The Madness of Adam and Eve: How Schizophrenia Shaped Humanity

by David Horrobin (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2002

  $4.09

  Using the theory of evolution, the first modern humans originated in Africa, and from there they migrated to Eurasia and Australasia. These humans carried with them the genetic basis of schizophrenia, the only major illness found to the same extent in all racial groups. This universal distribution shows that the disease must have been present before the races separated. Modern evidence shows that families where schizophrenia is present are also exceptionally creative in many different fields. In this book David Horrobin draws on his knowledge of medicine, of evolution, of psychiatry, of Africa and of nutrition to present the hypothesis that we are human because some of us are schizophrenic and because a touch of schizophrenia is associated with exceptional skills of many sorts with a creativity that defines humans and separates us from our nearest primate.

• Used

  Hardcover
  2001

  $10.35

  This volume presents an argument which aims to fundamentally alter our view of the roots of humanity and answer questions of how a species of clever ape evolved into something different. Schizophrenia is the only illness to be found in equal measure in all racial groups, pointing to the fact that the disease must have been present at the dawn of mankind before the races diversified and spread from Africa throughout Eurasia and Australasia. The book aims to reveal how the genetic legacy of schizophrenia is at the heart of the best and worst of human achievement.