Evolution of Evolution: The Survival Value of Caring

Numerous scholarly articles and books have been written about biologic and social evolution, compassion, life’s meaning, violence and predictions of future outcomes. However, what is not often addressed, but is increasingly desperately needed, is the realization of the evolutionary survival value of caring for others. This book strives to link our humanities and religious philosophies to a scientific understanding of human destiny, and provide a key to meaning in our lives. Though this idea has incubated for over two decades, recent extremism in Charlottesville and global threats of inhumanity and violence make this more timely than ever for all who care about who we are and our children’s future. Furthermore, our capacity for benefit or destruction of Homo sapiens or civilization as we know it sets a ticking timer on the urgency of this realization and focused action; we don’t have ‘forever’ to ‘get it!’


Richard Littleton Guerrant is Professor of Medicine at the University of Virginia, and Founding Director of its Trans-University Center for Global Health. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine, he chaired its Board of Global Health. His research focuses on ameliorating the long-term impact of diarrhea and gut infections in developing countries. He has edited seven books, including Tropical Infectious Diseases and At the Edge of Development, and authored over 670 papers. He formerly served as President of American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and is the recipient of its Walter Reed Medal.

“For decades, ‘enlightened self-interest’ has been given as a major reason to care for others. Guerrant leads us well beyond this with a far more powerful message, ‘survival by caring’, because that is simply ‘who we are.’ Indeed, this is the only sane strategy for mutual survival.”
Sean R. Moore, MS, MD,
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia

"“I suspect de Chardin would affirm Guerrant's thinking in this provocative work. I especially like Guerrant's mixture of logic, practical advice and big-picture warning and hope.”
John H. Cooley, M.D. Family Medicine and pediatrician, Dundee, NY

“This book takes a closer look at the value of caring and its evolution to the present day. It is well-written and free of grammatical errors. […] I firmly agree with the author that the trajectory of human history and potential evolution of evolution likely hold a message for the universal survival for all of humanity, one that we cannot afford to ignore. We are interdependent, often more than we realize. Whether we like it or not we are in it together and how an individual does very much affects how the next individual does. Caring and love for one another gives meaning to our reason for existence. Readers from various disciplines will enjoy this book”
Jean-d’Amour Twibanire, PhD

Buy This Book

ISBN: 1-5275-1452-8

ISBN13: 978-1-5275-1452-2

Release Date: 17th September 2018

Pages: 143

Price: £29.99

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ISBN: 1-5275-7628-0

ISBN13: 978-1-5275-7628-5

Release Date: 26th October 2021

Pages: 143

Price: £25.99

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