Book club selection (via Rose; session held 12 January 2020). (PJ and I missed - colds.)
in general I very much like this type of book
not nec new, but a useful way of discussing man's rapid ascent - competitors had no time to adjust (see e.g. large animals in North America)
slower - more deeply wired - is the group-affinity, or tribalism - need to recognize how strong this is, not fear it; at the moment it's co-opted by politicians, community organizers, grant-seekers
hadn't thought about how cooking simplified digestion, or why humans went after marrow
my twitter feed is full of controversies about genetics - this gets into it but I don't understand
idea of the Cognitive Revolution - 70-30,000 years ago - use of language to rise up. the idea of myths and abstractions for groups >150
the ridiculousness of characterizing Peugot as a myth. it's a nexus of contracts. limited liability as something awesome . . . a simple way to encourage investment
similar for trade characterized as "fiction" = yes credit comes from credo
ridiculousness of forager societies as an ideal - the original affluent societies - come on "wholesome and varied diet"
faculty lounge discussion of ecological issues, capitalism in particular - yuck - bogeyman of economic growth; Adam Smith cliches
whining about how tough jobs are, how much work is required - come on
equality - look around your high school - nothing could be less natural (or more "myth")
trying to cover too much
but yes this is worth reading notwithstanding the above complaints
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