The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin’s Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World – and Us

A major reimagining of how evolutionary forces work, revealing how mating preferences—what Darwin termed "the taste for the beautiful"—create the extraordinary range of ornament in the animal world."A delicious read, both seductive and mutinous.... Minutely detailed, exquisitely observant, deeply informed, and often tenderly sensual."—New York Times Book ReviewIn the great halls of science, dogma holds that Darwin's theory of natural selection explains every branch on the tree of life: which species thrive, which wither away to extinction, and what features each evolves. But can adaptation by natural selection really account for everything we see in nature?     Yale University ornithologist Richard Prum—reviving Darwin's own views—thinks not. Deep in tropical jungles around the world are birds with a dizzying array of appearances and mating displays: Club-winged Manakins who sing with their wings, Great Argus Pheasants who dazzle prospective mates with a four-foot-wide cone of feathers covered in golden 3D spheres, Red-capped Manakins who moonwalk. In thirty years of fieldwork, Prum has seen numerous display traits that seem disconnected from, if not outright contrary to, selection for individual survival. To explain this, he dusts off Darwin's long-neglected theory of sexual selection in which the act of choosing a mate for purely aesthetic reasons—for the mere pleasure of it—is an independent engine of evolutionary change.    Mate choice can drive ornamental traits from the constraints of adaptive evolution, allowing them to grow ever more elaborate. It also sets the stakes for sexual conflict, in which the sexual autonomy of the female evolves in response to male sexual control. Most crucially, this framework provides important insights into the evolution of human sexuality, particularly the ways in which female preferences have changed male bodies, and even maleness itself, through evolutionary time.     The Evolution of Beauty presents a unique scientific vision for how nature's splendor contributes to a more complete understanding of evolution and of ourselves.

Details e-book The Evolution of Beauty

🗸 Author(s): Richard O. Prum
🗸 Title: The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World - and Us
🗸 Rating : 4.5 from 5 stars (309 reviews)
🗸 Languange: English
🗸 Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
🗸 Supported Devices: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle

Readers' opinions about The Evolution of Beauty by Richard O. Prum

Sarah Spencer
Explore the wonders of the natural world with this captivating exploration of wildlife and ecosystems. From the depths of the ocean to the heights of the mountains, the author takes readers on a journey through some of the planet's most extraordinary habitats. With its stunning photography and fascinating insights, this book is a feast for the eyes and the mind.

Chelese Thomson
Delve into the pages of this thought-provoking philosophical treatise, where the author grapples with some of life's most profound questions. From the nature of existence to the meaning of morality, each chapter offers a fresh perspective on the human condition. With its rigorous logic and elegant prose, this book is sure to spark lively debate and introspection.

Elsie Moss
Explore the depths of human emotion with this powerful collection of poetry, where words dance off the page and into the heart. From love and longing to despair and redemption, each poem offers a glimpse into the human experience in all its complexity. With its evocative imagery and lyrical prose, this book is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire.

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