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
The Craft
Be Here Now
The Immateriality of the Material
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
#AskGaryVee
Read Write Own
American Nations
The Professor in the Cage
Epic Measures
What You Want
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Gulag Archipelago
Thinking In Systems
Successful Investing is a Process
Win Your Inner Battles
The Statistical Mechanics of Financial Markets
Remote: Office Not Required
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
The Big Test
The Coddling of the American Mind
Sell with a Story
Tragedy and Hope
Mr. Putin
The World Until Yesterday
The Coming Wave
Idea Makers
Against The World
Mathematician's Delight
Exhalation
The Lessons of History
I Think, Therefore I Laugh
The Big Picture
Thinking and Deciding
A Life Decoded
A Life
Cold Calling Techniques
Lights Out
The Idealist
The Politics Industry
Triggered
The Moment of Lift
Malabar Farm
Things Never To Tell Children
The Amateur
Turtles All The Way Down
Motherless Brooklyn
Powering the Future
The MAGA Doctrine
Spiritual Enlightenment, the Damnedest Thing
Illusions
Adapt
A Few Lessons from Sherlock Holmes
The Making of the President 1960
One Billion Hungry
Tomorrow's Table
Whole Earth Discipline
The Paris Architect
Boom
The Power of Now
Essays In Persuasion
Natural
Diaspora
All I Want to Know is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There
Fast Food Nation
The Last Days of Night
Spiritual Warfare
War and Chance
Talking To Humans
Eating to Extinction
An Agricultural Testament
The Warrior Ethos
The Jungle Grows Back
The Hustler
Striking Thoughts
The Biggest Con
Where The Wild Things Are
Life 3.0
Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius
A Wrinkle in Time
Son of the Morning Star
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros
The Formula
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
The Elements of Statistical Learning
The Art of Spirited Away
I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Predictably Irrational
Business Adventures
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Meditations
Ringworld
Dear Founder
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar
One Simple Idea
Mindfulness
Cradle to Cradle
Hiroshima
We Were Soldiers Once... And Young
Undaunted Courage