The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature

Science writer Matt Ridley argues that much of human nature, from how people choose partners to the size of our brains, was shaped by sexual selection. His 1993 book takes its title from the Red Queen in Through the Looking-Glass, who must keep running to stay in place. Ridley explains why sex exists at all, as a defense in the endless arms race against parasites, and explores how competition for mates shaped differences between men and women, attraction and human intelligence.

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Seth Godin: “There are a ton of very cool books on evolutionary theory and this one is particularly good.”
Sam Harris: “They include the Red Queen, Genome, the Rational Optimist, and the Evolution of Everything.”
Naval Ravikant: “Matt is a scientist, optimist, and forward thinker. One of my favorite authors. I've read everything of his, and reread everything of his.”
Shane Parrish: “The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley”