Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

By: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan

Narrated by: Nick Sagan, Ann Druyan, Clinnette Minnis

World renowned scientist Carl Sagan and acclaimed author Ann Druyan have written a Roots for the human species, a lucid and riveting account of how humans got to be the way we are. It shows with humor and drama that many of our key traits - self-awareness, technology, family ties, submission to authority, hatred for those a little different from ourselves, reason, and ethics - are rooted in the deep past, and illuminated by our kinship with other animals.

Astonishing in its scope, brilliant in its insights, and absolutely compelling, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a triumph of popular science.

©1992 Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Excelente bofetada al ego especista

El humano se piensa a sí mismo como un ser superior y totalmente desligado del entorno en que vive, la cantidad de pruebas presentadas en este libro debería ser suficiente para una persona racional replantee seriamente ese tipo de pensamiento.

Fantastic. Exactly what I expected.

I gave a 4 for performance because of the awful foreword by the female with laryngitis. But this is a fantastic experience for the ears and mind.

Busting the myth of human uniqueness

This is a weird one. I love reading Carl & Ann pretty much no matter what they write about. But this book does start off with some sexy chimpanzee fiction. Like, a whole chapter is in the voice of chimpanzee characters, talking mostly about doing the sex. Uncomfortable. But pretty fascinating from a Jane Goodall point of view.

The subject meanders a bit but it seems like the major goal of the book is to get across the idea that nothing is truly unique about human behavior. Human behavior literally is animal behavior. All things proposed as unique to human nature has been discovered in other animals. Like tool use, language, incest taboo, etc.

One issue with the book that I hope readers will keep in mind is that group selection is presented as an explanation for some evolved traits. But group selection isn't a thing. Gene selection is the whole show. Group selection is an antiquated idea and shouldn't have shown up in this book.

Chapter 15

No idea what is in chapter 15.
Audible plz Check chapter 15 if it belongs to this book

A very important read, poor audio performance

Understanding the evolved underpinnings of our modern psychology, culture, and societal structure helps me see our failings with greater compassion, and the obstacles in our path with greater clarity. We are a species with a history and a future--a future to be defined with knowledge and wisdom, or haphazardly via vestigial tendencies however impractical they may be in a modern context.

As important as this work is, and I feel bad saying it, the reading by Sagan and Druyan's son is uninspired, and even monotonously weasly, tending to end statements in a whiny, pleading tone that undermines the authority of carefully considered words. Toward the end, I either got more used to it or he got better, but getting there was often a struggle.

Still, for the absolutely critically essential content that should be in every human's brain, the audio version is worth it. Though if you're able to read it instead, maybe better...