Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science
Series: The Great Courses
Lecturer: Robert Sapolsky
Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
Holy Cow! You have GOT to listen to this one!!!
I totally admit it: I’m verrrrry fond of The Great Courses, and tho’ I’ve reviewed only one before this, please believe me when I tell you that I’ve listened to several, used to get them on CDs and cassette tapes, on VHS videotape. You know. All that ooooooooold stuff.
So it’s WONDERFUL to have them on my much-loved audiobook format. And Robert Sapolsky is one of the best lecturers out there. A biologist and primatologist, he’s also quite the comedian. He makes this study of what “makes us human” a wonderfully fun ride.
This was my sister’s pick for our audiobook club, and all three of us (Did I mention that it’s a very small club?) were delighted by it. It reminded all of us of Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are in that Sapolsky, from the very opening of the class, describes scenes from our society which actually are occurring amongst other primates. And throughout, other species are mentioned also.
Still, this is ultimately about things uniquely human. Like, what other species would dig up bodies of the poor to autopsy? What other species has a ZILLIION euphemisms for the word “death”? What other species thinks so vastly in metaphors? There are classes concerning all of these things. And Sapolsky’s rapid-fire enthusiasm carries us away into his world. You’ll find yourself stimulated; you’ll find yourself outraged.
You’ll also find yourself laughing at the completely and unutterably gross and horrific. There’s a section on how parasites can change behavior so that the host will do what is most definitely NOT in its best interests. Tell me if you don’t gag when it comes to toxoplasmosis, when it comes to ANYthing concerning the wide variety of cockroach occurrences. Cockroaches do indeed get a lot of airtime in that section.
Supremely enlightening and engaging as all get-out, oh dooooooo give this audiobook Great Course a try. It’ll have you hooked on them all, but you’ll DEFINITELY be hooked on All Things Sapolsky!
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