Nonzero : The Logic of Human Destiny

In a book sure to stir argument for years to come, Robert Wright challen+ges the conventional view that biological evolution and human history are aimless. Ingeniously employing game theory the logic of zerosum and nonzerosum games Wright isolates the impetus behind lifes basic direction: the impetus that, via biological evolution, created complex, intelligent animals, and then via cultural evolution, pushed the human species towards deeper and vaster social complexity. In this view, the coming of todays independent global society was in the cards not quite inevitable, but, as Wright puts it, so probable as to inspire wonder. In a narrative of breathtaking scope and erudition, yet pungent wit, Wright takes on some of the past centurys most prominent thinkers, including Isaiah Berlin, Karl Popper, Stephen Jay Gould, and Richard Dawkins. Wright argues that a coolly specific appraisal of humanitys threebillionyear past can give new spiritual meaning to the present and even offer political guidance for the future. This book will change the way people think about the human prospect.