Evolution's purpose

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Michael C. Finke

"Michael C. Finke explodes a century of critical truisms concerning Chekhov's objective eye and what being a physician gave him as a writer in a book that foregrounds the deeply subjective and self-reflexive aspects of his fiction and drama. In exploring previously unrecognized seams between the author's life and his verbal art, Finke profoundly alters and deepens our understanding of Chekhov's personality and behaviors, provides new interpretations of a broad array of Chekhov's texts, and fleshes out Chekhov's simultaneous pride in his identity as a physician and devastating critique of turn-of-the-century medical practices and ideologies." "Seeing Chekhov is essential reading for students of Russian literature, devotees of the short story and modern drama, and anyone interested in the intersection of literature, psychology, and medicine."--Jacket.

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William F. Allman

Why do we desire one person rather than another as a mate? How are we able to live together in large groups? Why do we react in anger to infidelity? Why do we love music and art? All of these human characteristics are rooted in the distant past, as William F. Allman informs us in The Stone Age Present. Reporting on cutting-edge ideas from the frontiers of research in such disciplines as anthropology, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and artificial intelligence - Allman shows how our minds evolved in response to challenges faced by our prehistoric ancestors. And he reveals how our brains continue to harbor that long-ago legacy in the present day. Scientists speculate that countless problems of contemporary life, from individuals being overweight to nations waging war, result because our "Stone Age minds" haven't caught up with our overcrowded, technologically sophisticated world. Our emotional responses, sexual preferences, and all other aspects of modern-day behavior are still playing out the evolutionary legacy of our ancient ancestors. But at a time when society is increasingly concerned about values, this book also shows how morality is not the result of arbitrary convention but stems from our need to cooperate, which has been essential to our successful evolution as a species. By a leading proponent of science for the general reader, this illuminating book moves beyond the "nature vs. nurture" debate to provide a challenging and indispensable guide to understanding the ancient origins of our modern psyche.

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Gail Gaymer Martin

"After her in-laws paid her to disappear, single mom Meara Hayden moved to Mackinaw Island to start over. With her faith and her son's enthusiasm, she knew she could do it. But she never thought one simple kite would lead her to love again. Jordan Baird felt as aimless as the kites he made. After losing his family, he led a reclusive life. Then, unexpectedly, a mother and her special son made him see new possibilities, the happiness of love and faith. Did Jordan dare dream of the riches life had to offer?" -- back cover.

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Don Richard Riso with Russ Hudson

"The Enneagram is an extraordinary framework for understanding more about ourselves. No matter from which point of view we approach it, we discover fresh conjunctions of new and old ideas." So writes Don Riso in this expanded edition of his classic interpretation of the Enneagram, the ancient psychological system used to understand the human personality. In addition to updating the descriptions of the nine personality types, Personality Types, Revised greatly expands the accompanying guidelines and, for the first time, uncovers the Core Dynamics, or Levels of Development, within each type. This skeletal system provides far more information about the inner tension and movements of the nine personalities than has previously been published. This increased specificity will allow therapists, social workers, personnel managers, students of the Enneagram, and general readers alike to use it with much greater precision as they unlock the secrets of self-understanding, and thus self-transformation.” From Goodreads