Click Here To Purchase Dominance and Delusion

Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, M.A. Curtis author of Dominance & Delusion. M.A. Curtis is a retired engineer with a strong interest in anthropology and sociology, and his book looks at evolution and its impact on the human animal.

Good day M.A. and thanks for participating in our interview

Norm:

Can you share a little of Dominance & Delusion with us?

M.A.

It is my contention that the human animal is influenced by two genetic predispositions.  The first of these is dominance.  Dominance occurs in many species of animals because it has selective value.  We are social primates.  All social primates form dominance systems.  We form dominance systems. 

Delusion is another matter.  Delusion is a singularly human characteristic.  We have the ability to accept as absolute truth utterly false absurdities.  Interestingly, this ability, at one time, had survival value.  Today it is the single most serious defect in the human animal.

Together, these two genetic predispositions, dominance and delusion, do much to explain human behavior.

Norm:

What made you interested in exploring why humans do the things they do?  As a follow up, how did you decide you were ready to write the book? 

M.A.

I have always been interested in the nature of human nature.  I had a choice between anthropology and engineering.  At the time engineering paid better but I have always been an anthropologist at heart. 

As for this book, it is actually my fifth.  It is, however, the first work I have done that I have felt is worth publishing.  The manuscript is a result of a lifetime of study as well as 15 years of research and reading. 

 Norm:

Your book has a broader mission than simply entertaining. Can you talk more about that mission and what you hope readers will take away after reading your book?

M.A.

I believe that we, as a species, are incapable of objectively studying human behavior.  We are biased in favour of ourselves and see humans as somehow more important and special than other species.  As a result of this bias we make decisions based on assumptions that have no basis in fact. 

To a religionist we are made in the image of God.  That is how important we are.  To a secularist we are the culmination of evolution, a perfect species, totally above the often violent and cruel “animal” world. 

Decisions are made and actions taken based on an assumption of the inherent goodness of man.  Tens of millions of people have been murdered in the name of natural goodness.  Thus we display our delusions. 

It is my hope that after reading Dominance & Delusion the reader will have a better understanding of human nature and be better able to make decisions based on that knowledge. 

Norm:

Is your book improvisational or did you have a set plan?

M.A.

The manuscript started with delusion.  I spent most of my career working for a company owned and run by Seventh Day Adventists.  Seventh Day Adventists are strict creationists.  They believe the earth to be only 10,000 years old and at one time it was completely covered by water.  

Having been raised on dinosaurs and trilobites, I knew better.  What was fascinating was the conviction with which these people held their beliefs.  They were as committed to creation as one would be to the law of gravity or the fact that sun comes up in the east. 

This ability to accept as gospel a completely ludicrous delusion started me on my quest to find out why we do the things we do.  In that quest I came across another behavior pattern that strongly influences human behavior.  Hence the title Dominance & Delusion.

Norm:

What was the most difficult part of writing your book?

M.A.

The book was not really that difficult to write.  My method of writing is somewhat different from most.  I write, as I am answering these questions, by printing in longhand on sheets of notebook paper.  This limits my writing to two to three hours per day and I can honestly say at times I suffer from writer’s cramp. 

Norm:

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?

 M.A.

I try to write from an engineer’s perspective.  Engineers should be skeptics and they should question everything.  It is important to be as open minded and unbiased as possible.  I think that my training as an engineer has had a great deal of influence on my writing. 

Norm:

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing Dominance & Delusion? \

M.A.

One of the conclusions I came to in the course of my research is that it is entirely probable that the genetic predisposition that, today, manifests itself as homosexual is in fact normal and natural.  To form strong emotional bonds with another individual of the same sex at one time had tremendous survival value. 

I have also come to the conclusion that we, as a species, are not monogamous. 

Norm:

What obstacles did you have in writing your book?

 M.A.

None, really.  I did not start putting pen to paper until I retired 15 years ago.  I had an abundance of notes and a great many books and magazines as research material.  It was at this time that I began to integrate dominance with delusion.  My biggest obstacle is that I don’t type and my wife has to listen to me dictate and type this.  She typed the entire book.

Norm:

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

M.A.

The book has been out for about a year.  In that time response has fallen into two groups.  Most find it interesting, entertaining, and informative.  The other group rejects my premise.  I was scheduled to appear on a local TV show chaired by Pat McMahon.  The day before the show he finally read the book and cancelled my appearance. 

Norm:

Do you worry about the human race?

M.A.

I am a pessimist.  Reluctantly, I have come to the conclusion that history will show that intelligence as a survival mechanism is a failure. Dominance gives us dictators and war.  Delusion leads us to murder in the name of religion.  It is a terribly sad commentary on human nature

Norm:

Where can our readers find out more about you and Dominance & Delusion?

M.A.

They can go do www.dominance&deluison.com It is available from all on-line book sellers such as Amazon. 

Norm:

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

M.A.

I would like to leave the reader with the last two paragraphs of Dominance & Delusion. “We are not the perfect species; we are not the logical culmination of the evolutionary process.  Bipedalism is a response not an end.  Intelligence is a survival mechanism and not a very good one – else would see more intelligent animals.  Consciousness is an accident and not the hallmark of a superior life form.  We are not special just different – just as each species is different. 

We do, however, have the means within us to become a better species.  We can stop war.  We can insure that everyone reaches his or her full potential.  We can all be free.  We have the means but do we have the will?”

Thanks once again and good luck with Dominance & Delusion

Click Here To Purchase Dominance and Delusion