After Eden

In After Eden, prominent Latin American historian John Chasteen presents a concise, down-to-earth, fast-paced narrative of world history, from the Big Bang to the present. The narrative is animated by stories of people from all walks of life and enriched by insightful analysis and the author's extensive world travel.

To tackle today's major problems of global inequality and environmental degradation, Chasteen argues that we must first understand our shared past. This includes both the violent and cruel dimensions—"humanity's inhumanity to itself"—and the aspirational ones, such as the creation of universal religions and ethical systems; the birth of the ideas of individual liberty and freedom; resistance to the excesses of global capitalism; the civil rights and decolonisation movements; and the environmental and social justice movements of today.

For Chasteen, ultimate success hinges on our ability to recognise from our past experiences what is needed for us to live cooperatively and, most critically, the ways we educate our young people.