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Cover of The Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan

The Dragons of Eden

Carl Sagan

  • 271 pages · about 5 hours
  • First published 1977
  • 31 editions
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1 About this book

The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence is a 1977 book by Carl Sagan, in which the author combines the fields of anthropology, evolutionary biology, psychology, and computer science to give a perspective on how human intelligence may have evolved.

Sagan discusses the search for a quantitative means of measuring intelligence. He argues that the brain to body mass ratio is an extremely good correlative indicator for intelligence, with humans having the highest ratio and dolphins the second highest, though he views the trend as breaking down at smaller scales, with some small animals (ants in particular) placing disproportionately high on the list. Other topics mentioned include the evolution of the brain (with emphasis on the function of the neocortex in humans), the evolutionary purpose of sleep and dreams, demonstration of sign language abilities by chimps and the purpose of mankind's innate fears and myths.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Evolution
  • Genetic psychology
  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Nature
  • Science fiction
  • Science
  • Biological Evolution
  • Behavioral Genetics

2 About Carl Sagan

1934–1996

Carl Edward Sagan (; SAY-gən; November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, planetary scientist and science communicator. Initially an assistant professor at Harvard, Sagan later moved to Cornell, where he was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He played an active role in the Mariner, Viking and Voyager programs.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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