The human potential for peace : an anthropological challenge to assumptions about war and violence by Douglas P. Fry

The human potential for peace : an anthropological challenge to assumptions about war and violence by Douglas P. Fry attempts to make the case that humans are actually more peaceful than is usually thought. Fry is very heavy on the nurture side of the argument. Unfortunately most of the book is spent arguing about how different violent actions are not really war. For example if there are any taboos placed on the level of violence in conflicts for instance stopping if someone is seriously hurt this is not war. I guess this means that world war two wasn't a war because both sides could have used poison gas but didn't.

He does make some interesting points. Brooks like this are useful because it forces the opposition to look at the evidence again and to do more extensive research but besides that this is not recommended.

Is available through Abebooks.