Being a Human

Name: Being a Human
Brand: Allen & Unwin
SKU: 9781788167185
Price: 29.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

Adventures in 40,000 Years of Consciousness

By Charles Foster

Summary

Being a Human by Charles Foster explores the essence of what it means to be human through a fascinating, immersive journey. The author investigates various stages in human development by living like our ancestors from different prehistoric eras, providing insights into the biological and cultural aspects of humanity. This engaging narrative blends science with an experiential approach, prompting readers to reflect on human evolution and our shared history.
Read More

Format: Paperback / softback

$29⁹⁹

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Being a Human

$29⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by the complex tapestry of human existence, weaving science, philosophy, and personal anecdotes. It offers a reflective exploration of what it truly means to be human, making it an engaging read for anyone curious about the intersection of biology, culture, and identity.

Being a Human

A radical work of nature writing and philosophical enquiry, resituating us in our real human skins.

A radical work of nature writing and philosophical enquiry, resituating us in our real human skins

Description

A wonderful, wild, dazzling book. You will feel more human for having read it - Literary Review

Foster's daringly imaginative exploration of alternative models of selfhood is an original and beneficial way of grappling with history ... precisely what we need to remind us that there are many alternatives to the "I, me, mine" mindset - TLS

What kind of creature is a human? If we don't know what we are, how can we know how to act? Charles Foster sets out to understand what a human is, inhabiting the sensory worlds of humans at three pivotal moments in our history.

Foster begins his quest with his son in a Derbyshire wood, trying to find a way of experiencing the world that recognises the deep expanse of time when we understood ourselves as hunter-gatherers, and when modern consciousness was first ignited. From there he travels to the Neolithic, a way of being defined by fences, farms, sky gods and slaughterhouses, and finally to the Enlightenment, when we decided that the universe was a machine and we were soulless cogs within it.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Being a Human by Charles Foster has received praise for its imaginative and engaging exploration of human consciousness over thousands of years. Reviewers appreciate Foster's beautiful writing and distinctive perspective. The book is celebrated for its humorous, moving, and mind-expanding content, with some describing it as both eccentric and compelling. It invites readers to reconsider individualistic selfhood and offers an optimistic reflection on humanity's potential, despite its challenges.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788167185

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 June 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Illustration: 3/4 images scattered throughout

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 280g

Pages: 400

Collections

Charles Foster Education & Reference Mindset & Self Help New Year, New You Non-Fiction Science & Nature Self-Help & Personal Development

About the Author

Charles Foster is the author of the New York Times Bestseller Being a Beast, which was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Wainwright Prize, won the 30 million d'amis Prize in France, and is the subject of a forthcoming feature film. In 2016, he won the IgNobel Prize for Biology.