The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature
Gad Saad
Dec 2019 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Matthew Josdal
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5 reviews
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11 hr 21 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
In this highly informative and entertaining book, the founder of the vibrant new field of evolutionary consumption illuminates the relevance of our biological heritage to our daily lives as consumers. While culture is important, the author shows that innate evolutionary forces deeply influence the foods we eat, the gifts we offer, the cosmetics and clothing styles we choose to make ourselves more attractive to potential mates, and even the cultural products that stimulate our imaginations (such as art, music, and religion). The book demonstrates that most acts of consumption can be mapped onto four key Darwinian drives—namely, survival (we prefer foods high in calories); reproduction (we use products as sexual signals); kin selection (we naturally exchange gifts with family members); and reciprocal altruism (we enjoy offering gifts to close friends). The author further highlights the analogous behaviors that exist between human consumers and a wide range of animals. For anyone interested in the biological basis of human behavior or simply in what makes consumers tick—marketing professionals, advertisers, psychology mavens, and consumers themselves—this is a fascinating listen.
In this highly informative and entertaining book, the founder of the vibrant new field of evolutionary consumption illuminates the relevance of our biological heritage to our daily lives as consumers. While culture is important, the author shows that innate evolutionary forces deeply influence th...
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5 reviews
V.T. Curtains
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April 15, 2025
I've listened to the first chapter 1 time so far (I have a turbulent life so far) It's what I've made time for (butterfly effect was a good movie to me, I also like "the dead south" : in hell I'll be in good company
About the author
Gad Saad, a popular blogger for Psychology Today (Homo Consumericus), is a professor of marketing at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. He is the author of The Evolutionary Bases of Consumption and The Consuming Instinct.
Originally from a small town in southwest Saskatchewan, Matthew Josdal is a voice-over and theater artist who has narrated titles in a wide range of genres, including historical nonfiction and contemporary fantasy. He obtained his BFA in drama from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where he currently resides.
Gad Saad, a popular blogger for Psychology Today (Homo Consumericus), is a professor of marketing at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. He is the author of The Evolutionary Bases of Consumption and The Consuming Instinct. Originally from a small town in southwest Saskatch...
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