The Origin of Politics by Nicholas Wade (Hardcover)

The Origin of Politics is a provocative book by science writer Nicholas Wade, author of Before the Dawn. He argues that many modern political systems pull against older rules of social life shaped by evolution, and explores what that tension means for societies today. It suits readers interested in politics, human evolution and contested ideas.

• Examines instincts tied to family and tribe, and the male-led institutions built on them
• Warns that ideologies which weaken shared cultural bonds could split nation-states, the United States included
• Looks at falling birth rates and what they may mean for long-term survival
• Discusses sex differences, social stratification by ability and the pull of our egalitarian hunter-gatherer past

Details

• Author: Nicholas Wade
• Publisher: Harper (HarperCollins)
• Published: 2025
• Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9780063379787