Invisible Rivals

How We Evolved to Compete in a Cooperative World

By: Jonathan R Goodman

Narrated by: Lawrence Sonderling

For centuries, people have argued about whether humans are moral animals—good or bad, cooperative or competitive, altruistic or selfish. The debates continue today, dressed up in the language of modern science. In this book, Jonathan R. Goodman makes the case for synthesizing the two sides. Drawing on insights from anthropology, evolutionary biology, and philosophy, he argues that rather than being fundamentally cooperative or competitive, we are capable of being both—and of exploiting each other when there is an opportunity to do so.

The core of invisible rivalry is how we make ourselves and others believe that we are acting cooperatively even as we manipulate those around us for our own benefit. In confronting this collective tendency toward self-interest, Goodman says, we can make the fundamental first step in fixing the breakdown of trust in society. Consequently, we will be better able to combat the myriad issues we face today, including widespread inequality, misinformation in a new technological environment, and climate change.

The book is published by Yale University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2025 Jonathan R. Goodman (P)2025 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“A timely, erudite, and provocative book that is fun and an inspiring call to arms” (Gillian Tett, King’s College, Cambridge

“Fascinating, unique book...unlike any other book I’ve read.” (Devi Sridhar, author of How Not to Die (Too Soon))

“A timely and devastating exposé by a brilliant evolutionary psychologist.” (Nicholas Humphrey, author of Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness)