Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

One of the most authoritative and famous books in the world on the psychology and physiology of stress. Its author—world-renowned specialist, outstanding biologist and psychologist Robert Sapolsky—is convinced that the human ability to anticipate the future and worry about it is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in preventive and preparation-oriented behavior; a curse because our tendency to worry about the future causes constant stress.

It turns out that, from an evolutionary perspective, people are predisposed to respond to—and avoid—threats the way zebras do. We should relax most of the day and run like crazy only when danger approaches. Zebras sometimes develop an acute stress response (physical threats). We, by contrast, have a chronic stress response (psychological threats), which rarely reaches the same intensity as in zebras, yet never completely disappears. Zebras die quickly when they fall into predators’ paws. People die more slowly—from ischemic heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses that arise from chronic stress responses.

But when stress is predictable and you can control your reaction to it, it affects the development of diseases far less. These and many other issues related to stress and how to manage it are addressed in Professor Sapolsky’s remarkable book. It is intended for professionals in psychological, educational, biological, and medical fields, as well as for teachers and students of relevant university faculties.