Book Reviews
Book Reviews › Character › The Origins of Virtue
The Origins of Virtue by Matt Ridley — WisdomDeck honest review
Honest review · Character

The Origins of Virtue

by Matt Ridley

How cooperation evolved: reciprocity, trust, the prisoner's dilemma, division of labor. Ridley's case that virtue is natural and markets are its expression.

CLICK TO SEE

Read it if…

you want cooperation's evolutionary roots.

See the book →

Skip it if…

you want de Waal's empathy view.

Try instead: Nature via Nurture →

Three things you will actually use

  1. Reciprocity builds trust.
  2. Trade is ancient.
  3. Virtue evolved.

Do this first

Read the chapter on the prisoner's dilemma.

Our verdict

Ridley on virtue.

See the book →

Check it out

CLICK TO SEE

Opens the book's page in a new tab.

Compare with other Character books

Nature via Nurture by Matt Ridley — WisdomDeck review

Nature via Nurture

Matt Ridley · Character

Ridley on nature and nurture.

CLICK TO SEE
Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code by Matt Ridley — WisdomDeck review

Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code

Matt Ridley · Character

Ridley's Crick.

CLICK TO SEE
Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19 by Matt Ridley and Alina Chan — WisdomDeck review

Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19

Matt Ridley and Alina Chan · Character

Ridley and Chan on origins.

CLICK TO SEE

Browse all Character book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.

As an Amazon Associate, WisdomDeck earns from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Click to see” go to Amazon. We are not paid for opinions, prices and availability are not shown here and change on Amazon, and we never see your purchase details. Nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice.