Description
Get a science-based introduction to cultural and human evolution—and discover a blueprint for a better future—in this fascinating book for fans of Sapiens and Guns, Germs, and Steel.
Who are we, and what makes us different from other species?
Playing on the phrase “a theory of everything” from physics, Michael Muthukrishna’s ambitious, original, and deeply hopeful book A Theory of Everyone draws on the most recent research from across the sciences, humanities, and the emerging field of cultural evolution to paint a panoramic picture of who we are and what exactly makes human beings different from all other forms of life on the planet.
Muthukrishna argues that it is our unique ability to create culture, a shared body of knowledge, skills, and experience passed on from generation to generation, that has enabled our current dominance. But it is only by understanding and applying the laws of life—the need for energy, innovation, cooperation, and evolution—that we can solve the practical and existential challenges we face as a species. A Theory of Everyone attempts to provide solutions for the most pressing problems of our collective future, such as polarization, inequality, the “great stagnation” in productivity, and the energy crisis.
Casting a bold and wide net, Muthukrishna’s book is a must-read for anyone interested in a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
PART I: Who We Are and
How We Got Here 11
1. Laws of Life 21
2. The Human Animal 65
3. Human Intelligence 97
4. Innovation in the Collective Brain 141
5. Created by Culture 162
6. Cooperation 181
PART II: Where We’re Going 211
7. Reuniting Humanity 219
8. Governance in the Twenty-first Century 261
9. Shattering the Glass Ceiling 283
10. Triggering a Creative Explosion 314
11. Improving the Internet 334
12. Becoming Brighter 344
Conclusion 373
Acknowledgments 379
Further Reading 383
Index 427
