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The Consuming Instinct
What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature
Author: Gad Saad, David M. Buss
Narrator: Matthew Josdal
Unabridged: 11 hr 21 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc.
Published: 12/03/2019
Category: Business & Economics - Consumer Behavior
Synopsis
In this highly informative and entertaining book, the founder of the vibrant new field of evolutionary consumption illuminates the relevance of our biological heritage to our daily lives as consumers. While culture is important, the author shows that innate evolutionary forces deeply influence the foods we eat, the gifts we offer, the cosmetics and clothing styles we choose to make ourselves more attractive to potential mates, and even the cultural products that stimulate our imaginations (such as art, music, and religion). The book demonstrates that most acts of consumption can be mapped onto four key Darwinian drives—namely, survival (we prefer foods high in calories); reproduction (we use products as sexual signals); kin selection (we naturally exchange gifts with family members); and reciprocal altruism (we enjoy offering gifts to close friends). The author further highlights the analogous behaviors that exist between human consumers and a wide range of animals. For anyone interested in the biological basis of human behavior or simply in what makes consumers tick—marketing professionals, advertisers, psychology mavens, and consumers themselves—this is a fascinating listen.