Overview

What can nature teach us about working together? Exploring evolution, animal behaviour and human psychology, THE SOCIAL INSTINCT reveals how cooperation has shaped humankind - and what happens when it goes wrong. 'A phenomenally important book' Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins Why do we live in families? Why do we help complete strangers? Why do we compare ourselves to others? Why do we cooperate? The science of cooperation tells us not only how we got here, but also where we might end up. In The Social Instinct Nichola Raihani introduces us to other species who, like us, live and work together. From the pied babblers of the Kalahari to the cleaner fish of the Great Barrier Reef, they happen to be some of the most fascinating and extraordinarily successful species on this planet. What do we have in common with these animals, and what can we learn from them? The Social Instinct is an exhilarating, far-reaching and thought-provoking journey through all life on Earth, with profound insights into what makes us human and how our societies work. 'A pleasing juxtaposition of insightful scientific theory with illuminating anecdotes' Richard Dawkins 'Surprising, thoughtful and, best of all, endlessly entertaining' Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling 'A superb book about how important cooperation is' Alice Roberts, author of Ancestors

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9781529112122

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Reviews

A phenomenally important book. The story of why we humans evolved to become such a wonderfully cooperative, social species, and what that means for the world today. Nichola Raihani will change the way we think about ourselves. -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History This is a superb book about how important cooperation is in biology, from molecules and cells to families and whole societies. -- Alice Roberts The Social Instinct is surprising, thoughtful and, best of all, endlessly entertaining, examining the puzzle and power of co-operation from the decks of the HMS Bounty to the babbling birds of the Kalahari. Absolutely loved it. -- Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling Vibrant science about a topic that could not be more important: How did our superpower of cooperation evolve against the odds? This engaging book wears its strong scientific credentials lightly. I could not put it down. -- Uta Frith, Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Development, University College London A well-written book, easy to read - a pleasing juxtaposition of insightful scientific theory with illuminating anecdotes -- Richard Dawkins

A phenomenally important book. The story of why we humans evolved to become such a wonderfully cooperative, social species, and what that means for the world today. Nichola Raihani will change the way we think about ourselves. -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History This is a superb book about how important cooperation is in biology, from molecules and cells to families and whole societies. -- Alice Roberts The Social Instinct is surprising, thoughtful and, best of all, endlessly entertaining, examining the puzzle and power of co-operation from the decks of the HMS Bounty to the babbling birds of the Kalahari. Absolutely loved it. -- Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling Excellent and illuminating * Wall Street Journal * A well-written book, easy to read - a pleasing juxtaposition of insightful scientific theory with illuminating anecdotes -- Richard Dawkins

A phenomenally important book. The story of why we humans evolved to become such a wonderfully cooperative, social species, and what that means for the world today. Nichola Raihani will change the way we think about ourselves. -- Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History This is a superb book about how important cooperation is in biology, from molecules and cells to families and whole societies. -- Alice Roberts Vibrant science about a topic that could not be more important: How did our superpower of cooperation evolve against the odds? This engaging book wears its strong scientific credentials lightly. I could not put it down. -- Uta Frith, Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Development, University College London Cooperation is at the heart of our bodies, our societies and our ecosystem. Nichola Raihani's stunning book flips the selfish gene on its head, showing us not only how to better understand the world, but also how to change it. -- Matthew Cobb, author of The Idea of the Brain In this captivating book, Nichola Raihani ... provides a compelling argument that cooperation is the secret of human success and yet has never been as crucial as it is now, during a global pandemic and with the threat of the climate crisis. I found this intriguing and beautifully written book hard to put down. -- Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, author of Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain

Author Information

Nichola Raihani is a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Professor in Evolution and Behaviour at UCL. Her group's research focuses on the evolution of social behaviour in humans and non-human species. She has been widely published in scientific journals, won the 2018 Philip Leverhulme Prize in Psychology for her research achievements, and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in 2018. She has also worked in the BBC Science Development Team, and appeared on several podcasts and radio shows, including BBC Radio 4's 'Hacking the Unconscious' and 'Thought Cages'.

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