Biology presents a similarly sticky question: how do we get from genes to behaviour? Gary Marcus in The Birth of the Mind (Basic Books, $14.95, 拢11.99) aims to clear up popular misunderstandings of what it is that genes do. Even the notion of a gene 鈥渇or鈥� something is an error, springing from the power of metaphors. Marcus sets out to clarify that genes are 鈥渞ich providers of opportunity鈥�.
Confused? Don鈥檛 worry. Philosopher Joseph Camp鈥檚 Confusion: A study in the theory of knowledge (Harvard University Press, $18.95,拢12.95) is full of ideas and insight into what knowledge is 鈥� and therefore what mistakes are.