The author dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors he feels are responsible for history's broadest patterns

An epic detective story that offers a gripping expose on why the world is so unequal. Professor Jared Diamond traveled the globe for over 30 years trying to answer this question. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

"In an era of cell phone addiction and ever-expanding cities, many of us fear we've lost our connection to nature— but Peter Wohlleben is convinced that age-old ties linking humans to the forest remain alive and intact. Whether we observe it or not, our blood pressure stabilizes near trees, the color green calms us, and the forest sharpens our senses. Drawing on new scientific discoveries, "The Heartbeat of Trees" reveals the profound interactions...

Compares and contrasts the development of humankind in the old world and the new between 15,000 B.C. and 1500 A.D., and cites climate, domesticable animals, and hallucinogenic plants as the reasons for the discrepancy.

"When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no - but when we do engage all our senses, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to get the most out of your next adventure by becoming a forest detective, decoding nature's signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can...

Examines the forces that form deserts and discusses the animals and people that inhabit them.

Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset, or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people -- regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity -- are mesmerized by baby animals, and can't help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colorful balloons? We are often made to feel that the physical world has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly,...

Professor Jared Diamond provides evidence showing that inequalities exist in the world based on geography and access to guns, germs, and steel.

"An historically unprecedented disconnect between humanity and the heavens has opened. Jo Marchant's book can begin to heal it. For at least 20,000 years, we have led not just an earthly existence but a cosmic one. Celestial cycles drove every aspect of our daily lives. Our innate relationship with the stars shaped who we are--our art, religious beliefs, social status, scientific advances, and even our biology. But over the last few centuries we have...