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David P. Barash
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Homo Mysterious: Evolutionary Puzzles of Human Nature Reprint Edition

by David P. Barash (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 46 ratings
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For all that science knows about the living world, notes David P. Barash, there are even more things that we don't know, genuine evolutionary mysteries that perplex the best minds in biology. Paradoxically, many of these mysteries are very close to home, involving some of the most personal aspects of being human.

Homo Mysterious examines a number of these evolutionary mysteries, exploring things that we don't yet know about ourselves, laying out the best current hypotheses, and pointing toward insights that scientists are just beginning to glimpse. Why do women experience orgasm? Why do men have a shorter lifespan than women? Why does homosexuality exist? Why does religion exist in virtually every culture? Why do we have a fondness for the arts? Why do we have such large brains? And why does consciousness exist? Readers are plunged into an ocean of unknowns--the blank spots on the human evolutionary map, the terra incognita of our own species--and are introduced to the major hypotheses that currently occupy scientists who are attempting to unravel each puzzle (including some solutions proposed here for the first time). Throughout the book, readers are invited to share the thrill of science at its cutting edge, a place where we know what we don't know, and, moreover, where we know enough to come up with some compelling and seductive explanations.

Homo Mysterious is a guide to creative thought and future explorations, based on the best, most current thinking by evolutionary scientists. It captures the allure of the "not-yet-known" for those interested in stretching their scientific imaginations.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0199324522
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199324521
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    October 1, 2013
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    9.21 x 6.14 x 0.76 inches
  8. Print length
    329 pages
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Homo Mysterious is a well-researched, well-articulated, and unpretentious attempt to resolve a number of unanswered human evolutionary questions." --The Quarterly Review of Biology

Book Description

Examines a number of evolutionary mysteries, exploring things that we don't yet know about ourselves

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (October 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 329 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199324522
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199324521
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.21 x 6.14 x 0.76 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

About the author

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David P. Barash

David P. Barash

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David P. Barash is an evolutionary biologist (Ph.D. zoology, Univ. of Wisconsin) and professor of psychology emeritus at the University of Washington. He has written, co-authored or edited 41 books, dealing with various aspects of evolution, animal and human behavior, and peace studies. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has received numerous awards. He is most proud, however, of his very personal collaboration with Judith Eve Lipton, his three children, five grandchildren, and having been named by an infamous rightwing nut in his book "The Professors" as one of the "101 most dangerous professors" in the United States. His dangerousness may or may not be apparent from his writing!

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4 out of 5 stars
46 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and fun, with discussions on unsolved human mysteries. Some appreciate the author's wide knowledge and explanations of aspects previously unclear. However, others feel the answers lack scientific rigor and are not satisfying.

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10 customers mention "Entertainment value"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and helpful. They appreciate the discussions on unsolved human mysteries, from menstruation to hidden ovulation. The imagination is appreciated, but some readers felt the presentation was too dry. Overall, the book offers interesting information and arguments.

"...In literature, anyone can make up any interpretation. The arguments are interesting and often dazzling; sadly, in the end there is no answer...." Read more

"Highly engaging yet rigorous review of the evolutionary history of our species, with special emphasis on energy trade-offs, which effectively sets..." Read more

"...easy read, but a work that was able to stimulate my brain to an enjoyable degree...." Read more

"Dr Barash asks some fascinating questions . . ...." Read more

6 customers mention "Knowledge level"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's knowledge. Some find it informative and helpful, explaining aspects of our species that had previously been unclear. The variety of interpretations shows a wonderful imagination. However, others feel the answers lack scientific merit and are not satisfying.

"I looked up interpretations of a modern song. The variety of interpretations showed wonderful and entertaining imagination...." Read more

"...It also explained many aspects of our species that had previously appeared odd to me - such as why we, the naked ape, still hair on our heads." Read more

"...a retired health-care professional I was greatly impressed by the wide knowledge on the part of the author, both of biology as well as of religious..." Read more

"...To me, HOMO MYSTERIOUS was not satisfying because the lines of reasoning people are working along in trying to find the answers seem speculative and..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • M. M. Thomas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun, but no science
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I looked up interpretations of a modern song. The variety of interpretations showed wonderful and entertaining imagination. Each person viewed the song differently, each presented supporting arguments, and each made rational objections to competing views. David Barash’s book is the same exercise. The book is enormously fun, though entirely lacking in scientific merit, as are all of this ilk.

    He tries to explain the oddities of human biology. Why does homosexuality persist? Why is there religion? Why do women have breasts? Of course, each explanation begins with the premise that such things aided our survival: these mysteries must provide a survival advantage to the species. Unfortunately, he, like so many others, misses the negative aspect of natural selection.

    Some features of species survive simply because they don’t kill the species. Some things developed with no purpose, providing no advantage. Those things last because they don’t inhibit survival. In short, not everything is teleological.

    Other mammals didn’t produce breasts. Fear not, socio-biologists are on the job, assuming breasts must have a purpose in our survival. But suppose there isn’t. Women developed breasts that have no purpose. It turns out that they (the breasts) don’t hinder survival either. That is, women have breasts because they don’t kill us. This negative aspect of natural selection is quite a problem.

    Biologists must consider that any quest for purpose is useless. Even if there is a purpose, there’s no way for us to know it. We cannot go back in time to learn that breasts are essential tools for survival. We cannot witness the extinction of breastless hominids lacking that crucial feature.

    Man’s search for biological meaning is fraught with the possibility that some things developed without any purpose. Science depends on the assumption that everything has an efficient cause. We know that something caused that rash on her arm; something had to make that bridge fail at exactly that moment and in precisely that place; airplanes don’t drop from the air for no reason (no cause). Biology does well limiting itself to searching for those efficient causes, but fails miserably looking for final causes or purposes of things. If it’s possible that some things have no purpose or their purpose is forever lost to us, then how can we expect to know any of them beyond fun guesswork without answer?

    In literature, anyone can make up any interpretation. The arguments are interesting and often dazzling; sadly, in the end there is no answer. It’s a fun game, but it’s still a game. Barash’s work is entertaining and wonderfully inventive in places, but he’s just making up interpretations absent any ability to know the truth of any claim. The difference between socio-biology and interpreting songs is the latter admits it’s not a science. Still, it might do so, since we can get an answer by asking the songwriter about the work. Too bad those explaining the purpose of things in biology can never offer this level of knowledge.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Jon S. Chorley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Evolutionary Biology explanation for our current health crisis
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014
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    Highly engaging yet rigorous review of the evolutionary history of our species, with special emphasis on energy trade-offs, which effectively sets the stage for the second part, which discusses the health impacts of the resulting evolutionary miss-matches in our modern over-abundant lifestyle.
    This book had sufficient "substance" to give the conclusions credibility, without being dry or overlay accademic. It also explained many aspects of our species that had previously appeared odd to me - such as why we, the naked ape, still hair on our heads.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • J. Pearson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! And wow to Amazon!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    After an intriguing short review in 'Scientific American' I was intrigued by the questions posed by this work. Not all are answered definitively, but many diverse views are expressed. As a retired health-care professional I was greatly impressed by the wide knowledge on the part of the author, both of biology as well as of religious and historical subjects. I have not set down to read the work through and through from start to finish, and have read so far about 65%. I have recommended this book to a number of family members as well as to some friends; not necessarily an easy read, but a work that was able to stimulate my brain to an enjoyable degree. The description of the book and the scope of its themes are described better in the Amazon description, better than anything I can offer, which would be a shallow duplication anyway. BUY!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • william e merritt
    3.0 out of 5 stars Great Questions, Unsatisfying Answers
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Dr Barash asks some fascinating questions . . . Why has natural selection not only tolerated homosexuality but, seemingly, selected for it in all sorts of species? Why do some people seem to have a biologically implanted need to be religious? Why art? Or dance? Or song? There are answers to these questions. The problem is, nobody has found them yet. This is not Dr Barash's fault. If somebody knew the answer, then the question would not be in the book.

    To me, HOMO MYSTERIOUS was not satisfying because the lines of reasoning people are working along in trying to find the answers seem speculative and academic and detached from the way the world really works. This is, of course, not Dr Barash's fault except, perhaps, in choosing to write about unanswered questions in the first place. I just couldn't help thinking that if questions like this were investigated by blue-collar types instead of college proffesors, the speculations might be a lot more down-to-earth and satisfying.

    As a practicing atheist myself . . . one might even say an atheist fundamentalist . . . I admired Dr Barash's stating upfront that he, too, is a non-believer and, then, having the intellectual honesty to treat fairly the need many people feel for religion.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Ken
    2.0 out of 5 stars Too scholarly
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I felt like I was back in the classroom. The information was interesting, but the presentation was too dry. The author also seemed to have an underlying motive of justifying and defended homosexuality. I finally gave up and did not finish the book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • PatCali500
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend, Chapters 2-10 are great
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I also purchased this book after a review in 'Scientific American.' It includes very entertaining discussions considering unsolved human mysteries, from menstruation and hidden ovulation to religion. If chapter 1 gets you down, I recommend continuing on to chapter 2 and beyond, which will not disappoint. Now this is only my opinion, of course -- but I almost put the book down never to pick it up again when trying to read the first chapter, which reads like an Introduction instead of a chapter. Chapter 1 discusses reasons for the title and what the author hopes to accomplish in the text. Why? Maybe in the interest of brevity and fewer pages, editors no longer allow Introductions, forcing the poor authors to include introductory material in chapter 1. However, after skimming/skipping the few pages of introductory material, my expectations for a good read were met beginning with chapter 2. I'll pass the book on to my husband and recommend it to my friends.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Andrew Willmott Associates Ltd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2015
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    Excellent in all aspects
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  • W. R. Hodgins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Evolution details
    Reviewed in Canada on August 20, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I have always been interested in the ideas of evolution and look for any information that expands on or illuminates any details. This book is excellent, explaining many facets of life in evolutionary terms.
    A great read!
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  • James O
    2.0 out of 5 stars Poses questions, not so many answers
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Barash has an amiable style which is easy to read. An obvious polymath who references widely and entertainingly. The subject matter itself is fascinating. What is the evolutionary reason for certain human behaviors? Homosexuality, Mensuration, Art and Religion specifically. Lots of hypotheses , sometimes repetitively stated, with no satisfactory conclusions. His anti religion stance is obvious,deeply felt and a tad unprofessional. Made worse by a complete inability to explain religion's existence using an evolutionary basis.
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  • Gordon William Marsden
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    very cool
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