I can't even begin to think how much I learnt from this book. I am sure there will be plenty of experts out there to dispute bits and pieces of this enormous history, but even so, every page is a page turner. The author divides his book into three parts - the Cognitive Revolution where we learnt how to think - some 70,000 years ago; the Agricultural Revolution - some 12,000 years ago, and finally the Industrial Revolution - some 500 years ago. He looks at how we evolved from wandering nomads into settled communities, farming and growing our own food, then into larger communities - towns/cities/kingdoms from which law and order evolved. He looks at why and how the concept of religion and gods came to dominate societal order universally through human kind. How a society can never embrace the idea of equality and freedom because once you dig deeper, they cancel each other out. And what about money - how did that evolve? Or the idea of measuring time as a way to manage our lives? Neither of these were around in the days of the Neanderthal and yet now we cannot possibly imagine living without either of these. Intriguing and challenging arguments put forward for many of the subjects he raises.
I loved this, it is an absolute treasure trove of all sorts of interesting stuff. I read it in sections, too much to take in all at once. I now need to get my own copy so I can turn down page corners, pick up and randomly open at any page to be reminded of what amazing and unique creatures we are. And for how much will we be here too, before we destroy the environment around us that has taken millions of years to create. Are we happy? Will there be a second Cognitive Revolution to address the changing world we are living in? Read this and have your mind challenged.
A very thought provoking book. Made me rethink the human condition.
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