Being Human

How our biology shaped world history

Lewis Dartnell

$55

Hardback

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English

The Bodley Head Ltd
01 June 2023

General & world history; Social & cultural history; Anthropology; Popular science; Human biology

'Illuminating' TIM MARSHALL, bestselling author of The Future of Geography 'Refreshing' THOMAS HALLIDAY, bestselling author of Otherlands

Our biology will change how you see the world. Lewis Dartnell explores how human biology has shaped relationships, societies, economies and wars across the globe

How did haemophilia bring down the Russian royal family? And scurvy give rise to the Mafia?

We are a wonder of evolution. Our exceptional abilities created life as we know it, but we're also deeply flawed. This extraordinary contradiction between our faculties and frailties is the essence of what it means to be human. And history has played out in the balance between them.

Here, Lewis Dartnell tells our story through the lens of this uniquely fragile nature for the first time. From cognitive biases to endemic diseases, he explores how human biology has shaped relationships, societies, economies and wars across the globe - and considers how, importantly, it continues to challenge and define our progress.

'A gripping, red-blooded narrative from a master storyteller' JO MARCHANT, author of Cure 'A wild ride' TIM HARFORD, author of How to Make the World Add Up

By: Lewis Dartnell
Imprint: The Bodley Head Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 242mm, Width: 164mm, Spine: 35mm
Weight: 580g
ISBN: 9781847926708
ISBN 10: 1847926703
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 June 2023
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Lewis Dartnell is an astrobiology researcher and professor at the University of Westminster. He has won several awards for his science writing, and contributes to the Guardian, The Times and New Scientist. He has also written for television and appeared on Horizon, Sky News, and Wonders of the Universe, as well as National Geographic and History channels. A tireless populariser of science, his previous books include the bestselling The Knowledge- How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch.

Reviews for Being Human: How our biology shaped world history

An illuminating journey through history using our bodies as the vehicle. It's quite a ride! * Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography * Stands comparison with Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens... A thrilling piece of Big History * Sunday Times on Origins * The most inspiring book I've read for a long time * Independent on The Knowledge * Brilliant... Dartnell has a rare talent in being able to see the big picture - and explaining why it matters * Peter Frankopan on Origins *