Passions Within Reason by Robert Frank (1988)Read about the other entries on the list.
Frank is an economist inspired by evolutionary theory. But instead of using that theory to make the case for unfettered competition, he has always emphasised the social side of our species; our commitments, our concern for fairness, our genuinely charitable impulses. He was writing about these issues long before the modern wave of behavioural economics and our current understanding that the default mode of human interaction is actually cooperative rather than competitive.
Learn about Frans de Waal's six favorite books.
Also see: Karen Joy Fowler's top ten books about intelligent animals.
--Marshal Zeringue