The Trouble With Testosterone: And Other Essays On The Biology Of The Human Predicament

One reviewer titled his review: "Disappointed - dripping condescension - privileged elite."Dr. Sapolsky's book, "The Trouble With Testosterone: And Other Essays On The Biology Of The Human Predicament" is precisely the opposite. Only a person afflicted with a puzzling, begrudging attitude toward Dr. Sapolsky himself could have characterized him so disparagingly. Indeed, the grudge-holder's review offered nothing that would rationally support his accusations of Dr. Sapolsky being guilty of "dripping condescension" and "privileged elitism." In fact, the accuser's review itself drips of condescension, although I doubt he is a member of the "privileged elite" - a club that I'm certain Dr. Sapolsky would never accept an invitation to join.In any case, these essays are thoroughly engaging and provide much to contemplate afterwards. The last sentence of the last chapter moved me deeply and reassured me about how science only deepens our feelings of wonder and awe with each new discovery of how life, especially the brain, works - and then provides us with an unending supply of mysteries to explore and ultimately to understand.

This was a fascinating read. I read the whole book in one day and then purchased his other book Behave immediately afterwards. Truth be told, Sapolsky's personality at times bothered me which is no surprise since he is known for sometimes 'leaking' bits and pieces of what appears to be some kind of political agenda or bias. Alas, these grumblings really do seem to be genuine observations and parallels he has drawn from his research and baboon escapades. I trust his intuition and this book has made more conscientious of the human condition as a whole. Well done

In "The Truth About Testosterone", Robert Sapolsky combines his knowledge and experience in biology and neuroscience to make sense of certain human behavior patterns and biological reactions. The chapter on testosterone dispels many myths surrounding the impact of this hormone on aggression. Experiments have shown that increase in testosterone level as high as 3-4 times the norm, for example, does not alter human behavior in a noticeable way. An increase of 10 times is accompanied by a marked increase in aggressive behavior. When adult test subjects are castrated, aggressive behavior disappears. When testosterone levels are reverted to their original levels, aggressive behavior returns to its previous intensity level.Sapolsky saves the best for last in the chapter on "Circling the Blanket for God". He discusses a controversial take on the origins of religion, and asks the reader to either stop reading at that point if he/she finds the material offensive, or finish the chapter if he/she chooses to continue.Sapolsky's writing is easy to understand, and his ideas are thought provoking. This is definitely an educational as well as an entertaining piece of work.

Is it possible for a man who has won a MacArthur genius grant to be underappreciated? Reading this set of essays I have to wonder why Sapolsky is not as widely read and commented on as Dawkins, Sacks, Gleick and those other few at the absolute pinnacle of popular science writing.The tales here cover his familiar subjects: the mind and emotions (one is tempted to say the soul), stress and our reactions, and how brain chemistry effects us every day. He also relates anecdotes from his baboon observations, and in the most touching essay talks about his father's life and death. The essays are gathered from several years and several magazines and each stands on its own...there is no particular theme beyond the aforementioned subject matter. The best is probably about how we sometimes take on the identity of another: illustrated by an anecdote where he watched Stephen Hawking give a lecture "through" the voice and body of a vigorous young graduate student, and Sapolsky's own odd reaction to his father's death. It is interesting, mildly disturbing and raises some ideas about individuality I certainly had never considered. In another essay, Sapolsky describes why so many illnesses have the same symptoms (its because it is our own immune systems that make us feel so crummy). Elsewhere he draws parallels betweens kids going off to college and male baboons switching tribes, and in yet another essay compares aging in baboons and humans.So, should you read this book?"Yes", if you have read other Sapolsky books and are looking for more."Yes", if you have heard about Sapolsky and want an introduction before diving into one of the larger works (though I still think 'A Primate's Memoir' is the best place to start)."Yes", if you are interested in the brain and/or like good science writing.

SUPPOSED human predicament. anyways maybe i'll read this later

Robert Sapolsky is an American treasure. You can also check out his videos on utube from his Human Biology classes at Stanford University. I’ll read anything he writes. His books are informative, funny, poignant, and interesting.

Excellent writing and a mine of knowledge and good old common sense!

Everyone needs to read this book

Il testo è diviso in sezioni, spesso saggi raccolti e non frutto di una sola trattazione da inizio a fine.Ciònonostante, chi dovesse conoscere il saggista e lo scienziato Robert Sapolsky, non rimarrà deluso. Chi invece non lo dovesse conoscere, scoprirà uno scrittore suggestivo, intrigante e molto colto che lo condurrà attraverso la biologia, la neurobiologia, la biochimica e la psicologia.Completa bene le opere di Sapolsky. Andrebbe letto assieme a Perché alle zebre non viene l'ulcera e L'uomo bestiale. Come l'ambiente e i geni costruiscono la nostra identità perché sia per tema che per aderenza argomentativa, risulta incastrarsi perfettamente assieme a questi due.Il linguaggio è semplice ma non banale. Da studente di medicina lo apprezzo per le connessioni tra lo studio e la materia di studio. Da ordinario lettore, lo apprezzo perché assieme ad altri pochi altri è un comunicatore d'avanguardia. Colma un gap che si avvertiva nelle neuroscienze.Consigliato sia a chi già studia nel suo campo, sia chi, pur non studiandone ne è semplicemente incuriosito.

As if they hired a think tank to do original research into how to make their print quality noticeably worse than their competitors. to distinguish themselves. stunning in its bad-ness

Product was not original but a duplicate printed copy with very bad printing and even cover was printed