Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind

Evolution seems a rushed process in which traits and attributes of humanity have been pieced together to make a functioning but far from perfect or rational being. Marcus explores the ways in which the human mind, while magnificent in its overall ability, still stumbles on several points. Focusing on areas such as memory, decision making and language, Marcus keenly identifies the makeshift devices humans have created in order to contend with what he describes as ""evolutionary inertia."" Stephen Hoye traverses the complicated aspects of the book with ease, his melodious voice providing just the right emphasis for listeners to understand Marcus's major points. Yet his delivery misses some of the more humorous elements of the book. And Hoye's lingering voice, which seems to trail off after the end of a sentence, may be good for poetry, but can wear on the nonfiction listener. A Houghton Mifflin hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 11).