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38 reviews for:
Transcendence: How Humans Evolved through Fire, Language, Beauty, and Time
Gaia Vince
3.78 AVERAGE
38 reviews for:
Transcendence: How Humans Evolved through Fire, Language, Beauty, and Time
Gaia Vince
3.78 AVERAGE
informative
The first part "Fire," wasn’t particularly remarkable, but Parts 2 , "Beauty" had a much broader scope, especially in discussing tribalism. I really enjoyed reading those chapters. However, I was disappointed in Part 4 chapter titled "Reason," when the author mentioned Hypatia of Alexandria being lynched and brutally murdered "for having an inquiring mind" This felt like a gross simplification of the events; her murder was much more politically motivated I am afraid. I would have appreciated a dedicated chapter on societal regression as well.
3.75/5
3.75/5
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
In this work, Vince explains evolution not just as something that happened to us, but as a synergistic process that occurred between our genes, environment and culture. Transcendence investigates human evolution through four lenses: fire, language, beauty, and time, to explain how we got to where we are today.
I enjoyed this work, though I wouldn't say it was particularly groundbreaking. There was a lot of straightforward we did X so Y, A happened in the environment so we had to B. While it was interesting to learn that perhaps those were the reasons for particular evolutionary jumps, these were things that I knew or that made sense. Some of the book touched on new ground, which I found interesting and enlightening.
There were also times where Vince seemed to get a bit lost in the text and i would have to re-read a passage to make proper sense of it. These passages sometimes felt unnecessarily convoluted or intentionally aimed at her colleagues rather than the more average reader of her work.
Overall, I think this is an interesting primer for a new look at evolution and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the field.
I enjoyed this work, though I wouldn't say it was particularly groundbreaking. There was a lot of straightforward we did X so Y, A happened in the environment so we had to B. While it was interesting to learn that perhaps those were the reasons for particular evolutionary jumps, these were things that I knew or that made sense. Some of the book touched on new ground, which I found interesting and enlightening.
There were also times where Vince seemed to get a bit lost in the text and i would have to re-read a passage to make proper sense of it. These passages sometimes felt unnecessarily convoluted or intentionally aimed at her colleagues rather than the more average reader of her work.
Overall, I think this is an interesting primer for a new look at evolution and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the field.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This book covered too much while delving in each area too briefly. I somehow came away wishing for more but was relieved it finished. Gaia Vince reads her own book on audible and does a decent job but most of the information seemed almost obvious, except for the (not enough) specific examples she would pepper throughout the book.
الكاتبة في فصل ما (السُمعة)، كانت عنصرية بشكل غريب ضد المسلمين. عدا ذلك الكتاب جيد
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I adored this book - a mix of personal anecdotes, expansive history of our species and clever synthesis into universal concepts.
Transcendence is a master class in expressing complex ideas in straightforward language: reductive, mechanistic science communicated with beauty and artistry.
It turns out that accurate copying is the basis of cultural evolution. Significant change doesn't just happen when great single leaps are made (usually disastrous) but when existing small innovations are combined. The whole is so much more than the sum of the parts.
When our activities coalesce around shared beliefs and identities, when we attach social value to activities and products irrespective of their raw survival benefit, we become much more than a collection of selfish genes.
This it is a book about hope. About reason and the quest for knowledge. About innovation through collaboration.
Brilliant!
Transcendence is a master class in expressing complex ideas in straightforward language: reductive, mechanistic science communicated with beauty and artistry.
It turns out that accurate copying is the basis of cultural evolution. Significant change doesn't just happen when great single leaps are made (usually disastrous) but when existing small innovations are combined. The whole is so much more than the sum of the parts.
When our activities coalesce around shared beliefs and identities, when we attach social value to activities and products irrespective of their raw survival benefit, we become much more than a collection of selfish genes.
This it is a book about hope. About reason and the quest for knowledge. About innovation through collaboration.
Brilliant!