A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century
Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life
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A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century
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Narrated by:
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Heather Heying
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Bret Weinstein
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Written by:
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Heather Heying
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Bret Weinstein
About this listen
A provocative exploration of the tension between our evolutionary history and our modern woes - and what we can do about it.
We are living through the most prosperous age in all of human history, yet we are listless, divided, and miserable. Wealth and comfort are unparalleled, but our political landscape is unmoored, and rates of suicide, loneliness, and chronic illness continue to skyrocket. How do we explain the gap between these truths? And how should we respond?
For evolutionary biologists Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, the cause of our troubles is clear: The accelerating rate of change in the modern world has outstripped the capacity of our brains and bodies to adapt. We evolved to live in clans, but today many people don’t even know their neighbors’ names. In our haste to discard outdated gender roles, we increasingly deny the flesh-and-blood realities of sex - and its ancient roots. The cognitive dissonance spawned by trying to live in a society we are not built for is killing us.
In this book, Heying and Weinstein draw on decades of their work teaching in college classrooms and exploring Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems to confront today’s pressing social ills - from widespread sleep deprivation and dangerous diets to damaging parenting styles and backward education practices. Asking the questions many modern people are afraid to ask, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century outlines a science-based worldview that will empower you to live a better, wiser life.
This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF containing illustrations and charts from the book.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein (P)2021 Penguin AudioWhat the critics say
“Husband and wife team Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein bring their vast knowledge of evolutionary biology to bear on the problems that beset us. Wide-ranging and illuminating, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century posits an intriguing, surprising, and profound view of human nature.” (Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, author of Beyond Order, 12 Rules for Life, and Maps of Meaning)
“A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century is the human story retold in beautiful language and moving metaphors. Heying and Weinstein are professorial in the best possible sense: They exemplify the intellectual humility, nuanced thinking, and love of learning that a great liberal arts education should nurture. Everyone who is raising or educating kids, or who wants to change social systems, should first read this book.” (Jonathan Haidt, coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind and author of The Righteous Mind)
“I have never read such a bold, well-researched, and succinct exploration of the puzzling predicament we find ourselves in. Anyone who wonders why the most comfortable society in history - our own - has such astronomical rates of depression, anxiety, and poor health will find abundant answers in A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century.” (Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm, War, Tribe, and Freedom)
What listeners say about A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 2021-09-17
Great book, must listen to it again.
Listened to it, and I'm probably going to listen to it again. Wonderfully broken down into simple yet complex topics, Bret and Heather hit it out of the park. Bret may make jokes about his wife's voice being easier to listen to, and he would be right, they both are easy to listen to.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- patricia
- 2021-09-20
Super worthwhile read
If you enjoy podcasts with Jordan and Bret you will love this amazing biologists view of the world and what we could do to make it a better place. Thanks to this lovely couple we can see more clearly the real issues we are facing as a species. Must read!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- darren
- 2021-12-06
amazing guide to modernity and how we got here
loved it, material is complex but accessible, compelling and engaging. will listen again and again
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S. Tremblay
- 2022-02-01
If you liked Sapiens you will love that book
I have been listening to the Dark Horse podcast for a while and knew that this couple is a formidable team at explaining complicated things in a very easy to understand matter.
Loved the book.I will listen over an over
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jon
- 2021-11-02
An important work and perspective in today's world
Well presented facts and information framed in a way that is coherent, respectful, digestible and socially challenging in the best sense. I feel as if I am better equipped to challenge my own biases and beliefs. I believe this book warrants second listen. Thank you to the Authors and publisher.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 2021-10-03
Amazing read.
An interesting adaptation of evolutionary theory through a present-day societal lens. Some great lessons to be learned and thoughtful and nuanced perspectives.
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- Zane Gates
- 2022-02-22
Thorough
Very well written and researched, this book is basically a summary of what a person who has lived a life full of travel and experience in different social and career realms would be able to feel on an intuitive level but struggle to put into words nearly as eloquently as this book. If you’re curious about why life in the modern world feels so odd and detached at times, while still having plenty of awesome stuff to offer thanks to modern societies, this book will help elaborate your thoughts.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Matthew
- 2021-10-03
Interesting but preachy
Fascinating insights, but heavy on the desire to recite long lists of what you should and shouldn’t do.
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- Virgil R.
- 2021-10-18
I wish I read this book when I was a kid
Title says all, I'd make this book mandatory for high school level. It gives some basic tools to help anybody understand the world better.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Jayleen
- 2022-01-05
Well written, relevant and we'll argued
I really enjoyed listening to the wisdom, reflection and opinions of the authors. I learned more than one thing from this book and enjoyed the stories that were shared as a platform for understanding the research. I also very much enjoy their "DarkHorse podcast"
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