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The books that I like or want to read, which couldn't make the top-tier list, but still very interesting. Occasionally, books from the top-tier list are also included here for continuity.

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Human Nature

  • The Evolution of Cooperation (Robert Axelrod, foreword by Richard Dawkins)

    Dawkins: "I really do think that the planet would be a better place if everybody studied and understood [this book]. The world's leaders should all be locked up with this book and not released until they have read it. This would be a pleasure to them and might save the rest of us.". Axelrod is a member of the American National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. - best strategy in iterated prisoner's dilemma is TIT FOR TAT.

  • The Selfish Gene (Richard Dawkins)

    Famous book. Humans are slaves to their genes, that are all about spreading themselves. This gene-centered view (opposing to individual-centered) was pioneered by W.D. Hamilton, who is hailed by Dawkins as most distinguished Darwinian since Darwin.

  • The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal (Jared Diamond)

    Part that compares physiology of other primates to humans is particularly interesting. How human physiology and behavioral tendencies evolved together. Charlie Munger also recommends.

  • Tree of Origin: What Primate Behavior Can Tell Us about Human Social Evolution (Frans de Waal)

    Frans de Waal is among top primatologists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_de_Waal

  • Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved

    Foundations of morality in human biology. de Waal attacks “Veneer Theory”, which he labels as Hobbesian view of human morality, which posits morality is a thin overlay on an otherwise nasty nature. de Waal argues that morality is a biological phenomenon. Kropotkin ideas in Mutual Aid are close to that.

  • Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution (Peter Kropotkin)

    Endorsed by Celal Sengor many times. The central thesis is that cooperation, more so than competition, is the driver of evolution. Kropotkin substantiates his claim through a wealth of examples from both natural and human history, illustrating the pervasive role of mutual aid in survival and advancement.

  • Lord of The Flies (William Golding)

    Recommended by Celal Sengor. A story built on the idea that human nature is savage and it would emerge back when civilization, rules and moral guidance are removed. It's in a opposing direction to de Wall. de Wall would probably think Golding is an adherent to "Veneer Theory".

  • The Golden Bough (Sir James George Frazer)

    Celal Sengor recommended.

  • Des choses cachees depuis la fondation du monde (René Girard)

    Peter Thiel: "We [followers of Girard], had sort of a sense that we had figured out the truth about the world in a way that nobody else did.". Peter Thiel: "Among the many books Girard wrote, the magesterial one is Things Hidden Since The Foundation of The World (from his [interview with Eric Weinstein](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM9f0W2KD5s&t=8310s)). Mimetic Theory, Scapegoating, ..."

  • Leviathan (Thomas Hobbes)

    Added Hobbses here, as his work has been very influential and had claims on the human nature. His ideas are in opposite direction to de Waal. He thinks the natural human state (without law and state) is "bellum omnium contra omnes" (The war of all against all). Lord of the Flies story is based on such a belief.

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