Marriage and Civilization

Marriage and Civilization: How Monogamy Made Us Human by William Tucker, 238 pages

 

The central argument of this book is simple: monogamy evolved in humans because it is necessary for equitable, peaceful societies.  Polygamous cultures tend to be more internally unstable and externally aggressive, due to the large surplus male population and the corresponding need to acquire females.  Innate human viciousness, however, and specifically the desire of high-status men to have multiple mates, tends to erode monogamy unless it is protected by strong cultural prohibitions, especially by the refusal of women to enter into such relationships.

 

Tucker makes a few clumsy mistakes - confusion between the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution, a claim that Genghis Khan converted to Islam - which highlight the shallowness of his analysis.  More troubling, he draws a narrative line between early Mormon polygamy and the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which glosses over the complete lack of a causal link.  On the other hand, his conversational style makes the book a pleasure to read. 

 

Well-written and thought-provoking but not entirely convincing in its argument.