Randolph M Nesse, M.D., is a practicing physcian and
professor and associate chair for education and academic affairs in
the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical
School.
George C. Williams, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of
ecology and evolution at the State University at Stony Brook and
editor of The Quarterly Review of Biology.
"By bringing the evolutionary vision systematically into one of the
last unconquered provinces, Nesse and Williams have devised not
only means for the improvement of medicine but fundamental new
insights into the human condition."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard
University
"In moving the focus from 'how' to 'why' questions, Nesse and
Williams introduce readers to a new way of thinking about illness,
one that promises to be of increasing interest as...our culture
turns toward evolutionary explanations for human
predicaments."--Peter D. Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac
"By bringing the evolutionary vision systematically into one of the
last unconquered provinces, Nesse and Williams have devised not
only means for the improvement of medicine but fundamental new
insights into the human condition."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard
University
"In moving the focus from 'how' to 'why' questions, Nesse and
Williams introduce readers to a new way of thinking about illness,
one that promises to be of increasing interest as...our culture
turns toward evolutionary explanations for human
predicaments."--Peter D. Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac
Offering new insights on the failure of evolution to eradicate disease, psychiatrist Nesse and ecologist Williams offer numerous suggestions on why certain seemingly negative traits have not been eliminated through natural selection. A brief discussion of the basics of evolution is provided, along with examples of how the theory of natural selection may relate to aging, cancer, allergies, and other diseases. One particularly intriguing chapter is devoted to the possibility of an evolutionary contribution to psychological disorders such as excessive anxiety or depression. Marc Lappe's recent Evolutionary Medicine: Rethinking the Origins of Disease (LJ 10/15/94) conveys a similar message on the increasing need to consider evolutionary principles in the treatment of disease. Both books are thought-provoking and worthy purchases, but librarians interested in a slightly less technical narrative may prefer Why We Get Sick.-Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
