Drunk audiobook cover - How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization

Drunk

How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization

Edward Slingerland

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Categories:
PsychologySociety & CultureHistory

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Mind Map

Drunk
The Evolutionary Puzzle+
The Human Ecological Niche+
The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) Problem+
Alcohol as a Social Tool+
Catalyst for Creativity+
Beer Before Bread Theory+
Modern Drinking Culture+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What is the author's primary stance on why humans continue to get drunk?
  • A. It is an evolutionary 'hijack' that exploits our brain's pleasure centers, similar to masturbation.
  • B. It is an evolutionary 'hangover' driven by our ancient ancestors' search for calorie-dense foods.
  • C. It provides crucial evolutionary benefits that help us survive and thrive in our specific ecological niche.
  • D. It is a biological accident that persists only because human evolution moves too slowly to eliminate it.
Question 2 of 8
Why does the author reject the 'drunken monkey' theory, which suggests our taste for alcohol comes from seeking calorie-dense overripe fruit?
  • A. Overripe fruit actually contains very few calories compared to raw meat and legumes.
  • B. Primatologists have observed that wild primates generally avoid overripe fruit.
  • C. Early humans lacked the digestive enzymes needed to process fermented fruit.
  • D. The ethanol content in ancient fruit was too low to produce any intoxicating effects.
Question 3 of 8
According to the book, what constitutes the unique 'ecological niche' of human beings?
  • A. Our physical endurance and ability to hunt large predators in packs.
  • B. Our physiological adaptations that allow us to survive in diverse, extreme climates.
  • C. Our capacity to consume and digest a wide variety of toxic plants and fermented foods.
  • D. Our heavy reliance on culture, creativity, and community to survive.
Question 4 of 8
How does temporarily disabling the prefrontal cortex (PFC) through intoxication benefit human societies?
  • A. It suspends our purely rational, selfish impulses, making it easier to trust others and cooperate.
  • B. It increases our rational calculating abilities, helping us maximize personal and communal gains.
  • C. It suppresses our emotional responses, allowing for more objective and fair decision-making.
  • D. It sharpens our physical senses, making the group more alert to potential environmental threats.
Question 5 of 8
In the context of the 'prisoner's dilemma,' why would the Dionysian (emotional/intoxicated) approach succeed where the Apollonian (rational) approach fails?
  • A. The Dionysian approach calculates the exact mathematical probability of the other prisoner's silence to ensure the minimum sentence.
  • B. The Apollonian approach relies too heavily on reading micro-facial expressions, which can be easily deceived by the other prisoner.
  • C. The Dionysian approach is motivated by emotions like loyalty and shame, which leads to mutual cooperation rather than betrayal.
  • D. The Apollonian approach inevitably leads to both prisoners refusing to talk, resulting in the maximum possible sentence for both.
Question 6 of 8
What biological parallel does the author draw between intoxicated adults and young children?
  • A. Both experience rapid spikes in dopamine that significantly enhance their physical coordination.
  • B. Both possess an underdeveloped or temporarily disabled prefrontal cortex, which promotes out-of-the-box thinking.
  • C. Both rely heavily on their amygdala to process complex abstract information and social cues.
  • D. Both exhibit heightened levels of rational self-control when faced with unfamiliar environments.
Question 7 of 8
What is the 'beer-before-bread' theory discussed in the text?
  • A. The idea that early humans used beer as a nutritional substitute when early grain harvests failed.
  • B. The belief that ancient societies traded beer to neighboring tribes in exchange for bread and agricultural tools.
  • C. The evolutionary concept that humans developed a physical tolerance for alcohol long before they could digest complex carbohydrates.
  • D. The hypothesis that the desire to brew alcohol for communal feasts actually drove the invention of agriculture.
Question 8 of 8
According to the text, why do 'Southern drinking cultures' like Italy and Spain have lower rates of alcoholism compared to 'Northern' cultures?
  • A. They primarily consume distilled spirits rather than fermented beverages like beer or wine.
  • B. They integrate alcohol into everyday social life and meals, removing the taboo surrounding it.
  • C. They strictly prohibit children from being exposed to alcohol until they reach adulthood.
  • D. They treat drinking as a primary, isolated activity rather than an accompaniment to food.

Drunk — Full Chapter Overview

Drunk Summary & Overview

Drunk (2021) is a scientific and historical inquiry into the evolutionary reasons why humans started getting drunk. Drunk examines how inebriation helped our ancestors evolve into creative, communal, cultural beings, and considers whether or not alcohol is an appropriate tool for the modern age.

In the audio version of these blinks, you'll hear "Also Sprach Zarathustra," composed by Richard Strauss, made available under a Creative Commons Attribution license by Kevin MacLeod. Thanks, Kevin! 

Who Should Listen to Drunk?

  • Anyone who drinks
  • People curious about human behavior
  • Anyone interested in evolution

About the Author: Edward Slingerland

Edward Slingerland is a Canadian-American sinologist and philosopher. He teaches at the University of British Columbia, and his previous books include Trying Not To Try: The Art and Science of Spontaneity.

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