In Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass", Alice meets the
Red Queen who runs everywhere but stays in the same place. This
book champions a Red Queen theory for the evolution of sexual
reproduction: that it was invented to keep changing the genetic
locks so as to remain one step ahead of constantly mutating
parasites. The Red Queen also addresses dozens of other riddles of
human nature and culture - including why men propose marriage, the
method behind our maddening notions of beauty, and why the human
brain may be like the peacock's tail - a seduction device.
'A bold and fascinating book' - Edward Chancellor
'A terrific book to have a damn good argument with' - Marek
Kohn
'Displays a dazzling knowledge of the habits of insects, fish,
bird and mammals' - Anthony Daniels
'A vivid introduction to the most exciting of thinking available
on the evolution of sex' - Robert Trivers
