Neuroscience · Biology and nature
Behave
Robert Sapolsky works backward from a single human act, seconds earlier to evolutionary history, to explain how brain, hormones, childhood and culture shape behavior, especially aggression, cooperation and morality.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 2017
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 802
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a broad, dense, funny deep dive into the science of why humans act as they do.
Skip this if you want a short, light read, since it is long and technical in places.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Behave
- What is Behave about?
- Robert Sapolsky works backward from a single human act, seconds earlier to evolutionary history, to explain how brain, hormones, childhood and culture shape behavior, especially aggression, cooperation and morality.
- Who should read Behave?
- Read it if you want a broad, dense, funny deep dive into the science of why humans act as they do. Skip it if you want a short, light read, since it is long and technical in places.
- How long and how fast is Behave?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 802 pages, first published in 2017.
- Does Behave have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence.
- Can I borrow Behave for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Behave; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
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| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
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| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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