Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life

A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity are Revolutionizing our View of Human Nature

Douglas Kenrick

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life" by Douglas Kenrick is a gripping exploration of the dark impulses that drive human behavior.

Drawing on insights from psychology, evolutionary biology, and anthropology, Kenrick delves into the primal instincts that underlie sexuality, violence, and our search for purpose. Through thought-provoking examples and research, he reveals how our desires for sex and power have shaped our evolutionary past and continue to influence our choices today.

In examining the psychological mechanisms behind murder, Kenrick argues that our propensity for violence is rooted in our ancestral past, where competition for resources and reproductive opportunities often led to lethal confrontations. He explores the complex interplay between aggression, social status, and survival instincts, shedding light on why certain individuals are more prone to commit acts of violence.

While discussing the search for meaning, Kenrick delves into the existential questions that have plagued humanity for centuries. Through evolutionary lenses, he unpacks how our innate need for purpose intertwines with our sexual and aggressive desires, shaping our values, beliefs, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

"Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life" offers readers a unique perspective on human nature, challenging conventional wisdom while providing a captivating glimpse into the dark recesses of the human psyche. Through this thought-provoking exploration, Kenrick invites us to confront the complexities of our innermost desires and contemplate the profound questions that define our existence.

Explore More Books

See All
Showing Up for Life
The Emotionally Intelligent Investor
Happiness
Killers of the Flower Moon
Team of Teams
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Napoleon
Monetizing Innovation
Statistical Consequences of Fat Tails
René Girard's Mimetic Theory
Trump and Churchill
Midnight In Chernobyl
The 48 Laws of Power
Statistical Models
The Third Chimpanzee
Unravelling the Double Helix
The Better Angels of our Nature
Liar's Poker
Factfulness
Boyd
Teddy and Booker T.
Think on These Things
Son of the Morning Star
Deep Survival
Human Action
Something Like an Autobiography
Good Profit
Growth IQ
Born a Crime
Ficciones
Manias, Panics, and Crashes
Stretching the School Dollar
The Deficit Myth
The World Until Yesterday
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
How Asia Works
Falling into Grace
The Hustler
The Bonfire of the Vanities
The First Crash
Stone Age Economics
The Meaning of the 21st Century
Pride and Prejudice
Origin Story
Cognitive Surplus
Fables
Experimental Man
Who We Are and How We Got Here
The Statistical Mechanics of Financial Markets
Distress
Memoirs
A Woman Makes a Plan
Mastery
Outlive
Sell with a Story
A Writer's Time
The Master Switch
Starting Strength
The Book of Life
The Truth Machine
The Sunday Philosophy Club
The Last Days of Night
Infectious Generosity
The Social Photo
Dear Founder
Flying Start
The Four
Fertility Pastures
Rise of the Robots
Hit Refresh
Investment Biker
A Second Chance
One Up
The Fund
Fooling Some of the People All of the Time
Modern Engineering for Design of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines
Lifespan
The Principia
Ishmael
Too Dumb to Fail
The Last Lion
Deep Simplicity
But What If We're Wrong?
T
Never Eat Alone
Plan B 3.0
The Mind of Napoleon
The Singularity Is Near
The Art of Possibility
Understanding Comics
The Little Bitcoin Book
Information
Complexity
The Making of Prince of Persia
King, Warrior, Magician, Lover
Little, Big
Positioning
Data-Driven Marketing
Continental Reckoning
The House of Getty