This View of Life

Completing the Darwinian Revolution

By: David Sloan Wilson

Narrated by: René Ruiz

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

It is widely understood that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution completely revolutionized the study of biology. Yet, according to David Sloan Wilson, the Darwinian revolution won’t be truly complete until it is applied more broadly - to everything associated with the words “human,” “culture,” and “policy.”

In a series of engaging and insightful examples - from the breeding of hens to the timing of cataract surgeries to the organization of an automobile plant - Wilson shows how an evolutionary worldview provides a practical tool kit for understanding not only genetic evolution but also the fast-paced changes that are having an impact on our world and ourselves. What emerges is an incredibly empowering argument: If we can become wise managers of evolutionary processes, we can solve the problems of our age at all scales - from the efficacy of our groups to our well-being as individuals to our stewardship of the planet Earth.

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

©2019 David Sloan Wilson (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Utterly fascinating and beautifully written.... [Wilson] addresses deep questions about humanity: how we can avoid physical or mental illnesses, raise children, make groups more effective, create sustainable economies and nurture better planetary stewards.... This View of Life should...be on everyone’s bedside table - company heads and policymakers included. I’ll be leaving a copy in the rented cottage outside Bristol where I am staying, confident that it will change future guests’ own view of life.” (Monique Borgerhoff Mulder, Nature) 

“Splendid.... An excellent argument that evolution applies to culture as well as organisms.... [Wilson is] a masterful educator.” (Kirkus, starred review)

“David Sloan Wilson has long been one of the most visionary and trail-blazing evolutionary biologists around, forcing the field to recognize that evolutionary change occurs from far more than selection solely at the level of the gene. In This View of Life, he explores the various surprising things that ‘evolution’ is and isn’t, and its relevance to everything from everyday life to global policy decisions. It’s thick with ideas and insights, written in a graceful, accessible style.” (Robert Sapolsky, New York Times best-selling author of Behave and professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University) 

Utopian preaching

I had high expectations about the scientific value of this book.
It is mostly a "be good, and change" preaching...

Rather disappointing

The author starts with an interesting premise, yet I goes into trivial observations and simple explanations.

Excellent introduction to evolutionary biology

Davis Sloan Wilson gives us a very good and accessible introduction to modern evolutionary biology, and the theory of multilevel selection. It provides a deep and radical framework for thinking about how we as individuals fit in to groups, families and successively larger social organization. It also shows why neither the invisible hand, nor socialist central planning works. We have to build on the foundation that Darwin laid, which had nothing to do with "social Darwinism", Ayn Rand B.S. or "greed is good".

meh

David Sloan Wilson's earlier books had a strong effect on my intellectual development but this one seemed simplistic and lacked profundities

One of the best books of the year.

I bought this book without reading the description, because of the authors other books.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, ~2 per week. This was one of the best I’ve listened to all year. Already recommended it to two friends who agree.

Evolution and the way forward

This is a very solid update on evolutionary psychology and how civilization may survive. The author is one of the pioneers of evolutionary thinking, and he has very sincere thoughts on how humans can live together based upon our pro social orientation.

Great book! I've started recommending it a lot!

Great book. Many new and cool insights and connections. it's a minor shift in perspective, but it's amazing how well these ideas fit.

A Wild Ride Through History and Theory

This book was fascinating! A wild ride through the history of evolutionary theory. A truly honest and grounded book with wide implications.

Superb and needed!

This book presents a well reasoned, evidence-based argument for taking a different and scientific approach to human behavior both individually, as small groups, and even (or perhaps especially) as nations.
The philosophy and science presented is compatible with any faith (or absence of) so long as the reader/listener is willing to consider all the ideas presented before coming to any conclusions.
This book has made it into by list of recommended reads! Thank, Dr. Wilson!

fascinating

loved it! very broad range of applications for evolutionary thinking! keep up the good work