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The Evolution of Desire

Strategies of Human Mating

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The Evolution of Desire

By: David M. Buss
Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
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About this listen

 A “drop-dead shocker” (Washington Post Book World) that uses evolutionary psychology to explain human mating and the mysteries of love

If we all want love, why is there so much conflict in our most cherished relationships? To answer this question, we must look into our evolutionary past, argues prominent psychologist David M. Buss. Based one of the largest studies of human mating ever undertaken, encompassing more than 10,000 people of all ages from thirty-seven cultures worldwide, The Evolution of Desire is the first work to present a unified theory of human mating behavior. Drawing on a wide range of examples of mating behavior—from lovebugs to elephant seals, from the Yanomamö tribe of Venezuela to online dating apps—Buss reveals what women want, what men want, and why their desires radically differ. Love has a central place in human sexual psychology, but conflict, competition, and manipulation also pervade human mating—something we must confront in order to control our own mating destiny.

Updated to reflect recent scientific research on human mating, this definitive edition of this classic work of evolutionary psychology explains the powerful forces that shape our most intimate desires. Human Sexuality Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Discrimination Dating Mental Health Evolution Psychology

Critic reviews

"Filled with insight, surprises, and lucid explanations of the latest ideas and discoveries from the sciences of love and sex."—Steven Pinker
"A drop-dead shocker."—Washington Post Book World
"Clear, coherent, and convincing."—Philadelphia Inquirer
All stars
Most relevant
Insightful but some points were repeated throughout. I knew a lot of the content already from touching on this subject in uni, but overall a good book.

Longer than it needed to be

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I have enjoyed every bit of this book. It reviews the scientific knowledge on mating in a very accessible way. The narration is also perfect as much as the quality knowledge it presents.

wonderful review of evolutionary psychology

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Everyone has to hear this, because it confirms what all of us already intuitively know.

Precisely what you need to hear

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Very insightful and enlightening. The book provides an insight to our cultural norms development, instigated by covertly genetic evolution (.."mating strategies").

Very insightful and enlightening.

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Great book, great voiceover work also. This is one book to stick with and finish for sure.

How the World really works

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