The Moral Animal cover art

The Moral Animal

Why We Are the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology

Preview

Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Moral Animal

Written by: Robert Wright
Narrated by: Greg Thornton
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.01

Buy Now for $33.01

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Are men literally born to cheat? Does monogamy actually serve women's interests? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animal one of the most provocative science books in recent years. Wright unveils the genetic strategies behind everything from our sexual preferences to our office politics - as well as their implications for our moral codes and public policies.

©1995 Robert Wright (P)2010 Audible, Inc.
Biological Sciences Psychology Sociology Genetics Mental Health Young Adult
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What the critics say

"An accessible introduction to the science of evolutionary psychology and how it explains many aspects of human nature. Unlike many books on the topic,which focus on abstractions like kin selection, this book focuses on Darwinian explanations of why we are the way we are--emotionally and morally. Wright deals particularly well with explaining the reasons for the stereotypical dynamics of the three big "S's:" sex, siblings, and society." (Amazon.com review)

What listeners say about The Moral Animal

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly fascinating

Very well written. Can be verbose at times (e.g. too much coverage of Darwin's personal life) but the author does make good points with all that detail. Not for the faint-hearted; shatters illusions about altruism with an unfiltered exploration of evolutionary psychology.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It’s fuckin good

Listen to it it’s good stuff you learn about life it’s beneficial take notes listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wright on

Informative, logical, well written. This book showed how biological evolution can explain much otherwise puzzling human behaviour.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent and important work that holds up

Truly an excellent book that only occasionally reminds the reader that it was written in the 90s. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in really understanding the origins behind our shared moral inclinations, and an exploration of what those inclinations are.

And despite the book ruining some of the "magic" of altruism and brotherly love, it ends on a surprisingly upbeat note.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book, good approach to the topic

I truly enjoyed the book, the evolutionary psychology perspective taken was very interesting, I also think that the references to Darwin life were really good maybe the best part. There are some claims made throughout the book that need some verification but overall a really good book, highly recommended.
The narration is also very good it makes the book more enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!