The Science of Sin: Why We Do The Things We Know We Shouldn’t

The seven deadly sins are the worst impulses of man, destructive to ourselves and others in excess. And yet, they’re a part of us. But if they’re so destructive, how have they survived the process of evolution? Wouldn’t these negative qualities have been weeded out? Unless, of course, there’s some evolutionary advantage to them.

And so, the concept at the heart of The Science of Sin is revealed. Lewis explores how engaging in the seven deadly sins affects us on mental and physical levels, including which parts of the brain are involved in each sinful activity, explaining what makes these sinful acts so effective and why we want to return to them. Not only that, but along the way, we learn how at some point or another these impulses were evolutionary advantages, not detriments, even if the circumstances have changed in modern society.

But once the science is done, the book takes a turn toward self-improvement as Lewis tries to lead the reader from temptation and discuss how to battle the negative aspects of each sin, while never discounting the occasional advantages they offer.

Naturally, as easily tempted as I am, I found the scientific aspects more engaging than the self-help parts of the book, but they nonetheless made for an interesting read as two parts of the same whole.