Book cover of The Ascent of Man

Book description

Lauded by critics and devoured by countless readers as a companion to the acclaimed PBS series, this work traces the development of science as an expression of the special gifts that characterize man and make him preeminent among animals. Bronowski's exciting, splendidly illustrated investigation offers a new perspective not just…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Ascent of Man as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I read this book in college and it helped change my life, showing me the glories of science in a historical perspective. 

Beautifully illustrated and written, the book inspired me to appreciate the history of marvelous discoveries—from tools, fire, agriculture, metal, numbers, mathematics, writing and printing to astronomy, biology, and electronics—that advanced humans, making us the preeminent species on earth.

A fascinating history about the evolution of human life by a renowned expert in the field. The book focuses on the technological developments that drove the evolution of humans from the very beginning. A beautifully illustrated book. The source of my favorite lines of poetry by William Blake:

“To see a World in a grain of sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”

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December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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