Force of Nature

A lucid and eye-opening presentation of the many surprising ways that natural selection can help us understand ourselves and the world we are making. * Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and New York Times best-selling author of When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows… *
Force of Nature's premises-that evolution is for real, that natural selection is its main engine, and that these are relevant to contemporary humans and our behavior-somehow still border on the bold. This wonderfully accessible book explores how the sculpting power of natural selection explains everything from an amoeba's 'decision-making' process to, with enormous implications, our human intuitions about morality and justice. A rewarding read. * Robert Sapolsky, Gunn Professor of Biology, Stanford University, and New York Times best-selling author of Determined and Behave *
Natural selection has been called the best idea anyone has ever had. Owen Jones, a professor of both law and biology, makes the case for how its powers extend far beyond bird beaks and beetles to our brains and behaviors, with myriad implications for medicine, psychology, technology, and the law. Even Darwin would be surprised. * Sean B. Carroll, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, and author of Series of Fortunate Events and The Serengeti Rules *
Darwinian natural selection is not merely a process important to academic biologists, but in fact touches our own lives in many ways. In this enlightening book, Owen Jones illuminates the key role of selection in areas like farming, fishing, economics, decision-making, and healthcare, where 'Darwinian medicine' is becoming increasingly significant. Force of Nature crucially shows how selection shapes our world-and us. * Jerry Coyne, Emeritus Professor of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, and New York Times best-selling author of Why Evolution is True *
Owen Jones brings decades of hard-won scientific insight directly to you in this remarkably lucid and engaging book. With colorful examples and hair-raising cautionary tales, Jones shows how evolutionary thinking can make us smarter, more effective navigators of the modern world. * Joshua Greene, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Moral Tribes *
We want policies that govern real people-who are, ultimately, biological organisms subject to natural selection. In this wonderful book, Owen Jones explores the myriad ways that an appreciation of evolutionary principles matters to real people, in the real world. * Gideon Yaffe, Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld Professor of Jurisprudence and Professor of Philosophy and Psychology, Yale University *
In this consistently engaging and thought-provoking book, Owen D. Jones highlights the countless ways that natural selection shapes our world, showing how a deep understanding of natural selection is crucial for making optimal choices in domains ranging from health to food production to engineering, and presenting compelling evidence of the risks and unintended costs of lacking such an understanding. A masterfully crafted and well-argued book that will impact not only how you think about the world but also how you think about yourself. * Anthony Wagner, Lucie Stern Professor, Department of Psychology, Stanford University *
Force of Nature explores natural selection and the importance of understanding this powerful phenomenon in making sense of the world. …The insights from this book will make a far-reaching impact on the world and bring benefits to humankind. * Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman, Alibaba Group *
If you think a book on natural selection is of interest only to academic biologists or wildlife conservationists, you're mistaken! Force of Nature is an engaging and well-told exploration of the power of natural selection across a wide range of fields. Owen Jones has a gift for discerning broad connections and powerful forces that are often overlooked in the silos of academia, business, and government, and his raw enthusiasm and breadth of knowledge make for a terrific read and refreshing, challenging insights. While this book will certainly arm you with important insights and compelling topics for discussion and debate, most importantly it will allow you to understand and apply the power of one of our world's most widely influential, yet least well understood, forces. * Christopher Coons, U.S. Senator *
At once engaging and accessible, Professor Owen Jones's book is a must-read for anyone interested in how natural selection has shaped who we are and who we are becoming. * Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator *
A fascinating and far-ranging discussion of the power of natural selection. As an evolutionary biologist, I've long understood that evolution can explain how humans and other animals make decisions, but it had never occurred to me that natural selection should be an important consideration for our legal systems and so much more. * Jonathan Losos, Danforth Distinguished University Professor of Biology, Washington University, and author of Improbable Destinies *
In Force of Nature, Owen Jones brings to mind Charles Darwin's famous words: 'There is grandeur in this view of life.' Jones is a keen observer of the world and an advocate for bringing the life sciences into our understanding, creation, and implementation of social strategies, including law. His well-crafted volume invites a wide audience to join in his admiration for the importance of natural selection. …Jones clearly shares Darwin's wonder at what we can learn by drawing on studies of nature to inform (but not determine) social practices. * Jane Maienshein, University Professor of History of Science & Director, Center for Biology and Society, Arizona State University *
Force of Nature makes evolution vivid and urgently relevant. Owen Jones builds a compelling case, marshaling evidence from medicine, agriculture, technology, and law with precision. With well-crafted arguments, surprising examples from the deep sea to outer space, and a memorable cast of characters, he leads the reader step by step to an unavoidable conclusion: natural selection matters for human health and flourishing. A crucial read today for a better tomorrow. * Debra Lieberman, Professor of Psychology, University of Miami, and co-author of Objection: Disgust, Morality, and the Law *
Force of Nature is a vital book for anyone interested in solving human problems. Drawing on the lessons of natural selection, Owen D. Jones convincingly demonstrates not only how these principles have already helped us to improve human health, longevity, and quality of life, but also how we can apply them to meet humanity's most vexing outstanding challenges. If you are looking for a frame to make better choices and adapt to a rapidly changing world, then read this book * Jeff Bleich, (ret.) former U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board *
Why does natural selection matter? In crystal-clear, compelling language, Owen Jones makes an eloquent case for its influence on everything from agriculture to health to decision-making. Evolution isn't something to study in a biology class and then dismiss; it's the essential, fascinating, and glorious underpinning of our lives. From sloths creeping down from the trees to humans gauging their cancer risk, natural selection is at work. Jones convincingly argues that the human practice of law is as much a product of our evolutionary heritage as the beavers' dam is of theirs. His coverage is impressively broad but never superficial, drawing heretofore unconsidered connections between antibiotic resistance, the fecundity of Atlantic cod, and the creation of complex computer programs. A fun and elegant read. * Marlene Zuk, Regents Professor, University of Minnesota, and author of Paleofantasy *
Owen Jones is not exaggerating when he calls natural selection a force of nature - and not just for its power to explain antibiotic resistance and giraffe necks. This lovely book takes us on a tour of the realms of human life beyond biology that show the effects of natural selection, including economic decision-making and its quirks, and features of the law that transcend nations and cultures. * Martha J. Farah, Annenberg Professor in the Natural Sciences and Director, Center for Neuroscience & Society, University of Pennsylvania *
In Force of Nature, Owen Jones delivers elegant writing about the intricate beauty and hidden world of natural selection, with page-turning stories of struggle and success in every chapter. * Stephen Palumbi, Professor of Biology, Stanford University, and author of The Evolution Explosion *
In Force of Nature, Owen Jones lucidly explains how the powerful process of natural selection works, sweeping away the mental cobwebs that obscure understanding. He illustrates practical applications to everything from keeping cancer in check, to designing satellite antennas and body armor, to the perverse effects of fishing regulations intended to foster sustainability, to the right way to communicate risk, and more. Jones promises us 'the aesthetic pleasure of seeing elegant and new interconnections all around'-and he delivers. * Leda Cosmides, Distinguished Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, UC Santa Barbara *