---
product_id: 226020536
title: "The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous Hardcover – September 8, 2020"
brand: "joseph henrich"
price: "17484 kr"
currency: ISK
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/226020536-the-weirdest-people-in-the-world-how-the-west-became
store_origin: IS
region: Iceland
---

# The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous Hardcover – September 8, 2020

**Brand:** joseph henrich
**Price:** 17484 kr
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous Hardcover – September 8, 2020 by joseph henrich
- **How much does it cost?** 17484 kr with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/226020536-the-weirdest-people-in-the-world-how-the-west-became)

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- joseph henrich enthusiasts

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## Description

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An exploration of forces that have shaped human nature and communities throughout history
*by P***O on June 18, 2025*

I had heard about this book on NPR. Extremely interesting and adds dimensions to my understanding of influences that shape communities/societies. Ideas from this book are applicable to everyday discussions, such as the distinction between shame and guilt, and why that difference is significant. Not easy reading (at least not for me), but well worth it!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The West is psychologically peculiar” is a convincing thesis, but it needs to be further argued.
*by L***C on September 14, 2020*

This is a groundbreaking book, predictably becoming the basis of much discussion. It is arguing that the West’s success stems from historically early moral decisions within society and their character building. Culture determines human life and ours would be coming from early Catholicism’s peculiarities of anti-nepotism and the forbidding of marriage within kin. This enhanced the church’s influence and supposedly loosened eventually a flood of innovation.Adopting such simple rules triggered a cascade of changes, creating states to replace tribes, science to replace lore and law to replace custom. This cascade produced what being weird means; that is by comparison with a bulk of the world that is utterly different (so far studies were centered too exclusively on societies that are Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, hence the acronym). The difference in tribal and non-tribal cultures is even evident in such examples as that blood donations are strikingly lower in southern Italy than in northern Italy today. We weird people of the West are individualistic, think analytically, take personal responsibility, and think nepotism is to be vigorously discouraged.Most people have tacitly adopted some dubious universal assumptions about human nature. This book asks of us to change our perspective in a way that is rather remarkable. It takes character building as a cultural and achievement separator. It is a wonderful discussion trigger. In this respect it reminds of Diamond’s “Guns, Germs and Steel”, Dennet with its emphasis on the evolution of minds, or Sean Carroll’s science based poetic naturalism with its many forms of understanding at different levels. But watch out. Is the route to science and riches really solidly tied to western morals? Oesterreicher’s “Beelines: from Chemicals to Chemists” sees Islamic golden age science based on tribalism as a counter argument. But interestingly he finds that many science accelerators were lucid Asperger-type and indeed somewhat off center. Henrich stimulates discussion.The title suggests some light reading. It is not. But the rewards are worth some input

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ May offend some sensitive people
*by T***S on August 3, 2024*

It’s an excellent take on western culture. I can’t say I agree with everything and that’s fine. Definitely a great read.

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*Product available on Desertcart Iceland*
*Store origin: IS*
*Last updated: 2026-02-26*