Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare: How Evolution Shapes Our Loves and Fears by G

Description: Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare by Gordon H. Orians Our breath catches and we jump in fear at the sight of a snake. We pause and marvel at the sublime beauty of a sunrise. These reactions are no accident; in fact, many of our human responses to nature are steeped in our deep evolutionary past. The author explores the role of evolution in human responses to the environment. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Our breath catches and we jump in fear at the sight of a snake. We pause and marvel at the sublime beauty of a sunrise. These reactions are no accident; in fact, many of our human responses to nature are steeped in our deep evolutionary past-we fear snakes because of the danger of venom or constriction, and we welcome the assurances of the sunrise as the predatory dangers of the dark night disappear. Many of our aesthetic preferences-from the kinds of gardens we build to the foods we enjoy and the entertainment we seek-are the lingering result of natural selection. In this ambitious and unusual work, evolutionary biologist Gordon H. Orians explores the role of evolution in human responses to the environment, beginning with why we have emotions and ending with evolutionary approaches to aesthetics. Orians reveals how our emotional lives today are shaped by decisions our ancestors made centuries ago on African savannas as they selected places to live, sought food and safety, and socialized in small hunter-gatherer groups. During this time our likes and dislikes became wired in our brains, as the appropriate responses to the environment meant the difference between survival or death. His rich analysis explains why we mimic the tropical savannas of our ancestors in our parks and gardens, why we are simultaneously attracted to danger and approach it cautiously, and how paying close attention to natures sounds has resulted in us being an unusually musical species. We also learn why we have developed discriminating palates for wine, and why we have strong reactions to some odors, and why we enjoy classifying almost everything. By applying biological perspectives ranging from Darwin to current neuroscience to analyses of our aesthetic preferences for landscapes, sounds, smells, plants, and animals, Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare transforms how we view our experience of the natural world and how we relate to each other. Author Biography Gordon H. Orians lives in Seattle, where he is professor emeritus of biology at the University of Washington. He is the author or editor of several books, including, most recently, Life: The Science of Biology. Table of Contents Chapter 1. Whistling for Honey Chapter 2.Ghosts of the African Savanna Chapter 3. The High Cost of Learning Chapter 4. Reading the Landscape Chapter 5. The Snake in the Grass ( . . . and Other Hazards) Chapter 6. Settling Down and Settling In Chapter 7. A Ransom in Pepper Chapter 8.The Musical Ape Chapter 9. The First Sniff Chapter 10. Ordering Nature Chapter 11. The Honeyguide and the Snake: Embracing Our Ecological Minds Acknowledgments Notes Illustration Credits Index Review "The human eye for beauty is not an inexplicable preference for arbitrary shapes and colors but may be explained as an instinct for choosing surroundings that are safe, healthful, and informative. The eminent zoologist Gordon Orians, who originated this powerful idea, now treats us to a cornucopia of hypotheses on why certain things please the eye, ear, and tongue and others terrify, repel, or disgust them. This is a lovely contribution to our understanding of aesthetics and should keep scientists, artists, and humanities scholars debating its ideas for years to come." (Steven Pinker)" Review Quote "The book has considerable substance, with Orians bringing an unusually specific set of predictions and methods to these issues--for instance, in carefully measuring various features of different types of trees and relating these to evolutionarily canalized aesthetic judgments. Having read this book, I now think about trees in a completely different way (high praise)." Details ISBN022600323X Author Gordon H. Orians Short Title SNAKES SUNRISES & SHAKESPEARE Language English ISBN-10 022600323X ISBN-13 9780226003238 Media Book Format Hardcover Residence WA, US Affiliation University of Washington Year 2014 Imprint University of Chicago Press Subtitle How Evolution Shapes Our Loves and Fears Place of Publication Chicago, IL Country of Publication United States Illustrations 55 halftones, 1 line drawing Birth 1932 UK Release Date 2014-04-14 Publication Date 2014-04-14 NZ Release Date 2014-04-14 US Release Date 2014-04-14 Pages 224 Publisher The University of Chicago Press DEWEY 155.7 Audience General AU Release Date 2014-04-13 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:161779862;

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