Science writers John Gribbin and Mary Gribbin described "On Human Nature" as an "accessible account of the application of sociobiology to people". The sociologist Ullica Segerstråle described "On Human Nature" as essentially a development of Wilson's earlier ideas. She commented that, unlike opponents of sociobiology, Wilson saw it as having liberal political implications, and tried to develop these suggestions in "On Human Nature". The psychologist David P. Barash and Ilona A. Barash called "On Human Nature", "A wide-ranging, thoughtful, and controversial classic of human sociobiology".