>What is incongruous to me is that in 10,000 or more years,
>humans have evolved to be a cultured, inventive, communicative
>and inquisitive species, yet what was probably true those aeons
>ago is still true - the world still turns on greed, barbarism, and
>power. Little cheer germ aren't I ? ;-)

Human nature is genetic.  Here are four of my favorite books plus a good
reference on the subject:

Jay
======================

#1 ** DEMONIC MALES: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence, by Richard
Wrangham & Dale Peterson; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395877431

Don't let the name throw you a curve; it's not a polemic against men. It's
well written (interesting from start to end), even-handed (scientific), and
explains why we evolved to act like chimps instead of bonobos. In fact, this
book broke my house record for paperclips and highlighter. E.O. Wilson
endorses this book. I love it! (Please pass the bananas.)

#2 ** THE SPIRIT IN THE GENE: Humanity's Proud Illusion and the Laws of
Nature,
by Reg Morrison, Lynn Margulis; Cornell, 1999;
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801436516 . Morrison's
book is endorsed by E.O. Wilson of Harvard, and Thomas Eisner of Cornell.

#3 ** DARK NATURE: A Natural History of Evil, by Lyall Watson;
HarperCollins,
1997; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060927909

#4 ** THE DARK SIDE OF MAN: Tracing the Origins of Male Violence, by Michael
P.
Ghiglieri; Perseus, 1999; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073820076X

==================================================

HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY: Ideas Issues and Applications, Eds.
Charles Crawford & Dennis Krebs; Lawrence Erlbaum, 1998
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805816666

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