The Ape that Understood the Universe

"The Ape That Understood the Universe" by Steve Stewart-Williams is an enthralling introduction to the captivating world of evolutionary psychology. Stewart-Williams skillfully navigates through the intricacies of the human mind and culture, unraveling the mysteries of our cognitive evolution.This book is a compelling exploration that seamlessly weaves together scientific rigor and accessibility. Stewart-Williams has a remarkable talent for making complex topics engaging and comprehensible, even for those new to the field. The journey into evolutionary psychology is not just educational but also deeply thought-provoking, providing a lens through which to understand the origins of our behaviors and thought patterns.What sets this book apart is its ability to spark curiosity. It goes beyond presenting facts and theories; it invites readers to contemplate the profound implications of our evolutionary past on the present. The author's enthusiasm for the subject is contagious, making the book a joy to read.Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast of evolutionary psychology or a newcomer curious about the mysteries of the human mind, "The Ape That Understood the Universe" is a must-read. It not only broadens your intellectual horizons but also leaves you with a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of our evolutionary journey.

This book is a very easy read. If you’re a laymen such as I, you’ll have no difficulty grasping the concepts Dr. Stewart-Williams introduces. Evolutionary psychology appears to be the original and science based gender studies. It explains why males and females act the way we do. It is the firewall against the loud post-modern campus cult of grievance studies culture. By incorporating natural observations cross-culturally and across the species, this discipline’s theories are hard to refute on a number of subjects related to what it is to be human. Dr. Stewart-Williams novel way of giving us a bird’s eye view of ourselves is entertaining and his simple language and interesting examples held my attention. I had several “eureka” moments reading this book and I highly recommend it.

This book follows the path charted by Richard Dawkins' "The Selfish Gene" and Robert Wright's "The Moral Animal". The book covers a lot of the same material exploring evolutionary psychology with elaborate examples. Where it primarily differs from the two is in the evolutionary explanation of human behaviors (including differences between the sexes) contrasted with the 'Blank Slate' position taken by by several sociologists - the claim that human behavior including gender differences are purely a function of culture. Stewart-Williams makes a compelling argument for why the 'culture only' theory cannot be a satisfying explanation for many of the most common ubiquitous behaviors and gender differences and where an evolutionary approach is the only reasonable explanation.It's commendable how Stewart-Williams treads on the subject of gender differences - a landmine esp. in the current socio-political environment: he's uncompromising on his passionate advocacy of the evolutionary drivers of differences but balances this with the abundant caution needed to prevent readers from drawing incorrect conclusions and worse, using it as evidence to perpetuate social inequality and nullify hard won gains on that front.The final chapter on Memetics is also new territory (not covered in detail in the other two books), but lacks the readability of the rest of the book.While several reviewers find the "Alien assessment" construct instructive it didn't work for me: I was left bewildered and could not get past the assumption that a super intelligent alien would either not be a product of natural selection itself or unaware of the concept.Overall a worthwhile read - to use an idea from the book, demonstrates sufficient inclusive fitness to survive on my rather small bookshelf at the expense of some other hapless book that will now be donated to the local library.

Must read for anyone interested in the interaction between sociologists and evolutionary psychologists. Also, this is an interesting book in the general area of alignment between AI tools and societal values.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to be introduced or reminded of how the far-reaching modern explanatory power of natural selection, evolutionary psychology, and memetics inform our understanding of ourselves and our culture. More accessible than its small font might imply, more rigorous and meticulously referenced than a superficial overview. Peppered by humor and well chosen quotations, this would be a great book for an intellectually curious young adult looking for a masterful modern summary of how the more narrowly-focused ideas they've learned in the classroom - genetics, evolution, anthropology - inform the vast understanding of human nature and culture.

Considering the complexity of the subject it was beautifully organized. The writer is obviously a very effective teacher, who is not afraid to use humor judiciously sprinkled throughout the book to make his points. .Has many references to other scientists in related fields. I highly recommend this book even though it may be slow going at times, but worth the effort. The best exposition of memetics I've read so far.