Description: Denial: Self-Deception, False Beliefs, and the Origins of the Human Mind [Hardcover] Varki, Ajit and Brower, Danny The history of science abounds with momentous theories that disrupted conventional wisdom and yet were eventually proven true. Ajit Varki and Danny Brower's "Mind over Reality" theory is poised to be one such idea-a concept that runs counter to commonly-held notions about human evolution but that may hold the key to understanding why humans evolved as we did, leaving all other related species far behind. At a chance meeting in 2005, Brower, a geneticist, posed an unusual idea to Varki that he believed could explain the origins of human uniqueness among the world's species: Why is there no humanlike elephant or humanlike dolphin, despite millions of years of evolutionary opportunity? Why is it that humans alone can understand the minds of others? Haunted by their encounter, Varki tried years later to contact Brower only to discover that he had died unexpectedly. Inspired by an incomplete manuscript Brower left behind, Denial presents a radical new theory on the origins of our species. It was not, the authors argue, a biological leap that set humanity apart from other species, but a psychological one: namely, the uniquely human ability to deny reality in the face of inarguable evidence-including the willful ignorance of our own inevitable deaths. The awareness of our own mortality could have caused anxieties that resulted in our avoiding the risks of competing to procreate-an evolutionary dead-end. Humans therefore needed to evolve a mechanism for overcoming this hurdle: the denial of reality. As a consequence of this evolutionary quirk we now deny any aspects of reality that are not to our liking-we smoke cigarettes, eat unhealthy foods, and avoid exercise, knowing these habits are a prescription for an early death. And so what has worked to establish our species could be our undoing if we continue to deny the consequences of unrealistic approaches to everything from personal health to financial risk-taking to climate change. On the other hand reality-denial affords us many valuable attributes, such as optimism, confidence, and courage in the face of long odds. Presented in homage to Brower's original thinking, Denial offers a powerful warning about the dangers inherent in our remarkable ability to ignore reality-a gift that will either lead to our downfall, or continue to be our greatest asset. Features Used Book in Good Condition Anthem Books Difference Great quality used items! We aim to exceed expectations on every order with quick shipping and extra attention to quality packaging! Competitive Pricing With our dynamic pricing model, our prices are always competitive. Our prices are some of the lowest that you will find on the internet. Rest assured that you're getting a good deal when purchasing with us. 30-day Money Back Guarantee We are committed to making sure that you leave this transaction satisfied. If you're unhappy with the product for any reason, you may return it back for your money-back or a replacement within 30 days. No questions asked!
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Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: hardcover
Pages: 384
Brand: Hachette Book Group
Unspsc Code: 55101500
Target Audience: General/trade
Number Of Items: 1
Edition: 1
Publication Date: 2013-06-04T00:00:01Z
Edition Number: 1
Item Name: Denial: Self-Deception, False Beliefs, and the Origins of ..
Street Date: 2013-06-04T00:00:01Z
Product Site Launch Date: 2012-11-05T20:07:47.184Z
Style: ABIS_BOOK
Book Title: Denial : Self-Deception, False Beliefs, and the Origins of the Human Mind
Number of Pages: 384 Pages
Language: English
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Topic: Cognitive Science, Philosophy & Social Aspects, Life Sciences / Evolution, Personality, Evolutionary Psychology
Item Height: 1.2 in
Publication Year: 2013
Genre: Science, Psychology
Item Weight: 23.2 Oz
Item Length: 9.5 in
Author: Danny Brower, Ajit Varki
Item Width: 6.5 in
Format: Hardcover