
Where Are We Heading?
The Evolution of Humans and Things
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Narrated by:
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Gildart Jackson
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By:
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Ian Hodder
About this listen
In this engaging exploration, archaeologist Ian Hodder departs from the two prevailing modes of thought about human evolution: the older idea of constant advancement toward a civilized ideal and the newer one of a directionless process of natural selection. Instead, he proposes a theory of human evolution and history based on "entanglement," the ever-increasing mutual dependency between humans and things.
Not only do humans become dependent on things, Hodder asserts, but things become dependent on humans, requiring an endless succession of new innovations. It is this mutual dependency that creates the dominant trend in both cultural and genetic evolution. He selects a small number of cases, ranging in significance from the invention of the wheel down to Christmas tree lights, to show how entanglement has created webs of human-thing dependency that encircle the world and limit our responses to global crises.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2018 Ian Hodder (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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IMPORTANT book, but another one that ends insane.
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A necessary listen
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Entanglement
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Brilliant archeologist
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Once you get past the tangle of names and competing theories, you are rewarded by his demonstration of the dependencies of humans on things. This “entanglement trap” takes the form of connected dots in agriculture, manufacturing, and our very Social Evolution, resulting in Inequality, contingency and determinism.
Hodder takes on a convoluted tour of the twists and turns of this entangled Reality leading to his conclusion that in order to confront the inevitable consequences of Climate Change we must not just come up with changes to the Things we Humans are dependent on, but rather change our dependence on those very things. Change us not them!
Something to think about, no?! Four stars. ****
Interesting Journey through a Theory
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A must read
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very good book. in general as good as Sapiens.
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Great reading, Green wt thoughts, and a fantastic ending.
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For those who listen to the book, the narrator sounds a bit erudite - which gives a flavor that might have been better extinguished to ensure a bit more common place urgency to the thought for our future.
With that said, I wish the author discussed future challenges of food cultivation, animals, scientific research, unknown crises (viruses, climate change, shortage of fish, impact of changes in warfare and religion and economic alliances). Nonetheless, a thoughtful book.
Thoughtful view of progress and interdependencies
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The book sounds like a failed attempt to break new academic ground. It doesn't convince.
Half useful
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