By Robin Dunbar
Wiley, November 2012
Kissing is a rich exchange of informative proteins and arousal hormones. There’s a correlation in primates between brain size and group size, and between monogamy (rare) and males with pointer and ring fingers the same length. Eye shadow mimics the natural darkening of eyelids during ovulation. Breakup and rejection truly hurt: they activate the same brain area as physical pain. These are among the startling facts in this somewhat disorganized but riveting grab bag of love science from evolutionary anthropologist Robin Dunbar. His book is refreshingly different from the typical love-science book: he debunks pop-sci endorsements (oxytocin’s overhyped), speculates about high heels and religious ecstasy, and focuses less on selfish-gene dogma than on the juicy details of what people ...
