a totally genetically determined thing like Huntington's disease, he preaches "nature ONLY via nurture," or something along that general line.
  
  Beyond that, he gets into the nuts and bolts of what we know today, and don't know, about non-coding areas of our DNA, which are NOT all simply "junk DNA." Rather, you have introns and exons for marking where a coding sequence of DNA starts and stops, and even more importantly, you have regulatory, or modulating, sections of DNA, which may tell a coding section only to switch on when there are more than 12 hours of daylight per day, which could be used to trigger mating behavior.
  
  Here are some important page by page notes:
  
  23 "More than 95 percent of DNA is non-coding. Sure, a lot of that is the junk-packing material DNA [a lot of which may be "quarantined" remnants of viral DNA, similar to what Norton Utilities does on your PC when necessary], but your average gene comes with a huge instruction manual about how to operate it, and the operator is often environmental."
  
  23-24 "The startling second fact is that when you examine variability in DNA sequences among individuals, the non-coding regions of DNA are considerably more variable than are the regions that code for genes." Sapolsky admits much of this is due to junk DNA areas, but that much of the variability is attributable to regulatory area. Obviously, this has huge impacts on the nurture side of things.
  
  42-44 Good discussion of imprinted genes, which differ from Mendelian biology in that only one is active, usually the one that comes from the parent of the same sex as a child. (Note: this does NOT mean these genes are limited in placement to our sex chromosomes.) The result? These imprinting genes battle for placental and fetal growth, as male and female genes have different "urges" for the placental and fetal rates of growth, due to male-vs-female differences in mammalian breeding strategy. Placental tumors can result if only the paternal gene is active, lack of placental implantation in the uterus when only the maternal gene is active.
  
  61 Offspring of attractive males, in many species studies, survive less often than average.
  
  63. In a study with ducks, with attractive males, it actually appears that the female invests more energy in the egg, laying a larger egg when impregnated by an attractive male. (The egg size is under female control.)
  
  Both of these should put some question to old stereotypes about peacock tails being signs of fitness and so increasing mating, etc. At the least, they should caution us to look for more nuanced explanations.
  
  83ff Limbic and autonomic nervous responses come on- and offline at different rates to one another. In relation to the frontal cortex, this may help explain why intermittent rewards can actually be more psychologically reinforcing than regular ones.
  
  177. In many species, females in some way manipulate alpha-male type males into fighting over them, to go off and mate with more "nice guy" types.
  
  184. Why our desire for revenge? It stems out of game theory, from games such as Prisoners' Dilemma, etc., which show the value of "tit for tat altruism" - if the game is played more than once, especially if one knows a "cheater" will be back in the mix again.
  
  But, in a one-time game, especially where a competitor is informed he/she cannot inform players of future rounds about a cheater, including not being able to inform them through the action of punishing a cheater, then revenge as our self-appointed judge and executioner's pound of flesh seems a natural action, even if we the "cheated" have to expend yet more energy to make the cheater pay.
  
  Hence our actions in today's civilized society, namely such as flipping people off for cutting us off in traffic, etc.
• 
  Todd Martin

  Monkeyluv is a collection of essays (previously published elsewhere) grouped around 3 broad themes:
  
  Genes and their influence on behavior.
  This is the old nature/nurture debate. Are we the way we are because of our genes or the environment in which we are raised? Scientists figured out some time ago that it’s a combination of both, but identifying the source of specific behaviors is complicated.
  
  Our body’s influence on behavior.
  It should come as no surprise (except perhaps to extreme mind/body dualists) that brains are physical organs and are influenced by events that take place in the body and influence our bodies in return. Hormones released by the body effect the way we think and act (one of the reasons men are different from women) and fear (a mental phenomenon) causes gooseflesh (or a bottle-brush tail in the case of my cat) are two such examples.
  
  The environment’s influence on behavior.
  The most interesting essay involved the broad differences in cultures that evolved in desert vs. jungle environments and how desert cultures tend to be monotheistic, militaristic, repressive and paternalistic, while jungle cultures are polytheistic and take a more free-wheeling approach to life (more like the tribes of Polynesia as opposed to the Yanomami I suppose). One could conclude that we are the unfortunate recipients of a desert culture that has spread globally (assuming you buy in to the precepts of this cultural anthropological explanation).
  
  This is the first book I’ve read by Sapolsky, and I’m wondering how it took me so long to come around to him. He has a lively writing style and the ability to explain complex scientific subjects in an interesting manner to a layperson. He also has something that seems to be altogether lacking in most science writers … a wicked sense of humor.
• 
  Assem

  Увлекательная книга. Написана максимально простым языком с долей юмора, при этом информативно.
  
  Если вы смотрели лекции Сапольски, то возможно часть информации в этих эссе вы уже слышали, но даже несмотря на это получила большое удовольствие от прочтения.
• 
  Javier Maldonado

  Tremendo, Sapolsky. Cuando grande quiero ser como tú.
• 
  Egor Reznichenko

  I think this book is really captivating and informative. Earlier, I've read Stephen Pinker's 'The Blank Slate' where he proves the pivotal role of genes in human life and behaviour. Here, Sapolsky tries to show the importance of another basic category - the environment. And his humorous and competent narration could be the great proof of the fantastic difficulty of the human brain and behaviour.
• 
  Lyudmila Marlier

  Готова простить Сапольски даже умеренный сексизм, очень увлекательно!
• 
  Christian Vitalini

  Una bellissima raccolta di saggi brevi e articoli di questo brillante neurobiologo, che ho apprezzato e dal quale ho appreso molte cose interessanti.
  Quanto di ancestrale c’è ancora in noi, da quando eravamo cacciatori raccoglitori? Se esiste, come si relaziona con la nostra attuale realtà?
  Perché siamo così diversi l’uno dall’altro, a volte anche a parità di ambiente? Forse perché i geni 🧬 insieme all’ambiente interagiscono diversamente (almeno io ho capito così 😅)!!
  Tante altre domande interessanti che spiegano con quale approccio lavorano certe scienze riduzioniste e forse per la neurobiologia questo approccio è ancora molto difficile da applicare, vista l’estrema complessità del nostro cervello e di tutto il sistema nervoso umano.
  Da leggere, per dare una rinfrescata ai nostri neuroni che, invecchiando, diventando sedentari (ma non a tutti a quanto pare)!
• 
  Olya Zakharyan

  Сапольски норм. собрание статей норм, но я не любитель такого формата. пойду дальше читать Пинкера.
• 
  Oleksii Filanovskyi

  Сборник статей, большая часть из которых посвящена общеизвестным вопросам. Наверное, если вы хоть немного интересуетесь современной биологией, генетикой, этологией и социальным поведением, вы вряд ли найдете что-то принципиально новое для себя.
  То, что это не цельное произведение тоже накладывает свой отпечаток.
  В общем, наверное, лучше прочитать еще одного Докинза
• 
  Bobby

  3.5 stars.
  
  A collection of essays (18 total) which were published in magazines like Discover, Natural History, The Sciences, etc. by Robert Sapolsky, a biologist at Stanford. The book is divided into three parts: Genes and Who We Are, Our Bodies and Who We Are, and Society and Who We Are, with each having 6 essays. I found the first section just okay (a bit too basic I think) but enjoyed the second and third sections more. Given the broad range of topics—everything from genetic differences between men and women to the effect of stress on brain size to the mating habits of monkeys—there is something here for everyone. Which is also the major weakness of this book; that is, it has breadth at the expense of depth. Although Dr. Sapolsky gives references at the end of each essay, his arguments still feel “light,” as is his writing, for better or worse. So I wouldn’t recommend it for those who are looking for academically rigorous writing but those who enjoy pop science will probably get a kick out of it. Plus, how can you resist this cover? (Not to mention the great backcover photo of the author with a…baboon(I think))
• 
  Mark

  One of the best science writers out there! I found myself chuckling out loud about things like parasitic bacteria. Dr. Sapolsky is great at bringing biology down to earth as well as warding us away from stereotypical ideas that can develop from popular coverage. With his cleverness and cynical humor, he doesn't have to resort to hype to make his topics interesting.
• 
  John

  A wonderfully readable collection of essays on a wide range of topics, from genetics to physiology to society and civilization.
• 
  Danielle

  Way meh.
• 
  Kimi

  Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals merupakan kumpulan artikel dari Robert M. Sapolsky dari berbagai majalah. Beberapa di antaranya telah mengalami sedikit perubahan. Buku ini terdiri dari tiga bagian, yaitu “Part I: Genes and Who We Are”, “Part II: Our Bodies and Who We Are”, dan “Part III: Society and Who We Are”.
  
  Saya akan mencatat berbagai hal yang saya anggap penting dari buku ini. Berikut adalah catatan saya.
  
  PART I: GENES AND WHO WE ARE
  
  Apa yang sebenarnya gen lakukan? Gen tidak menghasilkan perilaku, perasaan, atau pikiran. Gen menghasilkan protein, yang mana spesifik sekuens DNA membentuk kode gen untuk jenis protein spesifik. Beberapa protein ini bertanggung jawab terhadap perilaku, perasaan, dan pikiran.
  
  

  Proteins include some hormones and neurotransmitters (chemical messengers between neurons), the receptors that receive hormonal and neurotransmitter messages, the enzymes that synthesize and degrade those messengers, many of the intracellular messengers triggered by those hormones, and so on. … But the key is that it is extremely rare that things like hormones and neurotransmitters cause a behavior. Instead, they produce tendencies to respond to the environment in certain ways.

  
  Belum tentu orang yang memiliki gen depresi sudah pasti akan terkena depresi dan tidak semua orang dengan depresi mayor memiliki gen depresi di dalam tubuhnya. Selain itu, orang-orang yang memiliki pengalaman yang sama belum tentu akan mengalami respon yang sama. Misalnya, dua anak yang sama-sama mengalami hal buruk di masa kecilnya, seperti perceraian orangtua, kehilangan kakek atau nenek, harus mengubur hewan kesayangan, atau selalu mengalami perundungan yang parah. Akan tetapi, yang satu mengalami semuanya dalam satu tahun, sementara yang lain mengalami dalam rentang waktu enam tahun, maka anak yang memiliki pengalaman buruk dalam kurun waktu satu tahun akan cenderung lebih mudah terkena depresi.
  
  Intinya sih di bagian satu ini antara gen, lingkungan, dan situasi itu saling berinteraksi dan memengaruhi.

  
  
  Catatan lengkapnya ada di
  sini.
• 
  BuboBubo

  Сборник статей разных лет с подробным списком литературы к каждой, если захочется изучить вопрос подробнее. Сапольски пишет легко и увлекательно, в популярном стиле, слегка шутливой манере.
  
  Многие факты и теории поражают, заставляют задуматься, пересмотреть привычный взгляд на вещи. И хорошо запоминаются. Экологическая антропология - попытки связать культуру с климатом и экологией, война полов, синдром Мюнхгаузена по доверенности, закрытость ко всему новому после достижения определённого возраста.
  
  "...Остерегаясь всего нового, сужая угол зрения и предпочитая однообразие, мы обедняем себя. Поразительно, но открытие, что к сорока годам вас уже окунули в бронзу и поставили на каминную полку, что уже существуют общественные институты вроде «старых добрых» радиостанций, доказывает: вы уже не там, где культура. Если там есть яркий, богатый новый мир, он не должен принадлежать одним только двадцатилетним, исследующим его ради исследования как такового. Что бы ни отталкивало нас от нового, я думаю, стоит хотя бы немного с ним побороться, даже если придется иногда отложить Боба Марли.
  
  Но есть и другой, еще более важный вывод. Когда я вижу, как мои лучшие студенты взбудоражены общественными проблемами, когда я вижу, что они готовы ехать на край земли, чтобы проповедовать прокаженным в Конго, или на край города, чтобы учить какого-то ребенка читать, я вспоминаю: быть такими когда-то было намного проще. Открытый ум необходим для открытого сердца."
• 
  Nishant Deshpande

  200 pages of entertainment and enlightenment.
  
  The title is the worst part of this book, but the actual book is excellent. It is an easy read, yet goes over so many different concepts.
  
  I've read a fair bit about this subject, so I'd consider myself well informed as a layman. So sometimes it can be hard to find non-technical books that have enough new and interesting content density.
  
  But this book does it.
  
  It really goes over multiple areas that I enjoy: Genes/differences/nature/nurture, Human functioning and then Society and biology.
  
  Like the incredible fact that someone spread the meme that you should leave little babies crying so they learn to fall asleep without being picked up. And many people listened to this presumably against every natural instinct. (This isn't explicitly in the book - but I thought of this as I read one of the sections...).
  
  I now have a much bigger book by Sapolsky - Behave - which I'm going to attempt to read. I am a first book fan.
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  JP

  A good book!
  The one of the best books to read in 2020!
  How will you express it, when all the essays of the book were presented in an interesting way? Just a luck ....Right
  The book fill with rich details of understanding the function of our gene about its influences in character,habit,sex...etc.etc..
  The last two chapters were the benchmark of "why we want their body back". it's about the dead body you want it back in order to confirm the death of the person. a very unique topic never discussed even under death essays i read long back
  The conclusion chapter was awesome about telling, Why we shut ourselves to 'Novelty' as we age..
  Reading this one book is enough to read a few books.
  a Lovely journey!!
• 
  Adrian Sergiusz

  Sapolsky in his masterclass educational, entertaining and eye opening way steps back and observes all the weird peculiarities of human behaviour as a scientist and integrates that with his observation of our various cultural practices around the world. In a collection of various essays, he muses about interesting aspects of evolution and it's effect on us as animals. He very excellently observes the importance of understanding what genes are and are not and how they impact the nature of our behaviour together with our environment.
• 
  Hina

  What was most enjoyable about this book was Sapolsky’s informal and friendly writing style. The essays in the book go into just the right amount of biology and technical information without making the topic seem dry or boring. The book covers a very wide range of topics covering human behaviours, traits, evolution, biology, psychology and many other fields of science to explain what makes humans so quirky. It was a surprisingly fun read and I chuckled out loud quite a few times.
• 
  dmitri

  Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда. Гены и среда.
  
  Набор статей с набором экспериментов с набором забавно поданных выводов из них. Нравится честность: нет громких заявлений без обоснования, везде, где есть сомнения, так и написано: ученое сообщество пока хз, но склоняется вот к такому и такому.
• 
  Irina Podgurskaya

  Сапольски - любовь навсегда.
  
  "Цьен и команда создали [...] мышь, которой недоставало ключевого гена, который кодировал рецептор того же самого нейротрансмиттера. И благодаря настоящему колдовству им удалось ограничить этот эффект лишь той частью мозга, которая связана с обучением и памятью, – точность, аналогичная бомбе, которая с двух сотен километров уничтожает только полосатые носки в шкафу Саддама."
  
  И вот так у него все.
• 
  Лада Бакал

  Замечательная книга от одного из любимых писателей (и лекторов) последнего времени Роберта Сапольски из Стэнфорда. Сборник остроумных (и блестяще аргументированных) статей на всякие окологенетические и популяционные (по эволюционной ��иологии) темы. просто чудесная книга, очень советую, тьма удовольствия
• 
  Alina Hryb

  Понравились второй и третий раздел. Про гены пропустила. И я бы сказала, что почти каждая статья была чем-то особенная. Я узнала много нового про тело, поведение, религию, разные болезни. Книга помогает более спокойно посмотреть на себя со стороны. И нравится стиль повествования, шуточки. В планах теперь посмотреть курс "Биология поведения человека"
• 
  Aaron Andersen

  A fascinating, perspective-shifting set of essays on biology, genetics, and the human brain. These were all originally written for various magazines, so the audience is "scientifically-minder layperson" rather than "expert scientist", but Sapolsky still keeps everything properly scientifically grounded (and frequently cites his sources).
• 
  Shannar de Kassal

  Как-то ранее Сапольски проходил мимо меня. Посмотрел таки не так давно несколько его лекций, приобрёл книжку домой и неспешно прочёл — неплохой сборник эссе на тему генов, их [не] влияния на нас/наше поведениие и всё в таком же духе.
  
  Но вроде и тема клёвая, и ссылки на исследования — но чего-то определённо не хватает, чтобы поставить пятёрку и сказать, что must read. Но весьма неплоха!