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Behave
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst | Robert M. Sapolsky
Why do we do the things we do? Over a decade in the making, this game-changing book is Robert Sapolsky's genre-shattering attempt to answer that question as fully as perhaps only he could, looking at it from every angle. Sapolsky's storytelling concept is delightful but it also has a powerful intrinsic logic: he starts by looking at the factors that bear on a person's reaction in the precise moment a behavior occurs, and then hops back in time from there, in stages, ultimately ending up at the deep history of our species and its genetic inheritance. And so the first category of explanation is the neurobiological one. What goes on in a person's brain a second before the behavior happens? Then he pulls out to a slightly larger field of vision, a little earlier in time: What sight, sound, or smell triggers the nervous system to produce that behavior? And then, what hormones act hours to days earlier to change how responsive that individual is to the stimuli which trigger the nervous system? By now, he has increased our field of vision so that we are thinking about neurobiology and the sensory world of our environment and endocrinology in trying to explain what happened. Sapolsky keeps going--next to what features of the environment affected that person's brain, and then back to the childhood of the individual, and then to their genetic makeup. Finally, he expands the view to encompass factors larger than that one individual. How culture has shaped that individual's group, what ecological factors helped shape that culture, and on and on, back to evolutionary factors thousands and even millions of years old. The result is one of the most dazzling tours de horizon of the science of human behavior ever attempted, a majestic synthesis that harvests cutting-edge research across a range of disciplines to provide a subtle and nuanced perspective on why we ultimately do the things we do...for good and for ill. Sapolsky builds on this understanding to wrestle with some of our deepest and thorniest questions relating to tribalism and xenophobia, hierarchy and competition, morality and free will, and war and peace. Wise, humane, often very funny, Behave is a towering achievement, powerfully humanizing, and downright heroic in its own right.
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SarahBookInterrupted
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Check out Kim's book recommendation on Book Interrupted‘s Manuscript Monday. She got a little help from Dax Shepherd on this one.

https://www.bookinterrupted.com/post/manuscript-monday-behave

#bookinterrupted #armchairexpert #ManuscriptMonday #bookrecommendations #bookreview #behave #bookclub

AnnR 👍 It took me a while to get through, but this was a fascinating science based book about human behavior. 12mo
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RaeLovesToRead
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Pickpick

This book was great, but prepare to do some heavy lifting emotionally and intellectually. Some of the science in here is degree-level stuff.

This is a highly technical rundown of all the factors underpinning the sociobiology and neurobiology of behaviour. It's fascinating stuff & quite an achievement.

I'm not sold on the theory that free will doesn't exist, but otherwise a solid, rational, & cerebral read.

Plus a tasty wagon wheel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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RaeLovesToRead
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"that we personally can cause change."

But not through any volition of our own?

Make up your mind, Sapolsky. Do we have agency? Can we effect causality? I'm not sure you're as committed to this "no free will" as you make out ?

If he is simply saying that our ability to make decisions and act is organic rather than magical, I wouldn't argue.

I shall have to read his new book "Determined" to explore his thoughts further...

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RaeLovesToRead
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Follow on from previous post.

Maybe a more pertinent question is what is sentience?The difference between the mechanical decision and the less easier to define WILL and IDENTITY behind an action.

Perhaps what neuroscience is yet to discover is the basis of sentience; whereas the field has made enormous leaps in the neurobiology of behaviour, we are yet to uncover the physiological basis of our sense of self or recreate it artificially.

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RaeLovesToRead
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This chapter argues with alarming sense against free will & I am shaken.

I need an equally intelligent person of science to counter Sapolsky's conclusions in this chapter!

The thought that there could be no essence to our personhood beyond predetermined biological mush is terrifying. What about meaning? Identity? Sentience? Morality?

If we are without agency, operating as robotic products of essential biology... what's the point in anything?

Ruthiella It is a bit terrifying. I don‘t have the smarts, however, to provide any counter arguments. 12mo
RaeLovesToRead @Ruthiella I am getting my thoughts in order. I don't think Sapolsky is right about free will. Just because choice has a biological basis doesn't mean it isn't free. I suspect that part of our brain that makes up sentience is ridiculously complex. Neuroscience may one day explain it, but although our choices are influenced by just about everything and we are products of our environment, doesn't necessarily mean life is predetermined. 12mo
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RaeLovesToRead
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"An emptiness comes from this combination of over-the-top nonnatural sources of reward and the inevitability of habituation; this is because unnaturally strong explosions of synthetic experience and sensation and pleasure evoke unnaturally strong degrees of habituation...

If we were designed by engineers, as we consumed more, we'd desire less. But our frequent human tragedy is that the more we consume, the hungrier we get."

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Yahui07
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Pickpick

My God, I thought that I would never finish this book 😅😅 do not dislike this book but just too much information 😓😓and I was overwhelmed.
However, it would be unfair to say that this book is soso.

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RaeLovesToRead
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Waddle presents my #roll100 picks for May!! @PuddleJumper

The 3rd pick was House of Leaves and I am NOT reading it again 🤣🤣

PuddleJumper Penguin! 🐧 2y
61 likes1 comment
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docukscribbles
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Pickpick

Consider it as a science book. Know better about our emotions. Why we do what we do and why others behave the way they do.

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RaeLovesToRead
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Getting some nonfiction reads lined up for #nonfictionnovember

Hopefully reading lots of different points of view will help expand my mind 🌈

Have also started NaNoWriMo. If I can do more than one day, I'll have improved on last year's efforts 😄

Now to make my bookspin list...

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RaeLovesToRead
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I've managed to get covered in ink, but here is my September #bookspinbingo

Yay for one-word titles 💕

Each month seems to be zooming by at the moment, with very little being achieved. Hopefully the autumnal feel of September will get me in a serious reading mood!

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shanaqui
Mehso-so

A good primer/overview, but kind of repetitive for those who've read around the subject before, I think. He does explain things well, especially the basic biological concepts.

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shanaqui

I'm crawling within sight of the end here, and I feel like it's a pretty comprehensive synthesis of a lot of things I've read before. I don't think there's been much that particularly surprised me, beyond a couple of details like the fact that the BBC (?!) tried to replicate the Stanford prison experiments.

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Ddzmini
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Pickpick

One of the better books I‘ve read in a while. Mr. Sapolsky provides a plethora of scientific information that is informative and useful. This is not your average slog through scientific processes it is an enjoyable breakdown of possibilities. Enjoyed ever chapter and process of reading it.

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shanaqui

Driving me a little bananas to be referred to as “damaged“ every handful of pages. Not sure the author has considered the fact that a “damaged“ person (someone with PTSD) might be reading this.

arkei 👀 Not *brain* damaged, just damaged to describe anyone with mental struggles? 3y
shanaqui @arkei Yep! Searching back, the actual words have happened less than I thought, but there's stuff like “[xyz happens in the brain] crippling people with PTSD“ and so on. Given that I'm not “crippled“ and I don't appreciate the description of myself as “damaged“, but I do most definitely have PTSD, it's... bothering me. 3y
arkei 😟 If it gets too much, maybe you can stop reading. 3y
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shanaqui

Still on the “neurobiology 101“ type parts, which are really well written. Probably still a lot of info to absorb, but for me it's a refresher, so I can see how clear it all is while not having to stuff the info into my brain, heh.

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shanaqui

My biostats exam was today, so I barely had time to read, but I did comfort and distract myself a little by reading some biology! So far barely started, but the description of neurobiology in the appendix is really well written and easy to follow without being too much of a simplification. I think that bodes well!

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Ddzmini
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So I have 98 books to go to have a total 1000 books 👀😳 but more than 75% of those are in my storage…😨 I miss my books

aperfectmjk These are physical books? I lost count of mine. But it's definitely over 1,000. It's a problem. I really should part with many... but how do you choose? 🤔 3y
Ddzmini Yes all actual books 🤗 some are still in storage but those are coming home at the beginning of next year … I always re-read books so I‘m keeping mine @aperfectmjk I‘m lucky my husband is great with my collection (edited) 3y
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Ddzmini
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I love my hubby (Aaron Elefsrud)… so I‘m reading this amazing book”Behave” by Robert M Sapolsky … and I‘m on pg 49 where it‘s discussing the frontal cortex abilities. I read “you‘re happier when you‘re thinner” and I told him “we aren‘t happy” he said “I am because I have you” awe 🥰🥰🥰 love you Aaron

DrexEdit sweet! 💖 3y
37 likes1 comment
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Bookworm_97
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Pickpick

Not even a single second is wasted. Each page you will have something new to learn.

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Bookworm_97
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Pickpick

This is undoubtfully one of the best book I have ever read. There was whole world of information and facts packed into 800 pages!!! It was definitely not a quick read as it has a vast amount of information which took me exactly a month to complete it. From neurology, evolution of behavior, compassion, enemity, morality, free will, War and peace.... I can go on. Love to get the book signed by Sapolsky if atall I get a chance
Just LOVED IT!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

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MrBook
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#BookNDinner! Going light tonight. Accompaniment this cold and clear night: garden salad of mixed leafy greens. grape tomatoes, sliced carrots, bella mushrooms, black olives, cucumber, mozzarella balls, walnuts, parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and spices; and sparkling mineral water. MMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

Gissy My dinner was also a garden salad but that plate looks professional, delicious. My culinary kills are limited but I will not die from starvation☺️ 5y
MrBook @Gissy , aww, thank you ☺️🤗! Great stomachs think alike with salads, lol. 5y
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MrBook
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#BookNBrunch! Accompaniment this cool and drizzly noon-hour was: a toasted egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese sandwich, with sausage hash and blackberry lemonade. MMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats.

Background 🎶: Spotify‘s “Philosophical Music” playlist

TheSpineView Yum! 5y
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Bookworm_97

The opposite of Play is not Work.... Its Depression
🖤🖤🖤🖤

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Bookworm_97
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Explaining Gene Mutations through English Grammar❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺How will someone hate this gem

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Bookworm_97
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Will this be the best science book I have ever read 🤔 🖤

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Bookworm_97
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"There is no such thing as Good decision" ???

25% through this book and already loving it for its detailing

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Bookworm_97
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Quarantine Day 5 - Starting with this one 🖤🖤🖤
High Expectations 🤞

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Bookworm_97
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Quarantine Day 5 : Confused which book to start next

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Adding this #nerdy #biological look at human behavior to my #TBR stack. #Nonfiction #GreenvilleSC why do we do what we do?? Guess I'll find out!

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speljamr
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Pickpick

If this wasn't science book of the year when it was published it sure as hell should have been. I've never come across a book that does such an excellent job explaining the complexity of this subject. Robert Sapolsky's writing is perfect for the layman trying to understand complex scientific topics. His Stanford lectures on YouTube are just as good. Everyone should read this book if you care anything about why we behave and react the way we do.

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RowReads1
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😸

Lcsmcat I ❤️ your mug! 6y
40 likes1 comment
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speljamr
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Oh, this chapter title alone makes this an interesting one.

Erinreadsthebooks It‘s so true! 😂 6y
kspenmoll Perfect!!!!😂 6y
Tanisha_A 😂 6y
Moony 😂 sounds good! 6y
103 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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speljamr
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And this is why teenagers do stupid things...

Deifio And then when we're thirty we can finally look back and think: "Man, we did stupid stuff!"? 6y
speljamr @Deifio Exactly. That what was I thinking part of life. 6y
MelissaSue81 Yep. I was actually reading something recently that new research suggests that a bunch parts of the brain go through a major overhaul during adolescence which contributes to not only the stupid decisions but the wild emotions as well. 6y
melissajayne Learned that at the Body World exhibit I saw a number of years back. 6y
97 likes4 comments
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speljamr
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Enjoying a day off work to do my own thing. Starting out with a sausage and cheese omelette and some exploration of synapses and neurotransmitters.

#BookAndBreakfast #BookNBreakfast

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speljamr
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1. Apple
2. Reading it right now, Behave by Robert Sapolsky.
3. V for Vendetta
4. In a chair with my book.

@Eggs #WondrousWednesday

Eggs #4: 📚💕📚🤗 6y
75 likes1 comment
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Chrissyreadit
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#work #gratitude30 It can be challenging to explain my actual job, but I love what I do- in a nutshell supporting children, teens and families to be healthy, safe and connected with healthy safe relationships.

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Books-R-Love
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Putting this one on the read soon list. Has anyone read this book?

Megabooks I have not, but welcome to Litsy! 😁🎉 #LitsyWelcomeWagon @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 👍🏼🎉 6y
See All 12 Comments
RaimeyGallant Not yet. And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
rather_be_reading welcome to litsy!! 📚☕📚 6y
Books-R-Love @RaimeyGallant thanks! Appreciate your help. 6y
RaimeyGallant My pleasure! 6y
RaimeyGallant My pleasure! 6y
Aimeesue Welcome! 6y
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you are enjoying it here! 6y
ttran26 Currently reading. Dense but insightful and better than a class lecture. Definitely have to put time into reading this to understand what the author is saying though. Worth the time. Author has a science-y sense of humor 😂 6y
6 likes12 comments
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LauraJ
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Thinking this author is not a good first date.

34 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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AnuVinod

If you pay lots of attention to where boundaries are, you pay less attention to complete pictures.

subinalex Am reading this currently. 7y
1 like1 comment
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KellyMuser
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Pickpick

A look at the factors that bear on a person's behavior that considers what happened from milliseconds, to millions of years before it occurred. I recommend it for anyone with an interest in human behavior, and in finding out what things might help bring out the best in us.

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Floresj
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Pickpick

This was easily one of the best books I read in 2017/18! There was so much fascinating information packed into 645 pages😳! It wasn't a quick read as it explained how we think, develop, and how culture and our biology affect our morality and free will, war and peace, competition, and male vs female. I learned a lot, and I was really impressed with Sapolsky's ability to explain evidence based science and make me laugh repeatedly.

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taning
Pickpick

There is a lot that goes into why we do what we do

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Susan
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This book was really interesting. Probably need to listen to it again or pick up the book.

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SubwayBookReview
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Ashley: "Oh wow, this is crazy. The first time I told you about my book, Leaves of Grass, was in October 2014 and I was on my way to meet Emily for a date. We're married now and just had our second anniversary. Today I'm reading Behave. It's about why we do what we do and debunks the myth that your genes determine who you are. It's very challenging to read and very rewarding. It's taking me as long to read as Leaves of Grass."

MrBook 😎👌🏻 7y
LiteraryinPA What a sweet story! 7y
mrozzz I KNOW THIS GUY 7y
TheWordJar Awww! This is great! 7y
77 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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GoneFishing

The brain is heavily influenced by genes. But from birth through young adulthood, the part of the human brain that most defines us (frontal cortex) is less a product of the genes with which you started life than of what life has thrown at you...it is the least constrained by genes and most sculpted by experience...Ironically, it seems that the genetic program of human brain development has evolved to...free the frontal cortext from genes.

bookwrm526 I haven't read this one, but his book about the baboons he studied made me cry 7y
44 likes2 stack adds1 comment