morgan_blackledge's reviews
664 reviews

I gave it 5 stars just to be a dick. But really! It's just a fucking book. Relax already. I know managed care sucks. But try to imagine what the fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology were like before diagnostic criteria and strict licensure standards. Running with scissors anyone? P.S. check out Nicole's review. She has read it "front to back several times"?Wow! That's hard core. I love nerding out on this stuff as much as the next guy, but dangalang, reading (and re-reading) a reference manual? Cover to cover? Its like 900 pages. Why would anyone willingly do that?

I can totally see why Robert Sapolsky gave this his mark of approval. It's irreverent, funny as hell and stinking brilliant! Sure, the blunt, streetwise, Brooklyn guy narrative voice boarders on shtick at times. That being said, it has a important function, to playfully broach the "offensive" (to some) subject matter that is the hallmark of evolutionary psychology (e.g. sex -including homosex- and aggression). Of course the material covered in this book (which I will not summarize), goes far beyond sex and aggression. It always remains grounded in the fundamental evolutionary principles of survival and reproduction. Darwin's dangerous idea clarifies and unifies every domain of science to which it is legitimately applied, with the side benefit that it threatens and offends those among us (conservative and liberal alike) that still cling too tired, romantic notions that human beings are somehow above or outside of the laws that govern the behavior of every other living thing. Maybe there's something wrong with me but I just can't get enough of this stuff. I love this book!

Wow, what a great book. In a nutshell; market using the social web, and your message will be heard by millions, by their most trusted sources, their friends. This book cherry picks some of the most interesting and applicable findings from the social sciences i.e. cognitive and social psychology and behavioral economics, and deftly applies them to marketing and public relations in the age of social media. The book is very readable, succinct, its sources are very well cited and each chapter is bullet summarized with a comprehensive summery in the concluding chapter. This book is fast paced, lean on fluff and extremely useful as a reference (perfect for busy people like you and just about everyone else). Great read even if you don't give a rats ass about marketing (which you should, because you will fail and they will own you if you remain ignorant). Well worth the 4 hours it takes to read it cover to cover. Maybe I drank too much coffee today, but I'm gonna go ahead and give er 5 stars.

Sopolsky is the Jimmi Hendrix of lecturers. He's likable, humane, funny, and just plain brilliant. His writing is good, but his real talent is clearly teaching. I bow down to his godlike talent because I'm not worthy of his greatness. All hail the hairy, hippy platinum tongued endocrinologist.

Pure corn!