I like Wilson a lot, and generally find sociobiology quite cool and persuasive. But I don't think this is a great book. I found the middle parts (III and IV) on insects a bit of a slog, though surely that speaks to my own limitations. And I think the big stuff at the end just didn't hang together very well. I enjoyed [a:Thomas Suddendorf|6908014|Thomas Suddendorf|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s [b:The Gap: The Science of What Separates Us from Other Animals|18818398|The Gap The Science of What Separates Us from Other Animals|Thomas Suddendorf|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404782849s/18818398.jpg|23913037] was a much better read.

The social conquest of earth is a great thesis - I buy it. Eusociality - "the condition of multiple generations organized into groups by means of an altruistic division of labor" (p. 133) is powerful juju. I learned a great deal on any number of topics, but, again, this underperfomed expectations as a book to read and enjoy.