This proves to be a surprisingly good read. He contrasts hunter-gatherer societies, especially those in New Guinea, with WEIRD societies – white, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic. A taste…
P174
Even studies of child development that claim to be broadly cross-cultural – eg
comparing German, American, Japanese and Chinese children – are actually
sampling societies all drawn from the same narrow slice of human cultural
diversity…. As a result, those and other state-level modern societies have
converged on a small range of child-rearing practices that by historical
standards are unusual.
P300
real difference between hunter gatherer, traditional societies and WEIRD ones
is that the traditional society allows you to have sex whenever you want, but
you really worry about where the next meal is coming from…
P301
describes practise of pooling food resources in traditional societies... Even
those who have not participated in the foraging or hunting get a share.
