Design for a Life: How Biology and Psychology Shape Human Behavior

Why Every Human Being Is Unique Where does our behavior come from? Is it true that “genes will out”? What makes someone a genius, a leader, a psychopath?

Patrick Bateson and Paul Martin take on these difficult questions and offer answers that differ sharply from the views expressed in books on sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, such as those by E. O. Wilson and Steven Pinker. Written for the nonscientist, “Design for a Life” clearly portrays the dual influence of environment and genetics in the creation of an individual. Examples are taken from research studies, but the scientific concepts are enlivened throughout by stories of real-life figures and quotations from literature.

A stimulating new perspective on the origins of human behavior, “Design for a Life” illustrates the ways in which our behavior and personalities are shaped by the combined actions of genes and environment through a synthesis of nature and nurture. At once erudite and entertaining, this remarkable book presents groundbreaking insight into human nature.