Why are people getting fatter? Why do so many rock stars end up dead at 27? Is there any hope of curbing population growth, rampant consumerism and the environmental devastation they wreak? Rob Brooks argues that the origins of these twenty-first century problems can be found where the ancient forces of evolution collide with modern culture and economics. He explores a tasting platter of topics, from the frivolous to the tragic, illustrating how evolution stands alongside economics, anthropology, psychology and political science in shaping our world.