About the book
Robert Wright argues that biological and cultural evolution have a direction, driven above all by the prospect of interactions that are not zero-sum. Using game theory, he contends that natural selection favors growing complexity and rewards cooperation, pushing life toward intelligent, communicating organisms and humanity toward a more interdependent global society. He challenges the view that evolution and history are aimless, taking issue with Stephen Jay Gould among others. His evidence ranges from fossilized bacteria and vampire bats to Polynesian chiefdoms, medieval Islamic commerce and the World Trade Organization. The book is built in three parts: a history of humankind, a history of organic life, and a short, openly speculative final section called From Here to Eternity.
Blogger Jason Kottke counts it among the very few books he thinks about constantly, describing it as an intriguing lens for reading current events.
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This book has 1 recommendation
Jason Kottke (Blogger & Designer)
One of the very few books I think about all the time is Robert Wright’s Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny.
Nonzero is an intriguing lens through which to view current events (which is why it’s often in my thoughts). As Chopra notes, cooperation isn’t always the norm…Trumpist Republicans and Brexit proponents are both veering towards the zero sum end of the spectrum and I don’t think it will work out well for either country in the long run.
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