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Pandora's Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization Audiobook
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(3.02) - 458 listener ratings
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This new book by Spencer Wells, the internationally known geneticist, anthropologist, author, and director of the Genographic Project, focuses on the seminal event in human history: mankind's decision to become farmers rather than hunter-gatherers.
What do terrorism, pandemic disease, and global warming have in common? To find the answer we need to go back ten millennia, to the wheat fields of the Fertile Crescent and the rice paddies of southern China. It was at that point that our species made a radical shift in its way of life. We had spent millions of years of evolution eking out a living as hunter-gatherers. When we learned how to control our food supply, though, we became as gods—we controlled the world rather than it controlling us. But with godliness comes responsibility. By sowing seeds thousands of years ago, we were also sowing a new culture—one that has come with many unforeseen costs.
Taking us on a 10,000-year tour of human history and a globe-trotting fact-finding mission, Pandora's Seed charts the rise to power of Homo agriculturis and the effect this radical shift in lifestyle has had on us.
Focusing on three key trends as the final stages of the agricultural population explosion play out over this century, Wells speculates on the significance of our newfound ability to modify our genomes to better suit our unnatural culture, fast-forwarding our biological adaptation to the world we have created. But what do we stand to lose in the process? Climate change, a direct result of billions of people living in a culture of excess accumulation, threatens the global social and ecological fabric. It will force a key shift in our behavior, as we learn to take the welfare of future generations into account. Finally, the rise of religious fundamentalism over the past half-century is explained as part of a backlash against many of the trends set in motion by the agricultural population explosion and its inherent inequality. Ultimately, the world's present state of crisis will force us to evolve culturally, but can we self-correct our culture to solve these problems that we ourselves, in our race to succeed, have caused?
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"A well-considered and -researched survey of human biological and social evolution. Wells, like Bill McKibben, points out the necessity for giving up the chimera of perpetual growth in human consumption. That the goal is unsustainable seems laughably obvious. "
— J. (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Spencer Wells—explorer, geneticist, geographer, and author—takes us on an exciting tour of the last ten thousand years of our history in order to forewarn us of what we shall have to deal with in the next fifty years.”
— Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel -
Spencer Wells has a provocative and timely message.... Everyone with a stake in humanity's future should [listen to] this book.
— Brian Fagan, New York Times bestselling author of Cro-Magnon -
“Fascinating—this book has some very new ways of looking at very old issues.”
— Bill McKibben, New York Times bestselling author -
“Wells gives readers an engaging rundown of the science that reconstructs the prehistoric past.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Wells will appeal to a variety of science readers, including those interested in genetic anthropology, health, and the future course of human evolution.”
— Booklist -
“Spencer Wells’ writing combines a deep knowledge of the history of human evolution with a most engaging and lively manner of making that story come alive.Pandora’s Seed draws upon compelling anecdotes and moving personal narratives to crystallize a crucial turning point in the history of our species, the point at which modern human beings stop and look back at our long evolutionary trajectory, and confront squarely its dark side, its cost. With this knowledge, Wells deeply believes, we can take the necessary steps to chart a common, humane future over the crucial next half century. Pandora’s Seed reflects Wells’ deep learning, and his deep love of our all too human community.”
— Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor, Harvard University, and author of Tradition and the Black Atlantic -
“Spencer Wells has a provocative and timely message. He argues that we are at a critical juncture where our culture could destroy the very essence of what it means to be human. His closely argued and thoughtful essay gives us hope and a blueprint for the future that relies in part on lessons from peoples who still retain links with the distant past. Everyone with a stake in humanity’s future should read this book.”
— Brian Fagan, author of The Great Warming and Cro-Magnon
Awards
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A Library Journal Best Book in Sci-Tech
Pandora's Seed Listener Reviews
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" Pandora's Seed: Why the Hunter-Gatherer Holds the Key to Our Survival by Spencer Wells was somewhat disappointing. The early part of the book does a good job summarizing recent research in human genetics. Its strength is Wells expertise on using genetics to unravel human evolution and prehistoric migration. Unfortunately,the book falls apart in the final third and his travel anecotes were mostly neither compelling nor to the point. "
— David, 2/20/2014 -
" Another book that ties the relationship with plants to the evolution of humans. It aided me in understanding the bigger picture of how influential plants were in shaping our societies today. "
— Vanessa, 2/16/2014 -
" Ever think about why you are so miserable and screwed up, or why everyone else is? Society, man. Agricultural, urban, sedentary, conformist life goes against our DNA. "
— Gerry, 1/19/2014 -
" This book traces human evolution; specifically, that moment in time where we gave up being hunter-gatherers. Spencer Wells delves into the profound effects the dawn of our agricultural society has had on our current civilization. He covers subjects ranging from obesity, disease, mental illness, climate change and resource consumption. He argues how all these current challenges can be traced back to the development of agriculture. This book is well researched and very though provoking. I recommend this book to anyone interested in science or anthropology. "
— Petar, 1/15/2014 -
" I liked the idea of this book. But like many other reviewers noted, once I got reading it, I realized that the premise is a bit misleading and he jumps all over the place throughout the whole book. And I know that there's a lot of controversy about the blood type diet as a weight loss diet - but i dont understand how a book that suppossed tracks our evolutionary history in terms of diet can completely ignore the evolution of our blood type and not even mention it once in the book. he doesn't address the agrarian diet on an individual level, he just makes blanket statements about people having diabetes and being obese, etc. yeah basically the author should have streamlined his approach to this topic. im only giving it three stars because he did spark my interest in a couple areas. but i wouldnt necessarily recommend it. "
— Holly, 1/14/2014 -
" Very informative look at how the human race got to where it is today. I hope a lot more people in power read this book so that they can truly understand where we have been and where we maybe headed. "
— Gordon, 1/11/2014 -
" There is hope :) but really we are doomed. May be we will last for couple millennia. "
— Kate, 12/27/2013 -
" When mankind switched to agriculture as the main source of food, a flood of changes was initiated. this book looks superficially at some of these changes and changes that are still going on. "
— Patricrk, 10/31/2013 -
" Tells me what I already know, except with a reinforcement from the nutritional aspect. Human beings are a cancer on a planetary scale. "
— Thomas, 10/30/2013 -
" Spencer Wells makes genetics sexy "
— Beth, 5/18/2013 -
" nice mix of Evolution, Genetics and Climatology. "
— Larry, 2/12/2013 -
" It sucked. This book just sort of bumbles along. I kept waiting for it to speed up or take a direction, but it didn't. "
— Michael, 2/6/2013 -
" I listened to this as an audio book read by the author. Some sections were very good and new to me and some were a rehash on Global Warming,etc. "
— Jim, 11/26/2012 -
" Seemed to be too sprawling. I would've preferred if he related more of the second half of the book back to his thesis--I felt like he strayed farther and farther from it as the book progressed. "
— Owen, 3/27/2012 -
" Excellent book on how people change the world, starting with the Neolithic hunter/gatherers changing to agriculture. Ultimately, a new take on climate change and what can be done. Interesting mix of history, sociology, genetics, and environmentalism "
— Wrdwrrior, 2/26/2012 -
" Very thought provoking as to how man and civilization have been permanently altered by agriculture. "
— Nikki, 10/22/2011 -
" It was okay. Nothing I really didn't already know. "
— Anubis_lab, 7/25/2011 -
" Wow. I didn't know the extent of what we are today was determined by mankind changing to farmer from hunter-gatherer. And, interesting to think along with the author, of where this is taking us. "
— Susan, 5/22/2011 -
" Lots of food for thought.. No pun intended! "
— Katy, 5/10/2011 -
" Very informative look at how the human race got to where it is today. I hope a lot more people in power read this book so that they can truly understand where we have been and where we maybe headed. "
— Gordon, 2/9/2011 -
" Seemed to be too sprawling. I would've preferred if he related more of the second half of the book back to his thesis--I felt like he strayed farther and farther from it as the book progressed. "
— Owen, 2/8/2011 -
" Ever think about why you are so miserable and screwed up, or why everyone else is? Society, man. Agricultural, urban, sedentary, conformist life goes against our DNA. "
— Gerry, 12/27/2010 -
" Tells me what I already know, except with a reinforcement from the nutritional aspect. Human beings are a cancer on a planetary scale. "
— Tbooker, 12/15/2010 -
" Excellent book on how people change the world, starting with the Neolithic hunter/gatherers changing to agriculture. Ultimately, a new take on climate change and what can be done. Interesting mix of history, sociology, genetics, and environmentalism "
— Wrdwrrior, 12/14/2010
About Spencer Wells
Spencer Wells is an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and the director of the Genographic Project. After studying under genetic pioneer Luigi Cavalli-Sforza at Stanford University, Wells began an unusual career that mixes science, writing, and filmmaking. His acclaimed first book, The Journey of Man, combined his own DNA research with the work of archaeologists, paleoanthropologists, paleoclimatologists, and linguists to show how modern humans came to populate the planet. He is also the author of Deep Ancestry.