Out of Eden

In this changing world of what is socially and politically correct polygamy is perhaps the last great taboo. Over the last thousand years monogamy - at least in name - has been the default setting for coupledom and procreation in the Western world. And yet throughout history there have been inklings that one-man one-woman is an uncomfortable institution for human beings. The consistently high rate of marital cheating by both sexes plus the persistent interest in a variety of sexual partners - on the part of women as well as men - suggest strongly that monogamy isn't easy and certainly isn't natural for either sex. <p/>Esteemed writer and evolutionary biologist David P. Barash tackles this uncomfortable finding: that humans are actually biologically and anthropologically inclined toward polygamy. Drawing on decades of research Barash presents a remarkable array of scientific evidence from evolutionary biology and cross-cultural studies that guide the reader through the hidden impacts of polygamy on such crucial behavior as violence parenting sexual preferences adultery and efforts at monogamy itself along with mind-bending speculation about the possible role of our polygamous predisposition when it comes to human genius homosexuality and even monotheism. But take heart monogamists Although our species has long been out of Eden this fascinating read is ultimately reassuring that biology is not destiny.<br>