Kristine A. Ellor

Out of date

Revisado: 08-23-16

What did you like best about Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations? What did you like least?

The sweeping coverage of humanity from earliest time until ~1500. It is very difficult to cover so much time in a linear fashion; and it was not very successful here. We know so much more about more recent events than we do the far past that it was very skewed. It is also very out of date so I will be more vigilant about checking dates on my great courses from now on. The professor said with absolute certainty, now and forever, things that are impossible which have since been proven possible and highly likely; and indeed with certainty to be true.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

It is some of the best lectures I have heard on Meso-American prehistory.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I tried unsuccessfully not to be put off by his pompous and florid delivery. He also often made very interesting and mysterious word slips, some corrected immediately, some not. I often listen to courses several times, but this one I will not. Too irritating!

Do you think Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It definitely needs updating.

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One of those rare books.....

Revisado: 08-21-13

Would you consider the audio edition of Bozo Sapiens to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version yet, although I did purchase a print copy to read and annotate after listening to the audio version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Listening to this book and the authors' explanations of why we humans behave the way we do (often badly!) explained so much about what I have seen in the school yard, in the halls of political power, and in the work place. This book gave me the words to understand and overcome some of the pervasive unpleasantness that surrounds so many social interactions. And a road map to personally make those necessarily unpleasant interactions more pleasant.

Which scene was your favorite?

Far from feeling like being human is a runaway freight train of bad choices, somehow genetically programmed and inevitably irresponsible on both a small scale and a grand scale, this book gave me great hope. I think the pivotal idea for me was distinguishing between biological evolution and social evolution. The latter, of course, more rapid and plastic than the former.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book gave me great hope for the future of human kind and our essential 'humanity'. And I mean that, humanity, in a good way!

Any additional comments?

I wish I could get my college age children to read this book. It would be an antidote to cynicism and formulaic approaches to relationships both personal and professional.

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