Robert M Sapolsky

determined

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Conversations on Consciousness, Morality and the Future of Humanity

Making Sense

Love, Death and Baboons

A Primate's Memoir

The bestselling exploration of why humans behave as they do

Behave

And Other Lessons in Our Lives as Animals

Monkeyluv

Determined

A bravura performance, well worth reading for the pleasure of Sapolsky’s deeply informed company … he makes a moving case that [our lack of freedom is] a reason to live with profound forgiveness and understanding … absorbing and compassionate

Excellent . . . Outstanding for its breadth of research, the liveliness of the writing, and the depth of humanity it conveys

[A] highly entertaining account of why … we should and must overcome the infuriating conspiracy of mind that insists we are the authors of our actions. Anyone who believes otherwise needs to read it

Wonderfully readable ... humorous and warm and humane

[A] witty, erudite, imaginative and deeply humane new book&hellip; [The] case that Sapolsky makes for a transition from a criminal-justice system based on blame and retribution&hellip;to one founded on blame-free rehabilitation is moving and compelling

Robert Sapolsky explains why the latest developments in neuroscience and psychology explode our conventional idea of Free Will. The book's chock-full of complex and often counter-intuitive ideas. It's also a joy to read. That's because Sapolsky is not only one of the world's most brilliant scientists, but also an immensely gifted writer who tells this important story with wit and compassion. It's impossible to recommend this book too highly. Reading it could change your life

In his usual frank and amusing style, Robert Sapolsky argues that free will is an illusion. His stance is both hard to accept and hard to deny. An utterly fascinating topic with mind-boggling implications for human morality

Frans de Waal, author of Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist

Witty and engaging, Determined is also a goldmine of fascinating information (most of it accessible even to those of us who aren’t scientifically literate) about neuroscience; philosophy; chaos theory; emergent complexity; quantum indeterminacy; evolving knowledge of the causes of epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism; and, of course, the impact of nature and nurture on decision-making

Sapolsky’s decades of experience studying the effects of the interplay of genes and the environment on behavior shine brightly . . . He provides compelling examples that bad luck compounds . . . convincingly argues against claims that chaos theory, emergent phenomena, or the indeterminism offered by quantum mechanics provide the gap required for free will to exist

Fascinating, provocative and profound. This book tackles all sorts of big issues: how the human brain works, what makes us different, and what underlies everything we do. If Sapolsky is right, we might need to rethink justice and law, and for each of us personally, what it really takes to be happy and successful

Daniel M. Davis, author of The Secret Body

Provocative … If Sapolsky’s ideas were widely accepted they would lead to profound societal changes, not least within the criminal justice system

Fascinating and challenging - though I'm not sure if I really had a say in the matter

The Science of Life Without Free Will

Life Without Free Will

Robert M. Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation 'Genius Grant'. His previous books includes the international bestseller Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, The Trouble with Testosterone, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers and A Primate's Memoir.

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Robert M Sapolsky

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