El Gentraso

Curious parallels

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Nothing to do with ecology etc., but I couldn't resist saluting Peter Leeson for calling his book on the economics of piracy 'The Invisible Hook'.

John Whitfield: I am a London-based science writer, with a particular interest in evolution, ecology and whatever you call the place where the social and natural sciences meet.

My new book: People Will Talk: The Surprising Science of Reputation looks at how much of our time, energy and biology we (and other species) devote to building and protecting our own reputations, even when we don't realize we're doing it. And I show that how a society works, for good or ill, has a lot to do with how people use reputation.

My first book 'In the Beat of a Heart: Life, Energy and the Unity of Nature' was published in autumn 2006.

(A gentraso is an ecological survey technique, named after the late Al Gentry.)

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