Civilisations: The Cult of Progress
by David Olusoga
There is nothing simple about the idea of civilisation. It is a concept with multiple and contested meanings. Prefix it with the word ‘western’ and you have a whole new set of problems. Equally thorny is the belief, once commonplace, that civilisation was a singular project, a phenomenon that spread across parts of the world from a single source.
The End of the Megamachine: A Brief History of a Failing Civilization
A uniquely comprehensive picture of the roots of the destructive forces that are threatening the future of humankind today. Spanning 5000 years of history, the book shows how the three tyrannies of militarized states, capital accumulation and ideological power have been steering both ecosystems and societies to the brink of collapse.
Starry Messenger
Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization
Bringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson shines new light on the crucial fault lines of our time—war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race—in a way that stimulates a deeper sense of unity for us all.
How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
An essential analysis of the modern science and technology that makes our twenty-first century lives possible—a scientist's investigation into what science really does, and does not, accomplish.