How the Earth Shaped Human History

Origins

The Sunday Times bestseller that reveals the Earth’s awesome impact on the shape of human civilisations

A sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world. Whether discussing the formation of continents or the role that climate (and climate change) has had on human migration, Lewis Dartnell has a rare talent in being able to see the big picture – and explaining why it matters.

Peter Frankopan, author of THE SILK ROADS

Origins by Lewis Dartnell stands comparison with Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens…A thrilling piece of Big History

‘Extraordinary… Origins is one of those rare books that dissolves mystery through the steady application of sublime lucidity. While reading it, I kept thinking: “Oh, that makes sense…” … Dartnell understands geology, geography, anthropology, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and history. That’s quite an achievement, but what makes him special is the way he communicates the interconnectedness of these disciplines in a clear, logical and entertaining way…Superb.

Dartnell has an easy, light touch that mixes well with his considerable knowledge. The result is a first-class read – and an important one

Dartnell has found the perfect blend of science and history. This is a book that will not only challenge our preconceptions about the past, but should make us think very carefully about humanity’s future

Origins, snappily written, is a fast read … fascinating

Dartnell’s story is beautifully written and organized. His infectious curiosity and enthusiasm tug the reader from page to page, synthesizing geology, oceanography, meteorology, geography, palaeontology, archaeology and political history in a manner that recalls Jared Diamond’s classic 1997 book Guns, Germs, and Steel

Dartnell is an eloquent, conversational guide to these daunting aeons of time

What a treat to see history through the eyes of an astrobiologist! Our history was shaped profoundly by the laying down of iron beds two billion years ago, by the tectonic forces that ripped open the African rift valley, by the slow cooling of the earth that began 50 million years ago, and by the evolution of grasses! Lewis Dartnell’s absorbing new book shows, with many vivid examples, how deeply human history is embedded in the history of planet earth

An original and timely way of looking at human history through the materials and natural resources that our species has employed to such effect. It should be read by everyone who ponders how long exploitation can continue on a finite planet.

Endlessly enthralling, Lewis Dartnell explains why the history of humanity, and of human cultures, both take dictation from the deeper history of Earth herself - from broad generalities to surprisingly specific details. An entertaining and informative essay on contingency - and worthy successor to the writing of Stephen Jay Gould.

Origins’ strength lies in the way it manages to conjure a tight, linear narrative from what would otherwise be an overwhelming wealth of insights, a feat aided by Dartnell’s soothing, conversational writing style… a captivating and enriching read, with as much to recommend it to those with an interest in geophysics as to students of human history and civilization.

Origins is like a well-crafted jigsaw puzzle. Each piece fits together beautifully to build up a complete picture of the deep connections we have to the blue marble we call home… a thoroughly satisfying read for anyone interested in how our planet drove our history, and how everything is connected

Big history is back… Origins is a bravura survey that captures our global zeitgeist and emphasises the limits of short-term historical and political thinking

A thrilling slice of big history and as good as Harari

Enthusiastic and brimful of facts… Dartnell’s great achievement is that while he crams in a great deal, the reader doesn’t feel rushed. It moves from the dawn of agriculture, to ancient Mesopotamian merchants to the coal-fields of England without a bump

Instead of looking at what we have done to the Earth, he examines what it has done to us, interweaving the physical and social sciences in a clear, logical and joyously entertaining way… [a] wonderful book

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.

Read the Sunday Times bestseller that reveals the Earth’s awesome impact on the shape of human civilisations. 
 
‘Stands comparison with Sapiens… Thrilling’ Sunday Times 
 
 Human evolution in East Africa was driven by geological forces. Ancient Greece developed democracy because of its mountainous terrain. Voting behaviour in the United States today follows the bed of an ancient sea. 
 
 Professor Lewis Dartnell takes us on an astonishing journey into our planet’s past to tell the ultimate origin story. Blending science and history, Origins reveals the Earth’s awesome impact on the shape of human civilisations – and helps us to see the challenges and opportunities of the future. 
 
 ‘A sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world’ 
 Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads 
 
 ‘Absorbing… A first-class read – and an important one’ 
 Observer

How to Rebuild our World from Scratch

The Knowledge

How To Rebuild Our World After An Apocalypse

A captivating journey of discovery and a quickstart guide to rebuilding our world after the apocalypse.

As the scouts say – be prepared! Say your prayers that you never need this book

A glorious compendium of the knowledge we have lost in the living… This is the most inspiring book I’ve read in a long time

An extraordinary achievement... It is a great read even if civilisation  does not collapse. If it does, it will be the sacred text of the new  world — Dartnell that world’s first great prophet

The ultimate do-it-yourself guide to ‘rebooting’ human civilization

A terrifically engrossing history of science and technology

Impeccably researched and beautifully written, The Knowledge makes me proud of all we humans have achieved - and dismayed at how much we have to lose. You need to read this book

Dartnell makes the technology and science of everyday life in our civilization fascinating and understandable. This book may or may not save your life but it'll certainly make it more interesting. 
 
 This the book we all wish we'd been given at school: The Knowledge that makes everything else make sense

A marvelously astounding work: In one graceful swoop, Lewis Dartnell takes our multi-layered, interconnected modern world, shows how fragile its scaffolding is, and then lays out a how-to guide for starting over from scratch. Imagine Zombieland told by Neil deGrasse Tyson and you'll get some sense of what a delight The Knowledge is to read

Seth Mnookin, New York Times bestselling author of The Panic Virus and associate director of MIT's Graduate Program in Science Writing

A remarkable and panoramic view of how civilization actually works

This book is useful if civilization collapses, and entertaining if it doesn't.  After the cometary impact it may save your life, and if it doesn't at least you'll know why you perished

Even if you don't believe the end is nigh, it's a completely fascinating manual of practical knowledge most of us woefully lack. I might keep the proof to hand, just in case

It’s the end of the world, and you feel fine. It’s what comes next that should worry you… The Knowledge will ensure you and your fellow survivors have the know-how to reboot civilization from scratch

An amazing book with all the information you need to rebuild society after a major catastrophe. It's not a daft survival manual but a highly intelligent description of all that makes our lives normal. Every household should have a copy

A breezy how-to guide to the rebuilding of civilisation... Admirable

A whistle-stop tour of the history of science and technology… Full of those "oh!" moments when you think, "well, I never thought of that before"… Fascinating

Replete with tips and illustrations and fascinating factoids

This book is an extraordinary achievement... It is a great read even if civilisation does not collapse. If it does, it will be the sacred text of the new world – Dartnell that world's first great prophet

Armed with Lewis Dartnell's new book, I should be able to stride confidently into a post-apocalyptic future... Dartnell's guide to surviving the apocalypse is as breezy and engaging as it is informative

Engaging, thought-provoking and (mostly) accessible… Readers will certainly come away better informed, more knowledgeable about, and hopefully more interested in the fundamental science and technology necessary to rebuild a civilised society

The Knowledge impresses as a condensed history of scientific progress, and will pique curiosity among readers who regret daydreaming throughout school chemistry lessons. Like this reviewer, some will be troubled by their ignorance of the basics, and how useless that could render them if the lights do go out

A hymn to human ingenuity… Essential reading

If the world ends with a bang or a whimper make sure you have a copy of this book to hand, or you won’t have a clue how to survive or kick-start the new civilisation

An engaging and wide-ranging discussion of the scientific discoveries and technological innovations that underpin our lives… Littered with fascinating facts and an infectious enthusiasm for science and technology shines through in the accessible and lively writing… An absorbing thought experiment which celebrates the insight and ingenuity which has made this habitable planet into a civilized world

There is no better guide to the basic science and engineering that underlies our everyday life than this clear and fascinating book

A great idea for a book… Excellent and intriguing

The conceit that this is a handbook for rebooting modern civilization is really just a cute way of framing what turns out to be a terrifically engrossing history of science and technology

There is great depth and insight in The Knowledge, which is brilliantly imaginative and thorough in its study of science and technology

This book should be on everyone’s bookshelf, just in case the worst happens… The one guide you need to rebuild civilisation

an eye-opening dose of fantastical reality

Maybe it was a viral pandemic, or an asteroid strike, or perhaps nuclear war. Whatever the cause, the world as we know it has ended and you and the other survivors must start again. What key knowledge would you need to start rebuilding civilisation from scratch? 
 
Once you’ve scavenged what you can, how do you begin producing the essentials? How do you grow food, generate power, prepare medicines, or get metal out of rocks? Could you avert another Dark Ages or take shortcuts to accelerate redevelopment? 
 
Living in the modern world, we have become disconnected from the basic processes that support our lives, as well as the beautiful fundamentals of science that enable you to relearn things for yourself. 
 
The Knowledge is a journey of discovery, a book which explains everything you need to know about everything. This is a quickstart guide for rebooting civilisation which will transform your understanding of the world – and help you prepare for when it’s no longer here…

LEWIS DARTNELL is a UK Space Agency research fellow at the University of Leicester, in the field of astrobiology and the search for signs of life on Mars. 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 BBC Horizon, Sky News, Wonders of the Universe, Stargazing Live, and The Sky at Night. 
 
A tireless populariser of science, his theory on how the heisters could have saved the gold bullion in the cliff-hanging ending of The Italian Job was mocked on Have I Got News For You. His two previous books are Life in the Universe: a Beginner’s Guide and the illustrated children’s book My Tourist’s Guide to the Solar System and Beyond. When the world ends, he will be ready to start again.

If the world as we know it ended tomorrow, how would you survive? 
 
A nuclear war, viral pandemic or asteroid strike. The world as we know it has ended. You and the other survivors must start again. What knowledge would you need to start rebuilding civilisation from scratch? 
How do you grow food, generate power, prepare medicines, or get metal out of rocks? Could you avert another Dark Ages, or take shortcuts to accelerate redevelopment? Living in the modern world, we have become disconnected from the basic processes and key fundamentals of science that sustain our lives. 
 
Ingenious and groundbreaking, The Knowledge explains everything you need to know about everything, revolutionising your understanding of the world. 
 
‘A glorious compendium of the knowledge we have lost in the living…the most inspiring book I’ve read in a long time’ Independent 
 
‘A terrifically engrossing history of science and technology’ Guardian 
 
http://the-knowledge.org/

Lewis Dartnell

Always an interesting and engaging writer, Dartnell ... finds fascinating nuggets in familiar stories

I&rsquo;ve always liked Dartnell&rsquo;s books for their factiness

An illuminating journey through history using our bodies as the vehicle. It's quite a ride!

Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography

Wide-ranging, comprehensive and refreshing

A wild ride through science, history and prehistory, full of unexpected connections and delightful insights

Tim Harford, author of How to Make the World Add Up

A revolutionary account of human progress. This is history as you've never read it before: a gripping, red-blooded narrative from a master storyteller

A sublime, mind-expanding exploration of who we are and how we got here

Brilliantly entertaining and beautifully written, Being Human forces you to see the world in a totally new way. Interdisciplinary history at its best

A spirited canter through the ways our biology has inescapably affected world history that'll open your eyes and stretch your mind

Henry Gee, author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth

Bursting with scientific stories, this is a fascinating exploration of how our flawed biology shapes how we live, love, thrive and die. Being Human will make you think in a new light about yourself and your species

A brilliant, super-informative and enjoyable read

Dr Camilla Pang, author of Explaining Humans

Lewis Dartnell has a well-deserved reputation for engaging writing on big themes. Being Human is so engrossing that it's hard to put down

Martin Rees, author of If Science is To Save Us

Dartnell has done it again. Full of surprising, vivid and profound lessons, this book is quite literally wonderful

[A] revealing survey ... Biology determines more than personal destiny

[A] fascinating lucky dip of a book

[Dartnell is] always an interesting and engaging writer

How our biology shaped world history

Being Human is history made flesh. It will change the way you see the world. 
 
'Illuminating' TIM MARSHALL 
'Refreshing' THOMAS HALLIDAY 
'Fascinating' GUARDIAN 
 
We&rsquo;re a wonder of evolution, capable of incredible feats. But we&rsquo;re also deeply flawed. Our bodies and minds often break, fail, and hinder us. To be human is to live with this extraordinary contradiction. So, to understand the course humanity has taken &ndash; from prehistoric times through the age of empire and into the modern era &ndash; we must understand who, and what, we are. 
 
Lewis Dartnell takes us on a mind-expanding journey across time to show how our biology has determined history. From the epidemic that brought Europe&rsquo;s peasants freedom, to the health deficiency which gave rise to the world&rsquo;s largest criminal organisation, to the cognitive biases that led to military catastrophes in Crimea and Iraq, we see how our unique nature shaped our relationships, economies and societies &ndash; and, importantly, how it continues to impact human progress today. 
 
Praise for Origins and The Knowledge: 
 
'Stands comparison with Yuval 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

Lewis Dartnell

Praise for Being Human

Always an interesting and engaging writer, Dartnell ... finds fascinating nuggets in familiar stories

I’ve always liked Dartnell’s books for their factiness

An illuminating journey through history using our bodies as the vehicle. It's quite a ride!

Always an interesting and engaging writer, Dartnell ... finds fascinating nuggets in familiar stories

I’ve always liked Dartnell’s books for their factiness

An illuminating journey through history using our bodies as the vehicle. It's quite a ride!

Always an interesting and engaging writer, Dartnell ... finds fascinating nuggets in familiar stories

I’ve always liked Dartnell’s books for their factiness

An illuminating journey through history using our bodies as the vehicle. It's quite a ride!

Books by Lewis Dartnell

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