Kluge：The Haphazard Evolution of the Human Mind

Howisitthatwecanrecognizephotosfromourhighschoolyearbookdecadeslater,butcannotrememberwhatweateforbreakfastyesterday?Andwhyareweinclinedtobuymorecansofsoupifthesignsays"LIMIT12PERCUSTOMER"ratherthan"LIMIT4PERCUSTOMER?"In"Kluge,"GaryMarcusarguesconvincinglythatourmindsarenotaselegantlydesignedaswemaybelieve.Theimperfectionsresultfromahaphazardevolutionaryprocessthatoftenproceedsbypilingnewsystemsontopofoldones--andthosesystemsdon'talwaysworkwelltogether.Theendproductisa"kluge,"aclumsy,cobbled-togethercontraption.Takingusonatouroftheessentialareasofhumanexperience--memory,belief,decisionmaking,language,andhappiness--Marcusunveilsafundamentallynewwayoflookingattheevolutionofthehumanmindandsimultaneouslyshedslightonsomeofthemostmysteriousaspectsofhumannature.