Rat City by Jon Adams, Edmund Ramsden

In the 1960s, America grappled with rising crime and social unrest, often attributed to the pressures of overpopulation. Amidst this backdrop, John B. Calhoun, an ecologist-turned-psychologist, conducted experiments on rats to study the effects of crowding. Over three decades, he created "rodent utopias" where all needs were met except for space. As the rat populations grew, they exhibited extreme behavioral changes, leading to their eventual extinction. These changes, termed "behavioral sink," seemed to reflect the societal issues of the time. "Rat City" by Jon Adams and Edmund Ramsden delves into Calhoun's experiments and their implications on understanding personal space, public housing, and human nature. The book traces Calhoun's journey from rural Tennessee to urban Baltimore, exploring how his work influenced midcentury American thought. It provides a detailed look at the functioning and collapse of these rat cities, offering insights into the challenges of ecological and social pressures in a crowded world.

The 580th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 41

This book was first published in 2024

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