Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity

Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity is a 2020 non-fiction work by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods. It explores the evolutionary roots of human behavior, emphasizing the significance of friendliness and cooperation in shaping our species. Brian Hare, an anthropologist and evolutionary biologist, and Vanessa Woods, a journalist and researcher, challenge the traditional notion of “survival of the fittest.” Cited in the fields of evolutionary psychology and anthropology, this popular-science book touches on themes such as The Evolutionary Advantages of Friendliness and Cooperation, The Impact of Social Behavior on Human History and Progress, and Empathy as a Driving Force in Human Interaction.

This guide is based on the Random House 2020 e-book edition. Citations are to page numbers in this edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide include discussions of anthropological power structures, violence, sexual coercion, racism, and dehumanization.

Summary

The book begins with the story of Carlos, a fifth-grader in Austin, Texas, who faced significant challenges in a desegregated classroom in 1971.