Birnam Wood Summary of Key Points

Birnam Wood is a novel written by Josiah Bancroft. The story unfolds in a world where nature is reasserting itself with dangerous consequences for humanity. The protagonist, Elston, embarks on a journey to find his wife in a world transformed by the regrowth of the forests, encountering numerous perils and challenges along the way.

The Social Leap Summary of Key Points

In ‘The Social Leap’, evolutionary psychologist William von Hippel explores how the challenges faced by our prehistoric ancestors shaped not only our physical evolution but also the psychological traits and social norms that define human society. The book delves into the journey from our primate beginnings to the modern era, highlighting the ‘social leap’ our ancestors made when they started to cooperate and live in larger groups. Von Hippel argues that understanding this evolutionary path can shed light on why we behave the way we do today and what it means for our happiness and social dynamics.