Being Human

From evolution to empire, how biology has steered the course of civilisation.

What if the key to understanding human history lies not in politics, but in our own bodies? In Being Human, astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell reveals how our evolution, physiology and psychology have directed the course of empires and ideas.

From the microbes that triggered pandemics to the chemistry that shaped our diets and brains, this is the story of civilisation seen through the lens of biology. Dartnell’s trademark clarity and storytelling turn complex science into a thrilling narrative about what makes us who we are - and how biology will shape what comes next.

‘Illuminating’ Tim Marshall

‘Refreshing’ Thomas Halliday

‘A gripping, red-blooded narrative from a master storyteller’ Jo Marchant