Mean Genes

By: Terry Burnham, Jay Phelan

Narrated by: Pat Woodruff

"The Mean Genes message is optimistic . . . a self-help book for the merely average human being." (The Washington Post Book World)

"An unusual cross between a social Darwinist monograph and a self-help manual." (The New Yorker)

Why do we want-and do-so many things that are bad for us? In Mean Genes Terry Burnham and Jay Phelan argue that we need to stop looking to Sigmund Freud for answers and start looking to Charles Darwin. Mean Genes reveals that our struggles for self-improvement are, in fact, battles against our own genes-genes that helped our distant ancestors flourish, but are selfish and out of place in the modern world. Using this evolutionary lens, Mean Genes brilliantly examines the issues that most affect our lives-body image, money, addiction, violence, and relationships, friendship, love, and fidelity-and offers steps to help us lead more satisfying lives.Executive Producer: Orli Moscowitz



Original Jacket Illustration: David J. High after a concept by Jay Phelan



Original Jacket Design: High Design, NYC



Author Photographs by Lisa Phelan (Jay) and Martha Stewart (Terry)



©2000 by Terry Burnham and Jay Phelan



(P) 2000 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The Mean Genes message is optimistic...a self-help book for the merely average human being." The Washington Post Book World

"An unusual cross between a social Darwinist monograph and a self-help manual." The New Yorker

The most interesting ever

Mean Genes was a fascinating listen. I learned lots, and enjoyed every second.

Studies

I enjoyed the concepts and the studies that supported the ideas. Gives great insight and opens the mind up to new ideas

Not worth it ;(

Absolutely shallow book. Pure junk entertainment without any insights to act on. Interesting topics conveyed in a super primitive way. Avoid it

great job well done awesome book.

once in the blue month you will read a book that you know you will go back to read it again and again and again and..
. this is one of them, money and time well spent.

Entertaining and Informative

"Mean Genes" is one of the best Audible books I've heard. It's read with a light tone and full of fascinating information about how our biological coding affects us. It is not full of jargon or high level scientific terms. It's aimed at the educated and curious individual. Very good "reading"!