This revelatory tour de force by an acclaimed and internationally bestselling science writer upends our understanding of "survival of the fittest"-and invites us all to think and act more altruistically.
Stefan Klein, considered one of the most influential science writers in Europe, has written for many of Germany's leading newspapers and magazines. He was science editor of _Der Spiegel_, a leading German news magazine, from 1996-1999, a staff writer with _Geomagazine_ from 1999-2000, and is now a freelance writer in Berlin. He has interviewed many of the world's most prominent scientists, including Antonio Damasio, Stephen Jay Gould, V.S. Ramachandran, Craig Venter, Ian Wilmut, and E.O. Wilson. In 1998 he won the Georg von Holtzbrink Prize for Scientific Journalism. He studied physics and philosophy at the universities of Munich and Grenoble and completed his PhD in biophysics in Freiburg.He is also the author of the international bestseller _The Science of Happiness_ which has been published in more than twenty-eight countries. He lives in Berlin and can be found online at www.stefanklein.info.
‘A glowing argument for post-Darwinian co-operation.’
*Evening Standard*
'[A] mind-bending book ... if there is a science to winning over
readers, Klein has surely mastered it ... The wealth of knowledge
here is astounding.'
*Publishers Weekly, starred review*
'Altruism is responsible for some colourful and mysterious human
behaviour, and this book brings to mind a good number of examples
... [M]akes for u[lifting reading'
*The Age*
‘A fabulously informative, feel-good book … Survival of the Nicest
makes you want to be good and to feel good about it. Who can argue
with that?’
*The Sunday Times*
'This wonderful book could be read as a scientific explanation for
a moral imperative to be kind to others. But it is so much more!
Stefan Klein, an enticing storyteller, marshals the evidence for
the value of altruism — not only to one’s family but, much more
interestingly, to one’s self and one’s tribe. Altruism is truly
contagious!'
*Roald Hoffman, Nobel Laureate, poet, and Frank H. T. Rhodes
Professor of Humane Letters Emeritus, Cornell University*
'A scholarly tour de force about why generosity makes good sense,
Survival of the Nicest is also compulsively readable. Klein argues
convincingly that helping others is one of the best things we can
do for ourselves.'
*Elizabeth Svoboda, author of What Makes a Hero?: The Surprising
Science of Selflessness*
'A thought-provoking and comprehensive review of the research on
altruism, Survival of the Nicest validates humanistic principles
and has far-reaching implications for today’s world — especially
for US politics and culture. An inspiration!'
*Rebecca Hale, president, American Humanist Association, and
co-owner of EvolveFISH.com*
‘[O]ne of the book’s key strengths [is] its breadth. From
psychological experiments to anthropological studies and historical
events like the Holocaust or 9/11, Klein seamlessly weaves his way
through all to present compelling evidence for why humans have
evolved to be selfless. Survival of the Nicest entertainingly
informs its readers of how they are born to be altruistic …’
'An important contribution to the field of altruism and altruistic
behavior and to a better and nicer world. I highly recommend this
book.'
*Samuel P. Oliner, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Humboldt
State University, and founder and director, The Altruistic
Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute*
'In Survival of the Nicest, Stefan Klein poses three questions
central to social science and ethics: (1) How is unselfishness
possible? (2) What moves us to help others? And (3) why are some
people more helpful than others? His wide-ranging answers to these
questions suggest that altruism is born into us and that
selflessness actually both makes us happy and will transform the
world.'
*Kristen Renwick Monroe, Chancellor’s Professor, University of
California, Irvine, and author of The Heart of Altruism*
'This eloquent and persuasive book shows why in life, like in the
movies, the nice guy always wins.'
*Stephen Cave, author of Immortality*
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