Rubenstein DR and J Alcock. 2018. Animal Behavior, 11th Edition. Oxford University Press, New York. WEB
“Kudos on an excellent job with this new edition. I found the flow to be particularly easy to follow, and the case examples are excellent demonstrations of each described theme. It strikes the right chord as an introductory textbook for undergraduates.“ MOLLY CUMMINGS, University of Texas at Austin
“I think the idea of shifting from ‘proximate and ultimate’ to ‘integrative’ nicely weaves in the more current language. I’m glad to see that the text is still going, and that Dustin is onboard.” JEFF PODOS, University of Massachusetts Amherst
“I have tried other textbooks but always seem to come back to Alcock. The style of writing is very readable/accessible for undergraduate students. Overall, I am very pleased with the reorganization and addition of the new coauthor. Rubenstein is an excellent choice.” JOSEPH SISNEROS, University of Washington
Rubenstein DR and P Abbot. 2017. Comparative Social Evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. WEB
“Comparative Social Evolution provides a unique attempt to identify contrasts and similarities in the distribution and evolution of social behaviour in different groups of animals. Successive chapters describe the structure of social groups in different taxa, ranging from aphids to primates, and their relationship to variation in life history parameters, breeding systems and genetic structure, each written by leading researchers in their field. By synthesizing current knowledge of the distribution of social behaviour and its correlates in different groups, Comparative Social Evolution lays the foundation for attempts to build a general framework capable of explaining the diversity of animal societies.” TIM CLUTTON-BROCK, University of Cambridge
“Social interactions define how life is organized, from molecules to microbes, in the ocean and on land. There has been a revolution in our understanding of life that is based on an appreciation of the importance of social behavior. Social evolution theory, particularly kin selection, has changed our view of conflicts within organisms like cancer and imprinting, and of how microbes interact and affect us, to give two key examples. But the theory that has developed to explain these interactions comes nearly entirely from observations of animals in their native habitats. This book provides a fabulous compilation of the biology of social interactions in animals. The chapters are clearly and carefully written by leaders in their fields. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know where the theories are rooted, or anyone who simply wants to enjoy the marvellous stories of animal social behaviour.” JOAN STRASSMAN, Washington University in St. Louis
