Why read The Artificial Ape?

Book cover of The Artificial Ape

Book description

A breakthrough theory that tools and technology are the real drivers of human evolution. Although humans are one of the great apes, along with chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, we are remarkably different from them. Unlike our cousins who subsist on raw food, spend their days and nights outdoors, and wear…

Explore

Topics

Genres

Science

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Artificial Ape as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

John D. Mayer

Author

My gosh, this was an interesting book.

It provides a historical perspective on our rapidly evolving technological world by looking at how technology influenced humanity’s era of evolutionary adaptation. Among the accounts are how fire promoted brain growth (by permitting humans to extract more calories from their food), and the almost certain early development of baby slings, that made it possible for human communities to migrate long distances.

Such reflections seem particularly useful today as we face working with AI—and as we wonder how it will affect us.

From John's list on The most engaging books that offer intriguing perspectives on who we are and how we live.