The Most Dangerous Animal: Human Nature and the Origins of War by David Livingstone Smith
Why are we our own worst enemy? In the twentieth century, 170 million human beings have died in wars. That makes 4630 casualties a day, 193 every hour, and three every minutes. 1035 billion dollars were spent on aid to developing countries. Russia and the U.S. boast 3.6 and 5.9 wars each generation respectively - that is 49.3 and 48.3 years of warfare for each generation. The Most Dangerous Animal takes the reader on a journey through evolution, anthropology and psychology and asks what it is about human nature that makes war possible. Meticulously researched, far-reaching in scope, and with many stunning examples, The Most Dangerous Animal delivers a sobering lesson for an increasingly dangerous world.