Roots of Human Behavior

By: Barbara J. King, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Barbara J. King

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

While human history is usually studied from the perspective of a few hundred years, anthropologists consider deeper causes for the ways we act. Now, in these 12 engrossing lectures, you'll join an expert anthropologist as she opens an enormous window of understanding for you into the thrilling legacy left by our primate past. In these lectures, you'll investigate a wealth of intriguing, provocative questions about our past and our relationship to primates. Are language and technology unique to humans? Have human love and loyalty developed from emotions of our primate cousins? Do the ways in which human males and females relate to each other come from our primate past? Have we inherited a biological tendency for aggression? How much of our behavioral, cognitive, and cultural identity have we inherited from our closest living relatives? How can the study of monkeys and apes lead us to a fuller picture of who we are?

Along the way, you'll learn about the landmark moment in the 1960s when dramatic new findings about apes changed the way we thought about ourselves; you'll look back to a forest in Africa, millions of years ago, when a generalized great ape ancestor split into distinct lineages, then evolved and divided further to create our closest living relatives, and human beings; you'll journey to Asia and the New World, where other anthropoid primates followed their own evolutionary course, separate from the human lineage, yet still connected in important ways; and much more.This thorough and critical examination of our diverse primate roots will allow you to finally see our human family in an entirely new light.

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

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

Feminist Pseudoscience

This “scientific” look at human nature is taught by a feminist advocate who teaches in a women’s studies department. Dr. King claims to be a “biological anthropologist” but in reality is a cultural anthropologist at best and a feminist advocate more correctly. There is little science in this and much pseudoscience. She selectively presents studies to promote her feminist agenda which much of this series is dedicated to. I am an ethnologist by trade yet this is the first Great Courses series I have ever disliked. There is no doubt in my mind that Dr King knows exactly what she is doing but does so because women studies advocates have a world view that the end justifies the means. If you have interest in a scientific approach to human behavior look into Richard Dawkins or Steven Pinker’s books as both are on audible and you will actually be educating rather than indoctrinating yourself. A black eye for the otherwise fabulous Great Courses lineup.

Strong feminist bias

Be prepared for almost no mention of males role in primate society. The authors voice is rather annoying.

a shortened version of biological anthropology

is essentially a shortened version of the professor's other course on biological anthropology you should decide between the two based on how interested you are on the topic

Best lecture

Barbara King is outstanding in her precise use of language to present a balanced reporting of information at "press time". I appreciated her ability to clearly offer speculation without confusion and clearly present the evidence and best interpretations.

excellent course for the non-expert

I enjoyed this course much more than I expected. The professor has a calm and engaging style; I enjoyed listening to her speaking voice and she organized her thoughts clearly.

I usually listen to the Great Courses on history and literature, but this one would be one of my favorites despite not being my usual subject matter. I learned a lot but the information was always presented in an accessible style.

I think middle and high schoolers would be able to appreciate it if used for homeschooling. There is some frank talk about sexual behaviors which wouldn't bother me, but YMMV.

The last lecture was a difficult/sad one since it concerned threats to the primates in the wild. Hard to hear how we treat our relatives.

Anthropological notions towards human behavior

This is an enjoyable course with plenty of good information presented in a logical order and in an engaging way. However, the main point is that we cannot gleam too much information about our own behavior by studying other primates and their origins.

Great introduction

What did you love best about Roots of Human Behavior?

Context to explain in the last chapter the human behavior

What about Professor Barbara J. King’s performance did you like?

Very good and entusiastic

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All chapters

Any additional comments?

A little basic

Would you try another book written by The Great Courses or narrated by Professor Barbara J. King?

Yes. I've had some Great Courses which were excellent.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

This is biology, not fiction.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

n/a

If this book were a film would you go see it?

n/a

Any additional comments?

I've read other things about primate behaviour and this is fairly basic. I'm sure it's all good stuff, but to me is is earnest more than fascinating. More importantly, I'm more than halfway through and we have not yet got anywhere near the roots of human behaviour - it's all facts about other monkeys and apes which are familiar to anyone who has read a bit around the subject.

Very enjoyable, presented in a very relateable way

Would you listen to Roots of Human Behavior again? Why?

Truly enjoyed every moment. Interesting, engaging and very informative!

What did you like best about this story?

Lecturer gave very simple example of complex theories making it easier to relate to the information delivered.

What does Professor Barbara J. King bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Her presentation is exceptional, she allows the listener time to take in what she is discussing .

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no, it just impressed the hell out of me

Very informative!

I enjoyed listening to Roots of human behaviour. My aim was to increase my knowledge on evolution for my MSc with the open university. Very informative and interested me to learn more about our common ancestors.

Really Initeresting and Engaging

Barbara J. King is an accomplished biological anthropologist and presenter. She has written and delivered this course based on her own field experience, obseving monkeys and apes in the wild as well as in research zoos. this course is well structured, methodical and unpretentious. She has a pleasant sense of humour and obviously loves her work and field of study. When she introduces bioligical terms she always explains them in everyday english. She always gives examples of the concepts that she delivers, helping the listener to better understand and see / visualise the example in context, which aids learning and understanding. Highly recommended 5*

Not quite what I was expecting...

I bought this hoping and expecting to gain a much better insight into the evolution of human behaviour. What I actually got was a much better understanding of monkeys and apes. I enjoyed the lectures and loved her style and enthusiasm and I'm glad I listened. Good listen, I just think the title is a little misleading.

Excellent

Well structured and clear presentation. Taking you through a series of interlinked lenses, we are shown how the study of anthropoids, our closest ape relatives, can help us to understand human behaviour, tool use, sex differences, language, sociality and culture. Very enjoyable learning experience.