Civilized to Death
The Price of Progress
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Civilized to Death
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Narrated by:
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Christopher Ryan
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Written by:
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Christopher Ryan
About this listen
The New York Times best-selling coauthor of Sex at Dawn explores the ways in which “progress” has perverted the way we live — how we eat, learn, feel, mate, parent, communicate, work, and die — in this “engaging, extensively documented, well-organized, and thought-provoking” (Booklist) book.
Most of us have instinctive evidence the world is ending - balmy December days, face-to-face conversation replaced with heads-to-screens zomboidism, a world at constant war, a political system in disarray. We hear some myths and lies so frequently that they feel like truths: Civilization is humankind’s greatest accomplishment. Progress is undeniable. Count your blessings. You’re lucky to be alive here and now. Well, maybe we are, and maybe we aren’t. Civilized to Death counters the idea that progress is inherently good, arguing that the "progress" defining our age is analogous to an advancing disease.
Prehistoric life, of course, was not without serious dangers and disadvantages. Many babies died in infancy. A broken bone, infected wound, snakebite, or difficult pregnancy could be life-threatening. But ultimately, Christopher Ryan questions, were these pre-civilized dangers more murderous than modern scourges such as car accidents, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and a technologically prolonged dying process?
Civilized to Death “will make you see our so-called progress in a whole new light” (Book Riot) and adds to the timely conversation that “the way we have been living is no longer sustainable, at least as long as we want to the earth to outlive us” (Psychology Today). Ryan makes the claim that we should start looking backwards to find our way into a better future.
©2019 Christopher Ryan (P)2019 Simon & SchusterWhat listeners say about Civilized to Death
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- javier
- 2020-02-21
We have a chance
Very well put summarize on the history of how we got in this mess and how our ways of living made us the cancer of the earth. We still stand a chance to stay in the game thanks to our symbiotic partners <the plants> despite our turbulent love/hate relationship with them. Shout out to well reflected and evolved ideas inspired by the bard Terence McKenna.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 2019-10-10
Must Raed
An absolute must read of you want answers or to know where to find answers on what is best for humans.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ryan Chapman
- 2019-11-25
A depressing reality we all face
A closer look at the misconceptions of hunter gatherer tribes showed how we lost connection to our basic human needs. This is a book stating the facts and not a solution to the problems we will all soon face.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Scott
- 2023-01-14
Reframed civilization
Loved that it was read by the author, adds character to the book, I recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tatiana
- 2019-10-09
Take it with a grain of salt
Very interesting opinion. I was checking some facts mentioned by Christopher Ryan and ,unfortunately not all of it 100% true. Still, some ideas are mind blowing and eyes opening
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Fair Reviewer
- 2019-10-11
Pulls back the veil on what our species is
It's easy to believe the propaganda that tells us each shiny new thing we see is a sign that now is the best time to be alive. This book questions the assumptions behind our beliefs about civilization. This book paints a clear picture of where we are, where we've been and why more of what we're currently doing won't make things better.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- wellesleybender
- 2019-11-04
Everything I expected and more
Christopher Ryan has it all together. I long to live the tribal life. Thanks Dr. Ryan, this book has really given me some perspective
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Justin Stankovic
- 2019-12-27
So glad he read his own book!
I found this a great book overall. The audio quality on the other hand was ridiculous.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-11-25
interesting read
interesting read, not all points are completely accurate though after some research. the author also seems to skip over his previous arguments of foragers vs civilization when he attempts to tie in the best future for humanity as socialism
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- MS
- 2020-05-03
Required reading
A welcome shake up of internalized institutional thinking. Some arguments to be taken with a grain of salt, but all worth considering. So glad this book came my way.
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