Verified by Bookshelf: Between the Lines
New books reveal how memes, brain structure, and evolution quietly shape behavior.
By Sarah Henrich, Andrea Bartz, Karina Grudnikov and Nancy Ryerson published July 3, 2011 - last reviewed on June 9, 2016
On the Origin of Tepees
by Jonnie Hughes
The Gist
Humans are the product of natural selection, but unlike every other species, we don't base every choice on genetic fitness. Hughes traverses the U.S., uncovering clues in cultural products from cowboy hats to tepees. He concludes that our brains picked up where our evolving bodies left off, adapting the environment to us, instead of vice versa.
Our Take
"Part anthropology, part history, with a sprinkling of Bill Bryson-like memoir, On the Origin of Tepees strips the subject of density with witty storytelling and one-liners. Eclectics will appreciate Hughes's all-over-the-map approach: He dabbles in linguistics, biology, geology, and more. —Sarah Henrich
The Brain and Emotional Intelligence: New Insights
by Daniel Goleman
The Gist
Goleman is a champion of emotional intelligence—the social aptitude that exists independently of intellect. With it, some people with average IQs rocket to the top, and without it, geniuses can become failures by conventional standards. This e-book encapsulates the state of the neurological and behavioral research, with actionable tipsfor upping your EI.
