Dr. Gray is a psychologist, not an anthropologist or historian. He makes a lot of blanket generalizations about hunting and gathering cultures, but I like the fact that he mentions how much hunter gatherers liked to play games. Native Americans hunter gatherer societies played many, many games beyond lacrosse, both athletic and games with pieces and chance involved. The fact that they now own many casinos is not just an economic opportunity. Another game that they played almost continually was war. It was an essential part of many of their cultures. The term "brave" or "warrior" was not some honorary bullshit. The feathers in the Plains Indian war bonnet are kills, thefts, and coup counting. Women did most of the hard work in the village so men could devote a lot of time to preparing for that game. They weren't playing for cash or chips or a Porsche, they were playing for honor, and an enemy's hair, his women, or his horses, so it was a really high stakes game. In some ancient societies they played a similar game that included headhunting or cannibalism. That ancient humans led this cheerful life of ease and plenty is a fairy tale. Humans didn't stay that way for a whole lot of very good reasons.

Today I engaged in productive, cooperative activities with other people, and yesterday we all dined together in a joyous and festive manner at our Christmas Party. It's called "my job". I prefer it to going to visit a neighboring village to steal their women and religious objects away from them and count coup, at least in this weather.