Being Human

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

A mind-expanding, revolutionary journey across time that shows how our biology has determined human history for the first time. This book will change how you see the world.

We’re a wonder of evolution, capable of incredible feats. But we’re also deeply flawed. Our bodies and minds often break, fail, and hinder us. To be human is to live with this extraordinary contradiction. So, to understand the course humanity has taken – from prehistoric times through the age of empire and into the modern era – we must understand who, and what, we are.

Being Human is history made flesh. From the epidemic that brought Europe’s peasants freedom, to the health deficiency which gave rise to the world’s largest criminal organisation, to the cognitive biases that led to military catastrophes in Crimea and Iraq, we see how our unique nature shaped our relationships, economies and societies – and, importantly, how it continues to impact human progress today.

'Illuminating' TIM MARSHALL
'Refreshing' THOMAS HALLIDAY
'This book is quite literally wonderful' ED CONWAY
'A wild ride' TIM HARFORD
'A gripping, red-blooded narrative from a master storyteller' JO MARCHANT

©2023 Lewis Dartnell (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

Always an interesting and engaging writer, Dartnell ... finds fascinating nuggets in familiar stories
Guardian
I’ve always liked Dartnell’s books for their factiness
Sunday Times
An illuminating journey through history using our bodies as the vehicle. It's quite a ride!
Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography
Wide-ranging, comprehensive and refreshing
Thomas Halliday, author of Otherlands
A wild ride through science, history and prehistory, full of unexpected connections and delightful insights
Tim Harford, author of How to Make the World Add Up
A revolutionary account of human progress. This is history as you've never read it before: a gripping, red-blooded narrative from a master storyteller
Jo Marchant, author of The Human Cosmos
A sublime, mind-expanding exploration of who we are and how we got here
Richard Fisher, author of The Long View
Brilliantly entertaining and beautifully written, Being Human forces you to see the world in a totally new way. Interdisciplinary history at its best
Jonathan Kennedy, author of Pathogenesis
A spirited canter through the ways our biology has inescapably affected world history that'll open your eyes and stretch your mind
Henry Gee, author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth
Bursting with scientific stories, this is a fascinating exploration of how our flawed biology shapes how we live, love, thrive and die. Being Human will make you think in a new light about yourself and your species
Kat Arney, author of Rebel Cell

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.