{"title":"Joseph Henrich","description":"\u003cp\u003eJoseph Henrich's works explore the profound ways culture and biology interact to shape human behaviour and societies. His books offer compelling insights into the evolution of cooperation, social norms, and the unique traits that distinguish different populations around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect thought-provoking narratives that blend anthropology, psychology, and economics, shedding light on what makes us human and how cultural evolution drives our success. Ideal for those curious about the foundations of human nature and societal development.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-weirdest-people-in-the-world","title":"The Weirdest People in the World","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Weirdest People in the World\u003c\/em\u003e by Joseph Henrich presents a fascinating and exhilarating exploration of how psychology, culture, and institutions have co-evolved to shape the Western mind. Henrich delves deep into the reasons behind the uniqueness of Western societies, tracing the roots of modern Western behaviour and thought processes back to historical changes in family structures, marriage practices, and religious beliefs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you identify yourself by your profession or achievements rather than your family network, or if you pursue personal goals and cultivate unique attributes, you may be part of what Henrich describes as the WEIRD population, an acronym for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. This subset of society is highly individualistic, nonconformist, analytical, and control-oriented, characteristics that set them apart from many other cultures throughout history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJoseph Henrich, the pioneer of the WEIRD concept, draws from a rich tapestry of interdisciplinary research in anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology. He explores how significant historical shifts, particularly since the Middle Ages, have shaped the Western psyche. These shifts include changes in family structures (moving away from kin-based social orders), evolving marriage practices (such as the rise of monogamy and individual choice in marriage), and transforming religious beliefs (like the shift to Protestantism). Each of these elements contributed to the development of distinct cognitive styles and social behaviours that characterize WEIRD societies today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHenrich's narrative is not just a historical analysis but also an exploration of the implications of these shifts on modern societal structures. He illustrates how the psychological and cultural transformations of the past continue to influence current economic practices, political systems, and educational frameworks in the Western world. The book challenges readers to reconceptualize their understanding of human psychology and cultural evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Weirdest People in the World\u003c\/em\u003e is a thought-provoking and insightful read for anyone interested in understanding the deep-seated origins of Western individualism and its global implications. It is a testament to how deeply intertwined our cultural practices and psychological traits are and how they continue to shape our world in complex and often surprising ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45658364313836,"sku":"9780141976211","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141976211.jpg?v=1724852101"},{"product_id":"the-secret-of-our-success-by-joseph-henrich-9780691178431","title":"The Secret of Our Success","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHumans are a puzzling species. On the one hand, we struggle to survive on our own in the wild, often failing to overcome even basic challenges, like obtaining food, building shelters, or avoiding predators. On the other hand, human groups have produced ingenious technologies, sophisticated languages, and complex institutions that have permitted us to successfully expand into a vast range of diverse environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat has enabled us to dominate the globe, more than any other species, while remaining virtually helpless as lone individuals? \u003cem\u003eThe Secret of Our Success\u003c\/em\u003e shows that the secret of our success lies not in our innate intelligence, but in our collective brains - on the ability of human groups to socially interconnect and learn from one another over generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing insights from lost European explorers, clever chimpanzees, mobile hunter-gatherers, neuroscientific findings, ancient bones, and the human genome, Joseph Henrich demonstrates how our collective brains have propelled our species' genetic evolution and shaped our biology. Our early capacities for learning from others produced many cultural innovations, such as fire, cooking, water containers, plant knowledge, and projectile weapons, which in turn drove the expansion of our brains and altered our physiology, anatomy, and psychology in crucial ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLater on, some collective brains generated and recombined powerful concepts, such as the lever, wheel, screw, and writing, while also creating the institutions that continue to alter our motivations and perceptions. Henrich shows how our genetics and biology are inextricably interwoven with cultural evolution, and how culture-gene interactions launched our species on an extraordinary evolutionary trajectory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTracking clues from our ancient past to the present, \u003cem\u003eThe Secret of Our Success\u003c\/em\u003e explores how the evolution of both our cultural and social natures produce a collective intelligence that explains both our species' immense success and the origins of human uniqueness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47428318953708,"sku":"9780691178431","price":69.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780691178431.jpg?v=1774477650"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/joseph-henrich.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}