繼《槍炮、病菌與鋼鐵》、《人類大歷史》後,
又一部深入人類歷史、橫跨數個領域的精彩之作
數十萬年前,我們的祖先靠狩獵、採集野生動植物生存下來。而後發生了革命性的變化──遠古人類與其他物種間的互動改變了。
他們開始馴服牠們。人口因而急速成長,文明出現了。
我們現今已經習慣了科技改變人類生活的這個概念,但直到科學革命發生之前,人類的創新大多還是奠基於大自然:馴化動植物,以及從他們身上取得資源,例如羊毛、棉花等等。在本書中,Alice Roberts講述了十個物種的深遠歷史:狗、蘋果、小麥、牛、馬鈴薯、雞、稻米、玉米、馬,和人類。她揭露了其他物種如何成為我們的盟友、這對他們本身造成了何種深刻的影響,以及這些我們施加於自然世界的改變,又是如何使我們來到生態陷入危機的此刻。
本書作者Alice Roberts具有多重身分,她是醫學博士、解剖學家,亦專精考古學、人類學及古病理學。她也是知名的節目主持人,拍攝了多部紀錄片及節目,如〈The Incredible Human Journey〉、〈Origins of Us〉、〈Digging for Britain〉等。在這部作品中,Roberts以淵博的知識及生動的文字,帶領讀者穿越歷史的長河,探索人類的起源,以及人類馴化其他物種的歷史,深具啟發性,內容廣博且讓人深深著迷,將改變我們看待人類本身和其他物種的方式。(文/博客來編譯)
**’A masterpiece of evocative scientific storytelling.’ BRIAN COX**
**’Will appeal to fans of Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens’. Mail on Sunday **
The extraordinary story of the species that became our allies.
Dogs became our companions
Wheat fed a booming population
Cattle gave us meat and milk
Maize fuelled the growth of empires
Potatoes brought us feast and famine
Chickens led us to wonder about tomorrow
Rice promised us a golden future
Horses gave us strength and speed
Apples travelled with us
HUMANS TAMED THEM ALL
For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors depended on wild plants and animals to stay alive – until they began to tame them.
Combining archaeology and cutting-edge genetics, Tamed tells the story of the greatest revolution in human history and reveals the fascinating origins of ten crucial domesticated species; and how they, in turn, transformed us. In a world creaking under the strain of human activity, Alice Roberts urges us to look again at our relationship with the natural world – and our huge influence upon it.
AN ECONOMIST AND MAIL ON SUNDAY ’BOOK OF THE YEAR’ 2017