Pandora's Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization Audiobook

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" There is hope :) but really we are doomed. May be we will last for couple millennia. "

" 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. "

" Tells me what I already know, except with a reinforcement from the nutritional aspect. Human beings are a cancer on a planetary scale. "

" Spencer Wells makes genetics sexy "

" nice mix of Evolution, Genetics and Climatology. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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 "

" Very thought provoking as to how man and civilization have been permanently altered by agriculture. "

" It was okay. Nothing I really didn't already know. "

" 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. "

" Lots of food for thought.. No pun intended! "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" 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. "

" Tells me what I already know, except with a reinforcement from the nutritional aspect. Human beings are a cancer on a planetary scale. "

" 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 "