Controversial and captivating, this uniquely accessible guide explores what happens when evolutionary theory is applied to human behaviour.

Why do young women prefer older men? And what makes us feel guilty about lying? In this concise and engaging introduction to evolutionary psychology, the authors demonstrate how this cutting-edge new science might hold the answers to the puzzles behind our motivations and desires. With penetrating insights into a wide range of topics they consider:

the rules of attraction - what makes men and women desirable to each other?
A 'gene for God' - could religion be a product of evolution?
Selfishness and altruism - how did we come to be moral?

Offering straightforward explanations of everything from the 'gene's eye view' to the 'nature versus nurture' debate, this accessible guide also tackles the major controversies while assessing the potential of evolutionary psychology to make profound differences to the way we think about human nature.