Griffith's first book introduces the reader to the issue of the human condition and his
biological explanation of it. It describes how the anger and selfishness felt by humans is the
result of a conflict between two factions within ourselves-the gene-based instinctive self
struggling against the nerve-based intellect's need and responsibility to understand
existence. The conflict caused humans to live with an undeserved sense of guilt that
understanding now ameliorates.