Seven Deadly Sins

The Biology of Being Human

By: Guy Leschziner

Narrated by: Guy Leschziner

This program is read by the author.

Seven Deadly Sins will explore the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, and their origin in our genes.

Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger. These are The Seven Deadly Sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality. But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply important and useful biological functions that humans need to survive? Instead of being acts of immorality, are they really just a result of how our bodies, our psyches, and our brains in particular, are wired? In Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human, Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology, dares to turn much of what society thinks of as morality on its head and to ask these controversial questions.

Leschziner takes listeners on an exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins as he looks at their neuroscientific and psychological bases, their origin in our genes, and, crucially, how certain medical disorders may give rise to them. He introduces us to patients whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to behaviors that have for centuries been labelled as “sin” and how these behaviors might actually be evolutionary imperatives that preserve the tribe and ensure the wellbeing of our societies.

In this audiobook certain to cause debate and raise controversy, Guy Leschziner, a writer who has explored the mysteries of our sleeping brains and the odd crossed wires of our five senses, asks whether these traits truly represent sin, or simply reflect our intrinsic drive to survive and thrive.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Love the new perspective

The new view of the foundation of behavior and sin and psychology more words words words

An Interesting Proposition

Overall this is a good book, but unfortunately I feel the author has failed to grasp the nature of sin by separating the theological aspect of this theological concept. A more precise premise might have been the biological imperative of immorality in evolution. He could have even kept the 7 deadly sins as his outline. This is what I feel he was going for. As for freewill and the laws of man vs the laws of God and morality, the view and summation is too simplistic lacking distinction. If you are looking for something to help ypu understand the nature of sin and salvation, there are better books.