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  • The Professor in the Cage

  • Why Men Fight and Why We like to Watch
  • By: Jonathan Gottschall
  • Narrated by: Quincy Dunn-Baker
  • Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

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The Professor in the Cage cover art

The Professor in the Cage

By: Jonathan Gottschall
Narrated by: Quincy Dunn-Baker
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Publisher's Summary

When a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym moves in across the street from his office, Jonathan Gottschall sees a challenge and an opportunity. Pushing 40, out of shape, and disenchanted with his job as an adjunct English professor, part of him yearns to cross the street and join up. The other part is terrified.

Gottschall eventually works up his nerve and starts training for a real cage fight. He's fighting not only as a personal test but also to answer questions that have intrigued him for years: Why do men fight? And why do so many seemingly decent people like to watch? Gottschall endures extremes of pain, occasional humiliation, and the incredulity of his wife to take us into the heart of fighting culture - culminating, after almost two years of grueling training, in his own cage fight.

Gottschall's unsparing personal journey crystallizes in his epiphany, and ours, that taming male violence through ritualized combat has been a hidden key to the success of the human race. Without the restraining codes of the monkey dance, the world would be a much more chaotic and dangerous place.

©2015 Jonathan Gottschall (P)2015 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Professor in the Cage

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Sound research and engaging storytelling

This is not your typical story of how a boring man became great, it is rather an exploration of the engaging topic of violence and evolutionary psychology, it presents answers to many questions that we as men have asked without an answer. Walking the talk the professor goes to look for answers in the literature and in the cage.

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OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Probably because it's an intellectual examination of a brutal martial art and a wider thesis about the connection between masculinity and violence... Beautifully put together by an aging professor who should not be in the cage at all. And it speaks to me as a guy who is too old to be going to jujitsu any more. But I keep going any way. Great book. Seriously. It gave me all the feels.

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Profound and beautifully written

As a professional fighter, I found this book full of insight. As a professional wordsmith, I was equally impressed with the delivery of that insight. We’ll done, brother. It’s time to make the transition to boxing so that the saga might continue. 🥊

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