Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science

By: Robert Sapolsky, The Great Courses

Narrated by: The Great Courses

Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions?

As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is. And while scientists are continually uncovering similarities between our behavior and that of other animals, they're also finding insights into everything that makes us unique from any other species.

Join an acclaimed neurobiologist, award-winning teacher, and MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" recipient in a series of 12 invigorating lectures that offer a surprising and undeniably fascinating study of what makes you you, journeying to the front lines of scientific research to gain a new perspective on the quirky nature of being ourselves. Professor Sapolsky explores our humanity by investigating mysterious and sometimes even mundane aspects of human behavior, including bad moods, nostalgia, and dreams, packing the lectures with stories of bold experiments and case studies that illuminate the intricacies of our behavior.

Thought-provoking, witty, and sometimes myth-shattering, this course is sure to have you thinking about and appreciating your life in novel ways.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

Yes to anything of Robert Sapolsky's

Professor Robert Sapolsky is warm and engaging, and his lectures are full of insight and information that can shift how you understand yourself, others, and the world. He has made it on to my short list of people who I unquestionable trust to deliver contemporary, useful material about the brain and what we do with it.

An entertaining sampling from Sapolsky

Robert Sapolsky is engaging as always; I love his style of delivery. This course is really just a flyover of a variety of human sciences, but an entertaining one full of anecdotes that Sapolsky fluidly relates directly back to the relevant science. A perfect primer for someone new to the study of neuroscience or human behavioral science.

Enjoyable science!

This is enjoyable science from an interesting lecturer. It kept my interest and made me think. I did think that the author might have been a little fast in throwing out ideas and anecdotes, but too fast is better than too slow. This was entertaining and informative to me.

Enjoyed the ideas, but wouldn't listen twice

What did you love best about Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science?

There were times where I felt I was hearing some interesting concepts, and looking at things from a perspective I hadn't previously explored.

Any additional comments?

Professor Sapolsky was certainly interested and well learned in his subject matter, however I felt like there was a little too basic an approach to these lectures. Between the title and length, I knew it wouldn't be comprehensive by any means, but I did expect a little more than just a few different ways to look at things.

a nice introduction

plenty of good insights that will be helpful in navigating your way in the world