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ka_cam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A framework-shifting, intriguing, and ultimately hopeful read! This book goes at warp speed through human history pausing for mile-high analysis and creative wondering on moments and evidence of past humans. I really enjoyed how much agency and space they gave ancient peoples, and found many of their conclusions to be compelling. It made me want to read more about specifics - was definitely broad brush strokes (which destabilized more typical broad brush strokes and got at the root of that thinking, and what systems it serves). Written around the framing or origins of violence and inequality it ultimately did more to show not so much origins as the many options humans have, through time and space, explored to organize our societies. It gave me hope for the future and in a sense hope for the past as well. Recommend! Took me ages though, put it down for long periods.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Genocide, Colonisation, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Domestic abuse, Torture, and Misogyny
Minor: Cannibalism, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, and Trafficking
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