Knowledge of what makes us tick, Brooks argues, does not come primarily from introspection but must rely on systematic external observation, experiment and statistics.
These are the figures that make us, Sandbrook argues, "a cultural superpower".
Page B2 Arts THE JOYS AND PAINS Of Being an Animal Temple Grandin designed the slaughter systems used to process about half the cattle in the United States and Canada, and yet her latest book, "Animals Make Us Human," argues for improving the quality of life of animals.
TM: I would argue that it makes us less safe and less secure.
Sometimes the author appeared to be arguing that capitalism makes us virtuous.
Boosting the mandates, advocates argue, will make us use less fuel, thus reducing our reliance on imported oil while improving the environment.
It's pretty hard to argue that making travelers wait an extra couple of months for a visa makes us safer.
"We've got a clubhouse, a space to be ourselves and not worry about anyone hearing any terrible music we make or hearing us argue," he said.
But it's the mark of a valuable, provocative book that it can make us laugh, think and argue about the starry contradictions that are so profound a part of our lives, whether we like to acknowledge their importance or not.
"Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe," Mr. Bush argued, in a critique that embraced both Democrats and Republicans who preceded him, "because in the long run, stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty".
