Our story : how cultures shaped people to get things done / W. Penn Handwerker.

"The story of human evolution, or Our Story, is about the development and refinement of cultures. Individuals cannot do things on their own, this book argues; their choices are driven by heuristics, biases, illogical preferences, and irrational assumptions about the nature of reality. So how did humanity survive? By forming more and more successful cultures, which are teams of people who share a specific vision of the world. Because cultures-as-teams are more effective if there is a strong correspondence among the members, they select individuals who clarify the team's vision and force compliance to that vision. Thus, cultures-as-teams are powerful agents for change in the world. They offer the individual the opportunity to accomplish unimaginable goals, but they can also destroy him or her in the process"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: Introduction PART I: On Cultures Chapter 1: Cultures Originate in Intelligent Minds Chapter 2: Cultures Establish Moral Visions Chapter 3: Morally Ordered Behavior Gives Cultures Agency Chapter 4: Living Requires Many Cultures; Thriving Requires They Be Well Designed PART II: On the Properties of Mind That Produce Agency Chapter 5: Coercive Force Yields Morally Ordered Behavior Chapter 6: Cognitive Coercion May Kill You Before You Get Anywhere Chapter 7: Intelligence Makes for Disturbing Irony Technical Appendix References Index.